Tělesně postižení lidé si mohou prohlédnout jen některé památky People with physical disabilities can only visit some monuments

Prague - Only some monuments in Bohemia and Moravia are adapted for access by people in wheelchairs. However, according to representatives of the association of disabled people, the situation is gradually improving. They complain that the necessary construction modifications to many buildings to make them barrier-free are hindered by conservationists. The conservationists acknowledge the problem but say that where feasible, they allow interventions.
    "The buildings are old, and our ancestors did not consider this issue. Any modification is complicated, and new technical devices are difficult to integrate into the monument. It depends on the specific case. However, it is not the case that we do not want to accommodate wheelchair users and other people with disabilities," stated Pavel Konečný, director of the Olomouc office of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ).
    For example, among Prague's monuments, Prague Castle is reportedly quite accessible for people with physical disabilities. Wheelchair users cannot access only the White Tower and Daliborka. Much better than the monuments, museums, and especially theaters in Prague are prepared for wheelchair users.
    In the case of castles and chateaus, the situation is usually such that disabled people can access the courtyards, gardens, and ground floors. They can reach upper floors only with the help of others, as they must be carried up. Examples include the Central Bohemian Křivoklát and the Duchcov Castle in the Ústí nad Labem Region. Castle keepers can arrange assistants in some places by prior agreement, which can help, for example, when going up stairs.
    Some castles are practically inaccessible for wheelchair users. For instance, at Bezděz, one has to climb about a kilometer along a steep rocky path. About 160 steps hinder wheelchair users from ascending the rock castle in Sloup in Bohemia. Disabled individuals also find it difficult at the most famous Central Bohemian castle, Karlštejn.
    The administrators of some natural monuments consider wheelchair users. In the Czech Switzerland National Park, several tourist trails are prepared for them. In South Moravia, physically disabled individuals can find at least one barrier-free travel attraction. In the Moravian Karst, a staircase-free route in the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves was adapted for them a few years ago. The route through the Punkva Caves is partially accessible as well, but prior phone notification is required for both.
    In general, wheelchair users do not face problems in newly reconstructed or new public buildings, especially those not under heritage protection. Building regulations mandate the establishment of barrier-free access.