Historic Prague landmarks will open to the public next week during European Heritage Days

European Heritage Days is meant to expand the general awareness of our cultural heritage. The event’s goals are to improve information about other cultures, to protect cultural heritage in the broadest sense of the word, and to support an open and free view of culture, which has an effect not only on economic development, but also on the sustainable development of human society.

The event is held under the auspices of the Council of Europe, with 50 states participating. The first edition of European Heritage Days was held in 1991.

For people who want a road trip, the opening ceremony this year is on September 12 at 10 am in Olomouc at Horní náměstí, and it concludes with an audiovisual show at Holy Trinity Column, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The wedding chapel and Statue of Neptune by sculptor Bohuslav Schnirch can be seen for free on September 15 from 2 to 4 pm.

Also in Prague 2 there will be a guided tour, in Czech, of Havlíčkovy sady on September 12 at 3 pm and of Gröbeho vila at 5 pm.

The Police Museum will be open September 19–20 from 10 am to 5 pm. Historical weapons and uniforms, and all sorts of equipment are on display. Don’t miss the backyard, with vehicles and a helicopter. There is very little English on the displays.

In Prague 4, the theater Branické divadlo, also called Divadlo BRAVO, is open September 13 from 1 to 5 pm. There will be acrobatics by Losers Cirque Company, beat box, a concert by Josephine and the Band, and a tout of the theater.

More off the beaten track on September 13 from 3 to 4 pm there is a guided tour of the Jewish Cemetery in Radlice in Prague 5, one of the more obscure Jewish heritage sites in the city.

The historical waterworks, Stará čistírna, will be open in Prague 6 on September 26 from 10 am to 5 pm. There will be the standard admission fee, but special events will take place, such as opportunities to access the chimney.

There are sure to be long lines at the National Technical Museum in Prague 7, which will be open September 17 from 9 am to 6 pm for a reduced admission of 70 CZK.

Prague 8 is offering a wide array of its buildings. Libeňský zámek and nearby Grabova vila are open September 19 from noon to 6 pm. Libeňský zámek serves as the town hall, and has lots of preserved historical details including a chapel and a concert salon.

Grabova vila will be open September 19 from noon to 6 pm. The villa dates to the 1920s and counted composer Richard Strauss among its visitors. It was used by the occupying Germans in World War II for its youth league and then became state property.

Also related to World War II, Kobyliská střelnice, which was used as an execution site, will be open September 19 from 8 am to 6 pm.

There are also five churches and a synagogue in Prague 8 open at various times during the festival.