Dozens of rarely accessible buildings to welcome visitors during Open House Prague
This weekend, Prague opens the doors to 125 rarely accessible buildings as part of the 11th edition of the Open House Prague festival. From historic palaces to modern architectural gems, visitors will have the chance to explore a wide range of spaces — all free of charge. I spoke with festival spokeswoman Michaela Pánková and began by asking her what this year’s theme, “Past Heritage, Future Challenges,” means in the context of the festival.
“This year's motto provided us with a unique opportunity to explore buildings that are, for example, abandoned or have lost their original function and are now being redesigned to serve future generations. One example is the former locomotive depot at Masaryk Station, which could be transformed into a museum.
“That’s one of the biggest thematic lines. We are also focusing on schools for future generations, opening inspiring examples like high schools or university buildings that have been transformed into high-tech, energy-positive, and sustainable spaces. These include Českobrodská High School and Gymnasium, or the Green Pavilion of Tropical Agriculture in Suchdol.”
Several buildings are opening to the public for the first time this weekend. Which new sites do you think will spark the most interest?
“Similarly to last year, the most interest will be focused on Prague Castle, where we are opening, as usual, the Hartig Garden and also the Plečnik Pavilion, which is located under the famous Plečnik sightseeing site. These areas are usually closed to the public. The pavilion originally served as a greenhouse or garden, and though it sometimes hosts exhibitions, visitors will now be able to access both sites. There will also be great interest in the Mladotovský Palace, also known as the Faust House. It’s a very beautiful palace with interesting interiors in Nové Město.”
This year's festival also includes special tours for visually impaired visitors and children. How will these tours be tailored to meet their needs?
“The festival Open House Prague wants to be open to everyone. That’s why we organize special tours for children, which include activity sheets where they can draw and design their own ideas, inspired by the design of specific areas and buildings they visit. We also prepare 3D models and tactile maps for visually impaired visitors. These tours often take place outside the city centre, in districts where we arrange a program specifically suited for people with visual impairments. There will also be interpretation into sign language for visitors who are deaf.”
With so many sites open this weekend, how can visitors make the most of their experience?
“There are many interesting sites open for the first time this year, and visitors can enjoy a beautiful walk through them. We provide up-to-date information via our free mobile festival app. In the app, visitors can see not only the length of each tour, but also the expected waiting times if there are queues. And of course, don’t hesitate to ask our volunteers or visit us at the Festival Info Centre at the Hybernská Campus. We’ll happily provide more tips.”
