Record crowds explore Czech Senate during Oct. 28 open houses in Prague

A record 7,316 people visited the Czech Senate on Wednesday as Prague’s parliamentary buildings opened their doors for the anniversary of Czechoslovakia’s founding.

Nearly 5,000 others toured the Chamber of Deputies, according to the lower house. The holiday open houses gave visitors access to debating chambers, historic salons and offices usually closed to the public.

Other institutions welcoming visitors on Oct. 28 included the government headquarters at Straka Academy, Prague City Hall, Municipal House and several ministries.

At Wallenstein Palace, visitors could sit in senators’ seats in the debating chamber and speak with members of the upper house. Senate President Miloš Vystrčil welcomed guests, including in his office.

The chamber’s voting signal sounded every half-hour, giving visitors a sense of the working parliamentary environment.

In the Presidential Salon, guests could try a secret ballot. The Frýdlant Salon demonstrated how the Senate receives a foreign delegation.

The route also included historic interiors of Wallenstein Palace and the Pink and Green salons in neighboring Kolowrat Palace, which are not normally accessible to the public.

Senate Vice President Jiří Oberfalzer opened his office as well. A game prepared for children and adults accompanied the tours.

The Senate’s final attendance of 7,316 set a record, its press department told ČTK.

At Thun Palace, home to the Chamber of Deputies, visitors explored the main debating chamber, ceremonial staircase, Dagmar Burešová Hall and press atrium.

Chamber Speaker Tomio Okamura was among those welcoming the public. The lower house reported almost 5,000 visitors in its account of the open day.

Outside the debating chamber, an exhibition displayed entries from two competitions held in 2024 and 2025 to design a new visual presentation of the Czech Constitution.

Visitors could also enter the Parlamentárium, an educational space using multimedia presentations to explain Parliament’s history, purpose and work. The parliamentary Information Center was open, too.

The visits formed part of the Oct. 28 national holiday, marking 108 years since the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Across Prague, the open houses allowed the public to see both the historic settings and everyday working spaces of institutions more commonly encountered through news coverage.