For visitors to heritage sites

The Department of the Heritage Properties Administration of the National Heritage Institute is in charge of the largest collection of immovable cultural heritage in the Czech Republic, looking after a total of 104 heritage properties, among them castles, historic country houses, churches, monasteries, skansens (open-air museums) and technical monuments, and the land surrounding them, as well as historic gardens and parks. The main role of the Department is to protect the cultural heritage of this country so that it is preserved for future generations. The distinctive activity of this department is the presentation of heritage properties to the wider public in the form of guided tours that document the life of the erstwhile owners in the original setting and a variety of historical periods with period furnishings. They also augment the knowledge about the entrusted properties by means of thematic exhibitions, educational programmes and special events. They make sure that historic properties perform their traditional functions as centres for social and cultural events in given regions, serve as places to have eventful holidays, or even to experience peace and rest. Offering a wide range of services such as restaurants, cafes, commercial lets, weddings or company events to the public is essential; heritage properties are sought after as attractive environments for shooting films.