Pomník Jurije Gagarina, Bronze memorial at Karlovy Vary International Airport, Czech Republic
The monument to Yuri Gagarin is a bronze statue at Karlovy Vary Airport depicting the cosmonaut in an upright pose with his right hand raised. The work stands approximately 3 meters tall and was created by sculptor Antonin Kuchar.
The statue was made in 1975 by sculptor Antonín Kuchař and artist Gisela Zubrová-Kuchařová and cast by ZUKOV in Prague. It was unveiled on 11 May 1975 in front of the Vřídelní Colonnade, during celebrations of the 30th anniversary of liberation by the Soviet Army. After complaints following 1989, it was moved on 30 November 1992 to the airport in Olšové Vraty.
The memorial shows Yuri Gagarin in a silver spacesuit, symbolizing the achievements of early space exploration that captured the world's imagination. For visitors, it stands as a connection to a moment when space travel seemed like humanity's shared dream, regardless of borders.
The memorial is located within the airport grounds and is easiest to reach by public transportation from the city center. Plan to arrive with enough time to view the statue without rush, especially during quieter hours at the airport.
The Karlovy Vary statue was the only Gagarin monument unveiled in the former Czechoslovakia. Its unveiling on 11 May 1975 coincided with the opening of the modern Vřídelní colonnade, which was then named after Gagarin.
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