Are you a fan of vibrant landscapes? Don’t miss the Open Gardens Weekend
The **Opening Feast of Normally Inaccessible Gardens** (Open Garden & Squares Weekend) started in 1998 in the UK and is celebrated during a weekend in June. In the Czech Republic, this special event for garden enthusiasts took place for the **first time in 2010**, featuring three gardens opened by the National Heritage Institute. Since then, the number of participating gardens has increased every year. This year, a total of **320 public and private gardens** are taking part, along with various parks.
During the **Open Gardens Weekend**, visitors can often enjoy “extra” activities such as guided tours, concerts, theater performances, exhibitions, and programs for children. Regarding **admission fees?** They vary; some gardens are free, while others charge according to their price list, which is decided by the garden owners. The initiative aims to make gardens more accessible; however, not all gardens are free to enter. This year, all gardens will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, **June 7 and 8, 2025**.
Open Gardens and Admission Fees
The full title of the event can be a bit misleading, as many assume that entry to the gardens is free. The concept and name are derived from England, where they open gardens that are usually closed to the public. The term “open” signifies accessibility, but it **doesn’t indicate that all gardens are free to enter**. People in London typically purchase a pass that grants them access to these gardens. In the Czech Republic, there are fewer such locations, so organizers strive to offer **enhanced experiences**, including guided tours, concerts, and theatrical performances. The purpose of the event is to boost awareness and appreciation of garden art and architecture. **Admission prices are determined by the garden owners**, and often, the fees contribute to funding the accompanying programs and activities that enhance the garden experience during this “festival.” So please understand if you encounter entrance fees at some gardens over the Weekend.
Which garden will you explore this year? Notable participants that have been **regularly opening their gates for over ten years** include: the Nový dvůr Arboretum, Podzámecká Garden in Kroměříž, the Baroque Monastery Garden in Velehrad, the Academic Garden of the Horticulture Faculty at Mendel University in Lednice, Kveteto flower farm in Leština, Sázava Monastery, Toulcův dvůr, the Memorial to the Victims of Evil (Meditation Garden) in Pilsen, Sofronka Arboretum, Valeč Castle, Velké Březno Castle, Bečov Botanical Garden, Rynárec Nature Garden, and Chrástov Nature Garden.
Monastic or Herbal?
The official website can help you plan your visit; you can select **individual gardens** based on **region** or the **type of garden**. This year, there are about eighty **nature gardens** (like Veronica Centre Hostětín, Kraffer Garden, Salaš Travičná, or Myšlín Gardens) and roughly **a dozen parish or monastery gardens**. Options include the Baroque monastery garden at Velehrad, Borovany Monastery’s Flower Garden, St. Joseph’s Healing Garden, Fatima Koclířov Monastery Gardens, or the Piarist Monastery and Gardens of Příbor.
Don’t forget about the **historic gardens and parks** (Luftova, the park at Kynžvart, Kačina chateau, Raduň chateau, Stekník, Valeč, Lysice, Mikulov, Opočno, Hospital Kuks – Herb and Fruit Garden, and the Royal Garden of Prague Castle, as well as the garden at Villa Stiassni). Keep an eye out for **Botanical gardens and arboreta** such as the Bečovská, the Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Tropical Agriculture at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague – Suchdol, and the Rock Mini-Arboretum Velký Grunov, along with the Garden of Medicinal Plants at Charles University’s Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, among others.
