If you’ve wandered Prague’s streets, you probably know the usual stories—old kings, famous battles, and stunning architecture.

But there’s a lot that rarely gets mentioned: the women who quietly, and sometimes not so quietly, shaped the city’s history. That’s exactly what Prague Feminist Tours is about.

Founded by Averil Huck, a long-time Prague resident, the initiative grew out of a personal interest and a desire to make women’s stories more visible.

“It was an eye-opening experience to rediscover the city I lived in through the lens of women’s history. When I moved to Prague, I started looking for something similar here… and realised it didn’t exist.”

At the time, she was working at the Centre for Gender & Science at the Czech Academy of Sciences and noticed a glaring gap. “There were so few accessible, English-friendly resources about Czech feminism or women’s contributions,” she adds. That sparked the creation of Prague Feminist Tours—the first English-language walking tour in the city dedicated to women’s history.

It’s not just about dates and facts; it’s about real women who fought for education, voting rights, and social change—stories that can surprise and inspire.

One of their standout tours, To The Roots Of Czech Women’s Emancipation, takes you on a two-hour stroll through Prague’s New and Old Town. You’ll hear about women like Karolína Světlá and Eliška Krásnohorská—names that might not ring a bell but who played huge roles in winning basic rights for women in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The walk hits familiar spots—the National Theatre, Charles Square—but from a fresh, feminist angle that makes you see the city differently.

Another offering, The Feminist Side of Prague 5, explores a less obvious part of town. It weaves together the past and present, from a 1930s hostel for working women to street art celebrating today’s feminist voices. There’s even a small perk—a discount on coffee and sweets after the tour.

But the project isn’t without its hurdles. “Registering as self-employed (OSVČ) and navigating Czech bureaucracy was definitely a challenge, especially with the language barriers,” Huck admits. “My biggest ongoing challenge is reaching a wider audience and ensuring the project’s long-term sustainability. It’s incredibly rewarding, but also hard to do solo.”

To move things forward, she recently became a finalist in the Social Impact Award, earning a spot in an incubator program that includes three months of one-on-one mentoring for social entrepreneurs. “There’s a lot of exciting growth ahead,” she says.

Prague Feminist Tours also collaborates with SomethingNew Prague to host WALK & TALK events that combine local history with community connection. A recent tour honored women buried at Olšany Cemeteries, including Libuše Palachová, who dedicated her life to preserving the memory of her son Jan Palach, who died protesting the Soviet invasion in 1969.

The tours are adaptable for all audiences—from students and NGOs to companies looking for meaningful team-building. This makes feminist history accessible and relevant to a wide range of people, regardless of their background.

And while the walks are full of powerful moments, one story stands out. “One that really sticks with people is that of Ludmila Bozděchová, an unsung heroine of Czech history,” says Huck. “In the 1870s, she dreamed of working as a telegraph operator in Prague’s post office, but women weren’t allowed to hold such jobs. Encouraged by the American Ladies’ Club, she studied telegraphy and boldly wrote a letter to the Emperor himself, demanding the right to work. He was so impressed, he granted her an audience and changed the law in 1872 to allow women to be hired as postal clerks.”

 

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This summer marks two years of Prague Feminist Tours, and to celebrate, Averil is hosting a birthday party on August 13 at Dorado Coffee (Betlémské náměstí), open to all and featuring activities, conversation, and a relaxed community vibe.

Full details here

As a special offer for Prague Morning readers, Averil is also giving 10% off gift vouchers until August 31. Just use the code PRG10MORNING2025 when purchasing through the website.

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