On the weekend, Beneš's villa in Sezimovo Ústí will be open

Prague - On the last Saturday and Sunday of July, interested parties will be able to visit the summer residence of Hana and Edvard Beneš in Sezimovo Ústí. The monument, which has been managed by the government office since 1975 and is the only government residence located outside of Prague, has undergone extensive restoration in recent years. This year, the office is organizing exceptional tours a total of six times. Additional dates will be at the end of August, September, and October.
      The villa, after a three-year restoration that ended in 2009, reflects the original design by architect Petr Kropáček from the 1930s. During the restoration, architects removed insensitive alterations made by Communist politicians. The dark wooden paneling has disappeared from the interior, which now features period decorative items and furniture. The house again has green shutters and an ochre facade. The reconstruction cost nearly 20 million crowns, including the furnishing of the interior.
      The basis of the exhibition on the ground floor is the dining room and living hall with the president's favorite nook. On the first floor, the study and bedroom, where Beneš passed away, are accessible. These two rooms were open only on state holidays and anniversaries of the Beneš family before the renovation. Interested parties could otherwise learn about the president's statesmanship as well as the private lives of the couple only in the exhibition that was established in the building below the villa in 2005.
      Edvard Beneš spent the last moments of his life in the villa. He came here mainly to relax but also received significant guests. Hana Benešová bequeathed the house and grounds to the Tábor Museum in 1973, so that it could serve as a memorial to her husband. However, during socialism, the building was converted into a government recreation facility. It is no longer planned for state officials to use the villa for recreation. However, there are spaces for government visits and a prime minister's room on the second floor.
      Since 2000, the villa has been a cultural monument. Entry to the house, as well as to the memorial at the entrance to the garden, is free.