Ondřejovská hvězdárna

The Ondřejov Observatory is the main observatory of the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, which is also headquartered here. It is located on the outskirts of the village of Ondřejov in the Prague-East district, about 35 kilometres southeast of Prague, at an altitude of roughly 500 metres above sea level. It is one of the most important centres of professional astronomy in Czechia.

The observatory's pride is its instrumentation. It houses a two-metre mirror telescope and the SST-1M telescopes, among the largest in the country. Thanks to them, Ondřejov ranks among the leading institutions studying the night sky and carries its own international observatory code — number 557 according to the Minor Planet Center.

For visitors, Ondřejov Observatory is an attraction that combines science with experience. Its position on a wooded hill away from city lights makes it a pleasant place to learn about astronomy and see what real scientific work with the stars looks like. The surroundings offer a peaceful landscape suited to walks and relaxation.

Thanks to its proximity to Prague, the observatory is an ideal choice for a trip combined with exploring the area around the capital. It can be paired with walks through the Posázaví region and the central Bohemian countryside, turning the visit into a lovely full-day programme. To explore the region unhurried, it's worth choosing accommodation nearby and including Ondřejov among the experiences that point you toward the stars.