At the solemn event on the occasion of the 163rd anniversary of Masaryk’s birth, the politician was accompanied by his wife Livia Klausová and Ivana Zemanova, who rarely appears in public with her husband. A group lunch awaited them at the chateau of Lánská, the traditional country presidential residence. The mandate of the current head of state, Klaus, ends today, and Zeman will replace him on Friday.

Outgoing and incoming presidents as well as representatives of parliament and government listened to the national anthem and the first president’s favorite song, Oh boy, boy, at Masaryk’s grave. On leaving the grave, both the politician and their wives signed the chronicle of the city and the chronicle of the voluntary firefighters of Lánsk. Then they got into their car and went to have lunch at the castle.

The crowd did not miss the visits of politicians, including a number of eagles. “I come here regularly for every birthday. I am an eagle and we adore all presidents,” says Stochov’s František Kratina. Due to the presence of two presidents, the outgoing and the incoming, he had two reasons for attending. But he hoped future heads of state and members of government would “do something for the people”. “For ordinary people, not for the rich,” he explained.

Masaryk was very fond of Lány, it later became his final resting place and the Masaryk family grave became a symbol of Czechoslovak democracy even in a time of totalitarianism.

During the Second World War, President Emil Hácha also lived in Lán castle. After that, the castle was used sporadically, only the first Polish president Václav Havel looked after its revival. His successors also regularly visited the castle clause.

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