From Kafka's office to a secret Baroque garden: Access Czech cultural monuments – free

The European Heritage Days, running from Sept. 7 to 15, will grant access to nearly 700 often-inaccessible monuments across the Czech Republic, the Association of Historical Settlements of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia (SHS CMS) announced.

The event, held annually under the auspices of the Council of Europe since 1991, aims to promote historical heritage. It has been celebrated in the Czech Republic since 1992, providing access to a range of architectural, archaeological, and cultural wonders, many offering free or voluntary entry fees.

Many sites will offer guided tours and walks as an accompanying program. This year’s theme, Monuments Connect the World, features over 690 participating sites. The complete list and accompanying program is available online.

“We are trying to introduce these gems to foreign visitors because monuments do connect the world,” said Pavlína Jagošová, vice-president of the SHS CMS. “We encourage monument owners to offer guided tours, where visitors can learn much more about the site than if they visited it on their own.”

In Prague, the event highlights fascinating monuments, some hidden in plain sight and others reemerging after being lost to history.

The Hotel Century Old Town Prague - MGallery by Sofitel, built in 1894 in the Baroque Revival style by Czech architect Alfons Wertmüller, served as office space for the Workers’ Accident Insurance Institute. It was here that Franz Kafka worked as a clerk from 1908 to 1922.

Kafka’s time there was instrumental in shaping his literary career, as the bureaucratic environment and themes of deadlines, sick leave, and office culture profoundly influenced his writing.

The author, whose centenary of death is being commemorated this year, used to have his office in room 214, which is now the exclusive Kafka Suite. The hotel underwent a renovation in 2017, preserving its historic architecture while incorporating Cubism and Art Deco elements. It remains an important location on the Kafka literary trail.

The garden at U Censorů House in Prague is hidden within the historic Na Františku quarter, the northernmost part of Prague’s Old Town. The district’s history dates back to the 12th century; it became home to the Convent of St. Agnes, established by King Wenceslas I in 1233. Over time, the area deteriorated into a hub of poverty and crime, marked by narrow, dilapidated buildings.

Dating back to at least 1403, the house underwent a Baroque revival in 1795 by František Antonín Majer, Prague’s censor, who created a serene garden with statues by Matyáš Bernard Braun. By 1853, the garden had disappeared, replaced by workshops and concrete as the neighborhood declined.

The garden seemed lost until the Stöckl family stumbled upon it in the mid-20th century and restored it with ivy, rose beds, and replica statues. As part of the EHD event, visitors can explore the peaceful oasis, which preserves a small piece of the district’s complex history amidst modern Prague.

The Letohrádek and Portheimka Gallery in Prague 5 is now a culture and exhibition space, a Baroque mansion with a mansard roof which master architect K.I. Dienzenhofer built his family in 1725. The Reiner Hall’s Bacchanalian ceiling painting, sculptural busts by Antonín Braun, and other original decorations were preserved.

The full list of monuments open in Prague can be seen here.

The opening ceremony, held from Sept. 6 to 8 in Klášterec nad Ohří, North Bohemia, will feature Culture Minister Martin Baxa presenting three craftswomen with the title of Carrier of the Tradition of Folk Crafts.

This title, held by 94 artisans, is awarded to those who not only master their craft but also pass on their skills to the next generation.

The honorees include Marcela Hrabovská, known for creating Easter eggs decorated with straw; Renata Potešilová, recognized for her work in folk clothing production and modification; and Jiřina Strýnčlová, who specializes in handmade glass figurines.

The Klášterec nad Ohří opening will also feature concerts, tours, and the launch of the exhibition Carriers of the Tradition of Folk Crafts. The complete program is available on the European Heritage Days website.