Where will you be celebrating spring this year? At a castle, in an open-air museum, or on a walk in the countryside?
No other day is better for celebrating the arrival of spring than 20 March, which is astronomically the first day of spring and falls on a Friday this year (at 3.45 pm). Nevertheless, most of us know that the ‘traditional’ first day of spring is 21 March. Interestingly, 20 March is also World Sparrow Day. You can welcome spring at the weekend of 21 and 22 March 2026, for example by taking part in the Čertova podkova walk, visiting the orchid exhibition at the botanical garden in Liberec, or going for a stroll in Prague’s botanical garden, or perhaps by taking a trip to castles and chateaux.
How to celebrate the arrival of spring?
You can also mark the arrival of spring at the farmers’ markets at Jiřák, Heřmaňák, Náplavka or Kubán, where you can sample plenty of delicacies. The range of produce is constantly changing and expanding, particularly with the seasons. However, you will always find fresh fruit and vegetables, hand-knotted rolls, authentic sourdough bread, sugared cakes, various cheeses, homemade smoked meats, fresh fish and poultry, spices and even fresh pasta, ciders, wines from Moravia and a whole range of delicacies from local producers, including organic options. Specialities from various corners of the world are also available.
A traditional exhibition at the open-air museum in Přerov nad Labem will show what spring life in the countryside was like in our great-grandmothers’ day. Running from 14 March to 19 April, this exhibition will present traditional customs and traditions from Shrovetide to May Day, as recorded by ethnographic collectors in this region.
The celebration of the first days of spring will take place from 18 to 22 March at the exhibition grounds in Lysá nad Labem. The 62nd edition of the Zemědělec fair, the largest event in the field of gardening, horticulture and agriculture, is a fine example of the event’s popularity among both experts and the general public. As usual, exhibitors will offer a wide range of spring flowers, seeds, saplings, shrubs, protective equipment and gardening tools, as well as agricultural and horticultural machinery.
Spring will also be welcomed in Plzeň, where the Blik blik 2026 festival of light and art will take place. This 11th edition, which will take place from 19 to 21 March 2026, will be a multi-day event for the first time, with its main theme being ‘Symbiosis’ – the relationship between people, the city and nature. The city of Plzeň will link several locations with light installations and interactive projections, offering a unique artistic experience.
Weekend celebration of spring at castles and châteaux
The official opening of the tourist season at Slavkov – Austerlitz Palace will take place on Saturday 21 March. The gates to the palace grounds will open to the public from 9:00 am, with the first tours starting at 10:00 am. The highlight of the day will be a celebratory programme in the historic hall, beginning at 2:00 pm. Visitors can look forward to cultural performances in the authentic setting of the Baroque palace and the current exhibition ‘The World of Cubes’. This event will symbolically mark the start of a rich season of festivities and markets in Slavkov.
Veltrusy Castle invites you to weekend tours of ‘Aristocracy: The Beginning of the End’ until April 2026. The rooms open to the public, overlooking the courtyard, were home to the last ownersof this estate, Cary and Livia Chotek, from 1921, when Count Arnošt Chotek, the last member of the Chotek family in this line, invited them here as heirs.
Český Šternberk Castle is also open in March, with tours taking place every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00and 14:00. The castle features a single tour route on the second floor, which includes fifteen richly furnished rooms: a grand hall with stucco decoration and family coats of arms, smaller salons for everyday use, a library, a dining room and more. During the tour, you will learn more about the last generations of the Sternberg family, particularly Jiří Sternberg (1888–1965), who redesigned the castle’s interiors and from whom the castle was nationalised in 1949.
In search of almond trees and light displays
If you’re looking for a unique spring experience, you can head to Hustopeče from 20 to 22 March for the Almond Tree and Wine Festival. You can also set off on a walk along the “Almond Tree Trail to the Lookout Tower”, and those interested can join a guided tour. The permanent wine exhibition and cellars on Na Hradbách Street will also be open, where you can sample local wines. On Sunday 22 March, all the action will take place in the orchards. You can either complete tasks along the route or enjoy a peaceful stroll through the orchard and up to the lookout tower. A 5 km nature trail will lead you to the largest almond orchards in Central Europe.
Enjoy active spring weekends
For the first time this year, the popular Cyklohráček cycle route will set off again on 21 March, taking you from Prague to Slaný. You can plan a trip, for example, from Hostivice through the picturesque countryside around Okoř Castle and the Zákolanské Valley.
The flowers currently in bloom are also an invitation to explore: you can find them in the Podtrosecká Valley Nature Reserve, in the Chlébský Stream valley, in the castle park in Kostelec nad Orlicí, on Kamenný vrch in Brno, in Lačnov, Sedlnice or on the Havranice heath.
The Celtic Telegraph 2026 will also take place on Saturday 21 March – this modern tradition, inspired by Celtic history, symbolically welcomes spring. Hundreds of locations across the Czech Republic will take part in the event. The aim is not merely the technical transmission of light, but also the renewal of respect for nature and shared experiences within the community. Anyone can take part – simply register on the project website, choose a vantage point and, at the appointed time, send a light signal to the next hill.
