A tireless initiator of reconciliation in Horní Maxov, who has been connecting the Czech and German communities for over 15 years – with a focus on restoring memory and shared identity.

Together with the local community, he has helped restore dozens of graves of Sudeten Germans, creating space for historical healing and intercultural trust.

Thanks to Michal, Horní Maxov has transformed from a remote mountain village into a symbol of openness and historical reconciliation. His work shows that forgiveness and memory are not at odds – but together, they create a stronger, more vibrant community.

He has initiated unique projects such as: The restoration of the cemetery (including the adoption of abandoned graves and work with the legacy of displaced Germans), the Freedom Trail (a 12-kilometer loop with symbolic stops and quotes about freedom, connecting three villages and their shared history), the publication of the 19th-century Chronicle of Horní Maxov and work on its continuation, and the restoration of a former mortuary into the Chapel of Reconciliation, among others.