Castles, chateaux, churches, museums, and unique technical sites. Cultural monuments are a major reason why people travel within the Czech Republic. In 2024, 47% of foreign visitors and 38% of domestic travelers visited them. Prague is, as always, the most popular destination. However, other regions are increasingly attracting visitors, with tourists exploring places that were previously overlooked. Foreign visitors to Czech monuments are most often from more distant countries, while tourists from neighboring countries combine their visit to the Czech Republic with active recreation.

Castles and chateaux: a favorite choice

Castles and chateaux are the most popular choice for those traveling to see monuments. However, tourists also visit museums and galleries, towers, churches, and explore examples of folk architecture, or follow the footsteps of famous personalities. Cultural monuments also play a significant role in overall tourist spending.

"According to the latest available data from 2023, spending on activities related to cultural monuments accounted for approximately 17% of all tourist spending. This was particularly high in Prague, at nearly 80%. Those who travel to see monuments are often those who have to travel a greater distance. This makes sense – if someone is already making a longer journey, they want to see as much of the country as possible. However, there are also nations with a strong cultural heritage. These include countries such as Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Israel. From more distant destinations, we see visitors from Japan, South Korea, and the United States," summarizes František Reismüller, director of the Czech Tourism Agency (CzechTourism), and adds: "In contrast, tourists, especially from neighboring countries, spend their time in the Czech Republic in other ways. A growing trend is active holidays, where people combine sports, nature, and gastronomy with cultural experiences. They enjoy the perfect mix that makes the Czech Republic an attractive destination for all age groups."

Records and new developments

State-owned castles, chateaux, and other monuments managed by the National Monument Institute (NPÚ) welcomed over four million visitors last year. This marks the second consecutive year that the four-million visitor mark has been exceeded.

Among the most visited monuments are, as always, Prague Castle, which attracted 2.6 million visitors in 2024, a 17% increase compared to the previous year. There is a growing interest in monuments that have been renovated, that are opening new spaces, offering new tour routes, and providing visitors with new experiences.

"Among the most popular destinations are, for example, Lednice Castle and the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora. Each of these sites attracted approximately 306,000 visitors last year. There is also significant interest in the largest open-air museum in the Czech Republic, the Wallachian Open-Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, which was visited by 284,000 tourists. Technical monuments and architectural gems are also popular. For example, the Tatra Truck Museum attracted nearly 94,000 visitors last year, while the Villa Tugendhat in Brno was visited by almost 56,000 tourists," adds Petr Janeček, Head of the Tourism Institute at the Czech Tourism Agency (CzechTourism).

Historical sites as a cornerstone of CzechTourism campaigns

Cultural monuments play a key role in promoting the Czech Republic abroad. They are part of most of CzechTourism's marketing activities and help to promote not only the main tourist centers, but also lesser-known locations that have something to offer and are definitely worth a visit.

Inspiration from Kudy z nudy and VisitCzechia

Tips for visiting cultural monuments, including lesser-known and normally inaccessible sites, can be found on the Kudy z nudy portal. Foreign visitors can find information on the VisitCzechia website, which is available in multiple languages and provides a summary of what the Czech Republic has to offer. Both of these resources can serve as inspiration not only when planning a trip, but also on the occasion of International Day for Monuments and Sites, which UNESCO, together with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, declared in 1982. This holiday of cultural heritage is celebrated every year on April 18th.

CzechTourism / gnews.cz - RoZ