On 27 September 2026 the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) opened its castles, chateaux and other monuments free of charge in all regions of Czechia for the second time. A total of 106 sites managed by the NPÚ took part in the open day, and a visit required a ticket reserved in advance for a specific time or tour route.[1][2] The event followed a spring pilot project of the Ministry of Culture, under which selected state museums and galleries were opened free of charge on Sundays; this project continued in autumn 2026 on the first Sunday of each month.[1]*

Participating monuments

Nearly all monuments managed by the NPÚ took part; the most, 15 in total, were in the South Moravian Region.[1][2][3] In Prague only the gardens below Prague Castle were open free of charge, while Invalidovna, which the NPÚ also manages, had been closed since August 2026 for reconstruction.[1][2][3]

Interest and reservations

Interest in the free tickets was high, and most of them had been reserved before the event.[1][2][3] In the gardens below Prague Castle, castellan Helena Špáňová expected about 800 visitors on Sunday, compared with at most 300 on an ordinary Sunday.[4] Reservations there were sold out, and according to the castellan visitors from Czechia predominated this time, whereas the gardens are usually visited mainly by foreigners; a regular ticket costs 180 crowns.[4] Visitors to the gardens had a reserved hour of arrival, but the length of their stay was not limited, and they walked through the gardens without a guide. On Sunday the garden administration also opened the second Ledeburský průjezd, so that people did not have to return by the same route when leaving.[4]

The first edition in August 2026

Visitors were first able to use the free tours at the end of August 2026.[1][2][3] Bečov nad Teplou Castle in the Karlovy Vary Region then received about 1,400 people, twice its usual attendance, and about a third more visitors than usual came to the Zákupy chateau in the Česká Lípa area.[1][2][3] The Ministry of Culture planned to repeat the free visits to state castles and chateaux the following year as well.[1][2][3]

Related articles: National Heritage Institute

Chronology

  • — The National Heritage Institute opened 106 state castles, chateaux and other monuments free of charge for the second time; entry required a ticket reserved in advance. ČTK / České noviny Seznam Zprávy

Sources

  1. ČTK / České noviny — 27 September 2026
  2. Seznam Zprávy — 27 September 2026
  3. Pražský deník — 27 September 2026
  4. iDNES.cz — 27 September 2026