<div>On the weekend, the normally inaccessible courtyards of Malá Strana will open.</div>

Prague - This upcoming weekend, the usually inaccessible courtyards and gardens of Malá Strana will open their doors. At fourteen locations, people will enjoy a cultural program, poetry readings, exhibitions, or classical music concerts. Visitors can expect an extraordinary atmosphere and the architecture of forgotten Prague nooks, said the organizer, café owner Ondřej Kobza, to ČTK. The event aims to draw attention to the ongoing displacement of the city center and the debated issue of short-term rentals through alternative platforms like Airbnb.

"Only about 3000 people permanently live in Malá Strana, half as many as after the revolution. Instead of them, buildings are full of tourists," stated Kobza. "We are losing the original charm and spirit of Prague, the charming pubs and lively streets. Instead, we are left with overpriced restaurants and souvenir shop windows," he added.

He sees part of the problem in the massively growing popularity of short-term rentals. "A city transformed into a museum will, in the end, be unattractive even to tourists," he stated. The open courtyards aim to symbolically return the old Prague to everyday life for a while.

The phenomenon of Airbnb is not only affecting Czech cities. Many European capitals have started to regulate short-term rentals. Discussions are also underway in the Czech Republic regarding possible legislative changes. According to the city's estimates, 3000 to 5000 out of approximately 15,000 apartments in Prague 1 are rented out through shared accommodation platforms. The city hall is addressing the rental issue, as are other tourist-attractive cities. For example, artist Kateřina Šedá wants to highlight the depopulated center of Český Krumlov, where daily life is disappearing, in the UNES-CO project.

"It's important to have the opportunity to enter places you've never been before. When you walk by in the future, you'll know what's behind the wall, and that's not insignificant at all," said architect Adam Gebrian about the weekend festival of open courtyards.

The courtyards of Malá Strana will open to the public for the second time this Saturday and Sunday. Last year, around 7000 people attended the event. This year, visitors can look forward to open access to courtyards on Sněmovní, Nerudova, or Vlašská streets and at Loretánské náměstí. A printed program with all the information will be available at Malostranské náměstí.