Into Bohnice: A Journey Through the Corridors of the Human Soul

How resilient is the human psyche? This question has occupied psychiatry for centuries. At the beginning of the 20th century, an institution was therefore established in the then-monarchy that continues to serve patients today. The former Royal Czech Provincial Institute for the Mentally Ill in Bohnice was built as a "state within a state" – and the complex has retained this character to the present day.

The programme will guide participants down Ústavní Street through the main gate into the complex, past the director's building and to the Church of St. Václav, whose history and significance will be presented in a broader context. It will also introduce the personality of architect Václav Roštlapil, author of, for example, the AVU building on Letná and the Strakovy Academy.

The route will lead through the park to the water tower, which was the sole source of drinking water for the entire institute until 1972. At individual pavilions, visitors will learn about the therapeutic processes that take place there and which patients they were designed for – some spaces will be open to visit. The programme concludes around the theatre and leads to the V. kolona café, which helps patients reintegrate into everyday life while also providing a space for public gatherings.

Practical Information
- Guide: Romana Jůdlová
- Duration: 1.5–2 hours (5.5–6 km)
- End point: V. kolona café, Ústavní 249
- Terrain suitable for pushchairs: yes
- Terrain suitable for wheelchair users: yes
- Tickets cannot be purchased on site. Reservations can be rescheduled to another date at least 24 hours before the start; less than 24 hours in advance, rescheduling is not possible, but you may send a substitute who will register under your name.