July holidays in Czechia: Activities and openings to make the most of your days off

The first week of July brings two holidays to Czechia, and that always raises the question of whether or not stores are open. The good news for people who want to do some last-minute shopping for a cookout is that all stores can be open on both Wednesday, July 5, which is Cyril and Methodius Day, and Thursday, July 6, when we remember Jan Hus.

Stores of any size are allowed to stay open, but some may choose not to do so. Banks, government offices, and similar institutions will be closed. Most people should have both days off.

The government-owned Kramář Villa (Kramářova vila) will be opened to the public for tours on both days. The neo-Baroque style villa, located at the edges of Letná park, has 56 rooms. It was built between 1911 and 1914 for Karel Kramář, who would later be the first Czechoslovak prime minister. Since 1998, the villa has been the official residence of the Czech prime minister. Tours take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but lines can be long so don’t wait until the last minute.

The Senate, Chamber of Deputies, and Prague City Hall have not announced any special public events.

All the buildings of the National Museum, Prague City Gallery, National Technical Museum, Kunsthalle, the National Gallery Prague, DOX, and Musoleum will be open, as will Prague Zoo and the Botanical Gardens, including the Fata Morgana greenhouse. All will charge normal admission fees.

The main building of the Museum of Applied Arts and the House of the Black Madonna is open on both days, and the Josef Sudek Gallery is open on July 5. Kasárna Karlín is closed from July 5 to 8.

Some of the outdoor summer cinemas have screenings, and on the roof of DOX you can see the 2017 art film Redoubtable about director Jean Luc Godard, with English subtitles. Sunset Cinema is showing The Proposal on July 5 and The Great Gatsby on July 6.

Some farmers markets that are normally open on weekends will be closed. The popular one at náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad will be closed from July 5 to 8.

Saints Cyril and Methodius Day and Jan Hus Day, both rooted in religious significance, mark important events in Czech history. In 863, two Greek brothers named Cyril and Methodius introduced Eastern Orthodox Christianity to Moravia, the eastern region of the Czech Republic. Despite the presence of Roman Catholicism in the area, Prince Rastislav of Great Moravia, the ruler at the time, sought to align with the East for political reasons.

On the following day, July 6, the Czechs commemorate the tragic fate of Jan Hus, a Catholic priest, reformer, and philosopher. In 1415, Hus was condemned as a heretic and burned at the stake in Konstanz, which is now part of Germany. To prevent his remains from becoming relics for his followers, his ashes were thrown into the Rhine River.

Today, Saints Cyril and Methodius Day and Jan Hus Day hold significant meaning for the Czech lands, as harbingers of the arrival of summer in addition to their historical importance.