The entire Deer Moat below Prague Castle will open to the public starting Sunday

Prague - Prague Castle will permanently open the Deer Moat to the public starting Sunday. Security checks at the entrance to the Deer Moat and the Royal Garden will also come to an end. This was announced today by the spokesman for the presidential office, Vít Novák. The upper part of the moat is already open, while construction works continued in the lower part during the autumn, which included repairs to the walls.

During the Advent season, there will also be attractions for children in the castle gardens. "There will be an ice rink, a live nativity scene, and a First Republic carousel," Novák described. The area will be open to visitors daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

The introduction of security checks in certain parts of the Castle has been criticized by the public. Castle officials justified the closures by citing demanding repairs, and security checks were implemented at the request of the police, according to the presidential office. In October of this year, Novák stated that the unique natural ravine beneath the Castle should be permanently accessible to the public starting from April 2023.

The accessibility of the moat without checks does not apply to entry into Prague Castle. A decision on their abolition has not yet been made.

The Deer Moat was inaccessible to the public during the socialist era and was opened during the presidency of Václav Havel. A stream called Brusnice flows through it and it is divided into an upper and lower section by the earthen embankment of the Mysterious Bridge with a pedestrian tunnel designed by architect Josef Pleskot.

In 2017, some entrances to the lower part of the moat were closed citing security measures. The following year, the Castle announced that the lower part of the Deer Moat would be closed for reconstruction, which was originally supposed to last ten months but was prolonged. The upper part, which was closed due to work related to a sewer failure, opened last year. This year, historical walls and towers were repaired in the lower part.