Monumento Zákřovský Žalov, War memorial in Kyjanice forest near Velký Újezd, Czech Republic
Monumento Zákřovský Žalov is a war memorial located in Kyjanice forest near Velký Újezd in the Czech Republic. It features a sorrowful female figure surrounded by nineteen linden trees arranged in a semicircle, each tree representing one of those who died.
In April 1945, nineteen men from Zákřov village were arrested, tortured and executed by the Gestapo and Cossack forces during the final months of World War II. The memorial was erected in 1949 by sculptor Vladimír Navrátil and architect Lubomír Šlapeta to honor these victims.
The memorial holds meaning for the local community as a place where people reflect on loss and remember those who were taken. Over time it has become a quiet space where visitors come to pay respects and connect with the area's recent past.
You can reach the memorial by walking the red-marked hiking trail that runs from Kozlov to Staměřice through the forest. The path is easy to follow with proper footwear and navigation, making it accessible for most visitors.
The memorial displays the inscription 'My dali život - vy dejte lásku,' which means 'We gave life - you give love,' a touching message carved into the monument. This phrase calls on visitors to keep the memory of those who died alive through their own compassion.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
