Explore architectural gems across Czechia during this week-long festival

Architectural wonders both modern and forgotten await discovery during the largest architectural festival in the Czech Republic, Architecture Day, which runs from this weekend through October 5. The festival offers over 450 free events across both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Visitors can choose from excursions to typically inaccessible buildings, architectural walks, cycling tours guided by architects, historians, and other experts in the field, and much more. The festival also caters to children with specially designed programs. A full program of events and tours across the country can be found at the festival's website.

The 13th edition of the festival is themed Discovering Structures and focuses on extraordinary structural solutions from various perspectives, spanning historical architecture to 20th and 21st-century constructions. The program provides insights into diverse architectural styles, from Baroque to Functionalism and Brutalism, all the way to contemporary designs.

Visitors can trace the footsteps of Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel, a notable figure in Baroque Gothic, and explore the works of Karel Prager, one of the most significant post-war architects in the Czech Republic. This year marks the 300th anniversary of the death of Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel and the 100th anniversary of the birth of Karel Prager.

The festival also doesn't shy away from showcasing the latest architectural creations and successful renovations by contemporary architects in the Czech Republic.

In addition to architectural exploration, the festival incorporates theatrical performances and concerts, including productions by the JEDL Santini theater and a unique project by Jiří Havlíček, Petra Hůlová, and Petr Vrba called Housing Analysis.

The festival aims to draw attention to quality architecture and present it within broader contexts, emphasizing post-war and contemporary architecture. Several events address the transformations in various locations and necessary changes in public spaces from social and sustainability perspectives. The festival collaborates with local associations and architects to bring these events to life.

Czech Architecture Day coincides with the Film and Architecture Festival, an international film event occurring in 26 cities across the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Berlin.

The festival's 12th edition, running from September 29 to October 4, 2023, features 38 short and feature films focused on architecture, urban development, and design. The program includes discussions with creators, lectures, and special events.

Both festivals are organized by the Kruh civic association, which draws upon over two decades of experience and extensive collaborations with architects, organizations, and institutions in all regions.

Over the course of its 13-year existence, the festival has engaged more than 240 cities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Czech Architecture Day is traditionally celebrated on the first Monday in October, coinciding with World Architecture Day.