The Augustine commemorates the 20th Anniversary of The Velvet Revolution

THE AUGUSTINE COMMEMORATES THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VELVET REVOLUTION.

Next month is the 20 year anniversary of the famous Velvet Revolution, a series of non-violent uprisings beginning in Prague in November 1989 that saw the end of communism in Czechoslovakia.  To commemorate this event, The Rocco Forte Collection’s The Augustine, which opened earlier this year in the heart of Prague, is introducing a Velvet Revolution package offering guests the opportunity to learn more about this significant period in Czech history and discover the beautiful city of Prague.

The Velvet Revolution package runs from October 17th to December 17th, 2009 and includes:
• Two night’s accommodation in a classic king room with daily breakfast
• A four-hour Velvet Revolution-themed city tour in a vintage Trabant car with a driver and guide providing an insight into the country’s communist past taking in many key sites including Wenceslas Square.  The tour guide will provide a compelling insight into life under communist rule covering key events including the founding of Czechoslovakia, World War II, the Communist coup in 1948, Prague Spring, the Soviet invasion in 1968 and the1989 Velvet Revolution. 
• Entry to the Museum of Communism
• Welcome gift
• Complimentary use of The Augustine Spa
The Velvet Revolution package starts from €570 (approximately £528) based on two people sharing a classic or twin room subject to availability. 
 
Prague is celebrating the Velvet Revolution with a number of special events and exhibitions including the following which can be arranged through The Augustine’s Concierge Team:

• That Time in the East is a collection of photography illustrating everyday life under communist rule, a time when so much was demanded and so little allowed.  The exhibition is taking place from 28th October until 3rd January 2010 in the Stone Bell House.
• The Bee Free exhibition recreates the atmosphere of the communist state and features a number of note-worthy displays such as the hot-air balloon from which Radio Free Europe pamphlets were dropped in the territory of then Czechoslovakia, a court dock for the accused in political trials, a stylised samizdat work and even an entire apartment from that period. Bee Free is open from 17th November until 6th July 2010. 
• On 17th November a march commemorating the Velvet Revolution will take place beginning in the Albertov neighbourhood, where 20 years ago the definitive fall of the communist regime began. From there crowds will march to retrace the footsteps of the students who protested in 1989 to Národní třída – the site of the concert befittingly named 20 Years without the Curtain. 

To book the Velvet Revolution package or for further information, please call call 00 800 7666 6667 or visit www.roccofortecollection.com

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For further press information and/or images, please contact:

Anna Martin/Natasha Berg
The Rocco Forte Collection
Tel. +44 20 7766 3116
Email. pressinformation@roccofortecollection.com

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Rocco Forte Collection
The Rocco Forte Collection was established in 1996 to create a group of luxury hotels in Europe.  The hotels have individual styles, with each hotel reflecting its nationality and location. The properties are linked together under The Rocco Forte Collection, which guarantees attention to detail, quality and service delivery.

The Rocco Forte Collection comprises: Hotel de Russie, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; The Lowry Hotel, Manchester; Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg; Hotel Amigo, Brussels; Brown’s Hotel, London; Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; The Charles Hotel, Munich; The Augustine, Prague; Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily.

Future openings: Abu Dhabi – 2010; Jeddah – 2010; Marrakech – 2011