Prague Castle, closed during coronavirus quarantine, to reopen to public on May 25

Prague, April 29 (CTK) – Prague Castle, the seat of Czech heads of state, which was closed in March over the novel coronavirus pandemic and subsequent declaration of the state of emergency in the Czech Republic, will reopen to the public on May 25, Presidential Office spokesman Jiří Ovčáček told CTK today.

The park of the Lany Chateau, the presidential summer residence near Prague, will open on May 11, Ovčáček added.

Asked by CTK whether all parts of the Prague Castle normally accessible to visitors will open as of May 25, Ovčáček said the Prague Castle Administration would release more details later.

He only said the Castle would open “under standard conditions.”

Other state-run castles and chateaus as well other heritage sights in the Czech Republic, administered by the National Heritage Institute, will also open to visitors on May 25, while their parks and gardens will open two weeks earlier.

Sightseeing tours will take place there with the observance of strict sanitary rules.

The government originally planned to open castles and chateaus on June 8 only, but last week, the cabinet eased the restrictive measures taken to curb the coronavirus spread in reaction to the so far quite favorable data on the epidemic in the Czech Republic.

The Prague Castle was closed gradually in connection with the coronavirus crisis. First, some tours of the interiors were closed, followed by other premises and galleries situated at the Castle. The daily changing of the guards at the first courtyard was suspended. The whole Prague Castle closed on March 12.

The Prague Castle is one of the most popular heritage sights in the country, being annually visited by two million people, both Czechs and foreign tourists. It houses the president’s office.

Under incumbent President Miloš Zeman, the access to Prague Castle was complicated both for Praguers and tourists due to security measures. Personal checks of all visitors to the Castle were introduced at all entries in the summer of 2016, which provoked strong criticism. The checkpoints are equipped with door frame metal detectors.