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Pillar Karel Komárek Family Foundation
Program Other Supported Projects

Project detail

The Second Garden of Peace

We supported the second phase of the Gardens of Peace project, aimed at connecting locations across France, from the Belgian border to the Swiss border and along the former World War I frontline.

About the Project

The second Garden of Peace was opened near the village of Vouziers in the Ardennes, on the 100th anniversary of Veterans Day in France and the 104th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

It symbolically commemorates Czech and Slovak soldiers who fought alongside the armed forces of the Allied Powers. We supported the creation of this new memorial site with a contribution of 40,000 euros.

The form of the Garden of Peace is defined by a path set into a trench, surrounded by a grove of 282 birch trees.
The number of trees and their pale trunks and branches evoke the feeling of walking through a fog, which recalls the conditions soldiers once faced on this battlefield, obscured by mist or blinded by poison gas. Gradually, the birches disappear, giving way to linden trees — the national symbol of both Czechs and Slovaks.

The memorial space was designed by the Bratislava‑based studio SLLA and Ateliér Divo from Brno. The intention was to create a welcoming place from which each visitor would take away their own unique, deeply personal impression.

„In France, Veterans Day is a national holiday and always a major public event. People across the country wear poppy flowers, a reference from the famous poem “In Flanders Fields” by the Canadian doctor John McCrae. Outside the Czech Republic and Slovakia, France is the country with the highest number of war graves of Czech and Slovak veterans. These graves are cared for by members of our expatriate community, united in associations and societies, working in close harmony with French towns and regions. The Gardens of Peace that are gradually being created demonstrate that the memories of our citizens, of those who once fought for our independence, are still very much alive. It is vital not to let our turbulent past fade from memory. I am glad that this meaningful architectural project continues to grow in many places.“

Michel Fleischmann

Ambassador of the Czech Republic to France

„At a time when we took freedom and democracy for granted, the war in Ukraine broke out, this is a stark reminder of how essential it is to care for these values with greater awareness than we ever thought necessary. The opening of the second Czechoslovak Garden of Peace revives the memory of the brave actions of our soldiers and offers us a moment to reflect on what more we can do, so that we do not once again find ourselves afraid to speak our minds.“

Karel Komárek

KKFF Founder

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