Trutnov, East Bohemia, Dec 12 (CTK) – The town of Trutnov will rename its Revolucni (Revolutionary) street along the Upa River the Vaclav Havel embankment after the late Czech president, the municipal assembly members decided on Monday.
The Trutnov councillors approved the proposal earlier.
Its opponents, headed by Martin Vechet, organiser of the local music festival that Havel often visited, wanted another street, Horska, to bear his name. They argue that this is the main street on which Havel often moved, while Revolucni is not connected with him.
Playwright and dissident Havel, born on October 5, 1936, was the last Czechoslovak and the first Czech president (1989-2003). After he left the post, he primarily focused on the promotion of human rights in the world.
Havel was connected with Trutnov from the mid-1960s when he bought a cottage in the nearby village of Hradecek. In the 1970s, Havel worked in the Trutnov brewery, This job inspired his one-act play Audience (1975).
After the Velvet Revolution, he repeatedly attended the Trutnoff Open Air Music Festival dubbed “Czech Woodstock” in this town.
In 2010, Havel received the honorary citizenship and culture award of Trutnov for his extraordinary contribution to Czech and world culture and promotion of this town.
He died in his cottage in Hradecek on December 18, 2011, at the age of 75 years.
