Letter containing President Masaryk’s last words to be opened in Lány

A sealed letter containing the last words of President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk will be opened and read out to the public for the first time on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Lány Chateau. Czech President Petr Pavel is expected to attend the ceremony, which will be broadcast live on Czech Radio and Czech Television.

Archivists received the envelope nearly 20 years ago. It was handed over to the National Archives on September 19, 2005, by Antonín Sum, secretary to Masaryk’s son Jan, with instructions that it be kept sealed for another two decades. According to Sum, the document contains words that Masaryk dictaated to his son shortly before his death.