Lety: Memorial and Memory Trails

Remembrance and Memory in Lety

In Lety, you will encounter different forms of remembrance: the Pietní kruh with the names of the prisoners, an indoor exhibition featuring historical objects and interactive elements, and outdoor activities. When planning your visit, it helps to distinguish between these focuses: would you like to view the names and personal stories, explore the exhibition formats, or include a route with several stops? Each offering has its own focus and provides a different way to remember.

In 2024, a new Holocaust memorial for Roma and Sinti in Bohemia was established in Lety.

Pietní kruh and Indoor Exhibition

The Pietní kruh is the central feature of the memorial. It bears the names of 1,294 registered people who endured intolerable conditions in the local camp, which was referred to as a “Gypsy camp.” Alongside the prisoners’ full names, the individual metal supports show their dates and places of birth, the period they were imprisoned in the camp, and their individual fates. This places the number of registered people alongside the remembrance of individual life stories.

The indoor exhibition is arranged around four glass columns containing historical objects. It also includes a circular interactive timeline and 16 information points with audiovisual content, activated through visitor interaction. The formats complement one another: the columns group historical objects, the timeline provides a chronological perspective, and the information points allow visitors to interactively activate audiovisual content. If you are particularly interested in the design of the exhibition, you can explore objects, chronological orientation and media as distinct focuses.

Outdoor Memory Trails

The Stezka paměti is an outdoor exhibition with eight stops featuring audio recordings, images and texts. The circular trail bears the names of all the prisoners and symbolizes a place of remembrance and silence. The educational trail “Lety u Písku – Putování krajinou paměti” passes through a landscape connected with the tragic fate of Roma and Sinti during the Second World War. It has ten stops, is approximately 3 km long, and has a recommended walking time of 1.5 to 2 hours.

The two trails offer different points of reference: the Stezka paměti focuses on the media at its eight stops and the circular trail bearing the names. On the educational trail, you can also take the approximate distance and recommended walking time into account when planning. The time estimate applies to the educational trail; it does not indicate how long the Stezka paměti takes.

Outdoor Area and Cultural Monument

The outdoor area of the memorial includes the emergency cemetery beside the Lety Cultural Monument. At the torture post, a suspended figure silhouette commemorates the suffering; it was created based on a design by Luboš Mazl. Part of the Lety Cultural Monument grounds was declared a national cultural monument in 1998. This designation applies to part of the grounds.

The outdoor area of the memorial is accessible year-round, provided visitors follow the visitor regulations. Please follow these regulations during your visit. Nearby, the Orlík Reservoir and Orlík Castle offer opportunities for recreation and active tourism. If you plan to visit these destinations, check access and available activities before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Záluží, Slavkovice, Okrouhlá, Albrechtice Nad Vltavou, Kluky, Luckovice, Putim, Nevězice

Return to the main travel overview: Okres Písek.