The European Heritage Days from September 7 to 15 will open nearly 700 monuments

Prague - European Heritage Days, taking place this year from September 7 to 15, will open nearly 700 often normally inaccessible monuments across the Czech Republic. Many locations will offer visitors accompanying programs including guided tours or commented walks. This was stated today at a press conference by representatives of the Association of Historical Settlements of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, which is the national guarantor of the event. A catalog of participating monuments is available on the website.

European Heritage Days have been organized since 1991 under the auspices of the Council of Europe. Their mission is to promote historical heritage. In the Czech Republic, these days have been held since 1992. It is an event that annually opens as many architectural, archaeological, and sacred monuments, museums, galleries, and libraries, as well as technical monuments and other sites as possible. This year's theme is "Monuments Connect the World," with over 690 monuments participating in the Czech Republic, most of which will offer free admission or by donation.

"We strive to present these gems to foreign visitors as well, which is why European Heritage Days are important, because monuments really connect the world. They are monuments both owned by municipalities and cities as well as in private hands. We encourage owners of monuments to offer programs, especially guided tours, where visitors can learn much more about the monument on-site than if they visited it at another time or alone,” said the association's vice-chairperson, Pavlína Jagošová.

At the ceremonial opening, which will take place this year from September 6 to 8 in Klášterec nad Ohří, Minister of Culture Martin Baxa (ODS) will award the title of Bearer of the Tradition of Folk Crafts to three craftswomen. There are 94 bearers of the tradition of folk crafts, and to obtain this title, a craftsman must not only be a master of their trade but also pass their skills on to future generations.

Marcela Hrabovská will receive the title for the production of egg decorations decorated with straw. She cuts small shapes from dried and ironed straw, which she assembles into patterns on eggs. She works with straw from various types of grains, allowing her to apply different shades of yellow. In addition to geometric patterns, she also creates egg designs with figurative motifs and religious themes.

Renata Potěšilová will receive the title for the production and modification of folk costumes. Her specialization is the ancient technique of pleating, which is used in the production of unsewn skirts from the Horňácký folk costume, known as fěrtochy.

Jiřina Štrynclová is dedicated to the handmade production of glass figurines. She heats rods of lead glass over a torch and shapes the molten material using winding and pulling techniques. She creates traditional figures, including Saint Nicholas with a devil, craftsmen, musicians, and characters from nativity scenes or folk legends.

The opening in Klášterec nad Ohří will be accompanied by a program including concerts, tours, and the opening of the exhibition Bearers of the Tradition of Folk Crafts. The full program is available on the European Heritage Days website.