Inauguration of the “Banc Václav Havel” in Monaco

On Wednesday, May 29, H.S.H. Prince Albert II inaugurated the “Václav Havel Bench” in the Bosio Pavilion Gardens in the presence of Mr. Patrice CELLARIO, Government Counselor – Minister of the Interior, Ms. Céline CARON-DAGIONI, Government Counselor – Minister of Equipment, Environment, and Urban Planning, Ms. Isabelle BERRO AMADEI, Government Counselor – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, as well as H.E. Mr. Michal FLEISCHMANN, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Monaco.

Designed by architect Bořek Šípek, the work is a place of remembrance, inspired by the democratic ideals of Mr. Vaclav Havel, who was the first President of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic from 1989 to 1992 and then President of the Czech Republic from 1993 to 2003.

This installation symbolizes openness towards dialogue and democracy. Two metal garden chairs are connected by a round table in the middle of which a linden tree, the national tree of the Czech Republic, grows. The bench bears the motto of Vaclav Havel: “Truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred.” This commemorative bench is now present in 52 countries across three continents: in Europe, the Middle East, and North America.