„Doors Open Day“ in Kramář Villa

Visitors will have a unique opportunity to see premises where prominent figures of Czech and world politics hold their meetings. Karel Kramář, the first Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia, had the villa built in 1915.

It consisted of 56 rooms used for diverse purposes – including bedrooms, studies, dining and drawing rooms, guest suites and even a bathhouse, on a total area of 700 square metres. Hot houses, a tennis court and a park were built in its surroundings. The original interior of the villa was designed and executed in collaboration with such outstanding artists as J. Beneš, professor of the College of Applied Arts, and sculptor Celda Klouček.

After the death of Karel and Nadezhda Kramář, the villa passed into the ownership of the Karel Kramář Society. At the end of the 1930s it was administered by the National Museum, and in 1952 was passed to the Office of the Government Presidium, to be used mainly for social functions and accommodation of guests of the Czechoslovak state. In the 1990s it was completely renovated, and since 1998 has been serving as the residence of Czech Premier.

This year’s “Doors Open Day” will be accompanied by a unique exhibition of spatial objects created by two renowned Czech artists, Václav Cigler and Michal Motyčka, called “Doubled vertical”.

The exhibition will be open for the public on 10th October, 2009, from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m.