Soviet Invasion to Be Recreated In Prague this Weekend

Street closures and tram and bus changes are scheduled for central Prague this Saturday due to filming

Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas

Written by Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas Published on 18.08.2017 11:42:30 (updated on 18.08.2017) Reading time: 1 minute

This August marks forty-nine years since the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Prague which saw military tanks enter the streets of the Czech capital, bringing an end to the period of liberalization in Czechoslovakia known as the Prague Spring.

In January 1969, Charles University student Jan Palach set himself on fire in front of the National Museum on Wenceslas Square to protest the Soviet occupation. His legacy has been immortalized in Prague landmarks and memorials as well as in the 2013 film The Burning Bush.

A new biopic is set to coincide with the 50th anniversary of these events next year. The film, titled Jan Palach and to be released in 2018, will chronicle the final months in the life of the Czech martyr; filming begins in Prague this weekend, according to Denik.cz.

The invasion will be recreated with Soviet tanks and period-era trams descending on the right bank of the Vltava around the streets and bridges near the Rudolfinum; filming could significantly affect public transport routes and car and pedestrian traffic.

This Saturday, from 5am to 10pm, 17. listopadu street will be closed between Jan Palach Square and the intersection of Na Rejdišti street. During that time tram lines 2, 17, and 18 and buses 194 and 207 will be diverted.

Filming will also take place near Mánes and Most Legií bridges which will be closed between 4pm and 8pm. 

For complete diversions and traffic closures, see here

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