Beneš's villa in Sezimovo Ústí will be open on Saturday and Sunday

Prague - This Saturday and Sunday, interested visitors will be able to tour the villa of Hanna and Edvard Beneš in Sezimovo Ústí in the Tábor region. Visitors can look forward to a tour of the building's exterior, and they can expect to see the former president's favorite corner located in the ground-floor hall, as well as the dining room and study, which, along with the bedroom, are located on the first floor. The interior is furnished with antiques and period furniture that the Beneš couple decorated their home with, as noted in the press release from the Government Office, which has managed the building since 1975.
      The recently renovated villa in Sezimovo Ústí is the only residence of the Czech prime minister outside of Prague. There is regularly a high interest in the tours, and the organizers of the event therefore recommend booking visits in advance. Tours are limited due to capacity reasons.
      The villa, after a three-year renovation that ended in 2009, corresponds to the original design by architect Petr Kropáček from the 1930s. The reconstruction, including the interior furnishings, cost almost 20 million crowns.
      Edvard Beneš spent the last moments of his life in the villa. He mainly went there to relax, but he also received significant visitors there. The house and land were bequeathed by Hanna Benešová in 1973 to the Tábor museum to serve as a memorial to her husband. However, during socialism, the building was converted into a government recreational residence. It is no longer expected that state officials would regularly vacation in the villa. However, on the second floor, there are spaces for government visits and a prime minister's room.
      Since 2000, the building has been a cultural monument. Entry to the villa, as well as to the memorial at the entrance to the garden, is free.