The best museums Czech Republic

This building was an integral part of the fortifications, before being rebuilt in the ^15th century and transformed into a late-Gothic residence. It houses the Museum of Mining in the Middle Ages, and offers a walk through one of the galleries, as well as explanations of silver mining and processing techniques. Lamps, helmets and gowns are provided at the entrance, but the visit is a little disappointing for those expecting a real descent to the bottom of a mine.

The museum, in three buildings, traces the history of this ancient royal city and its region from its origins: an exhibition takes you back to the prehistoric age, a room houses a reconstruction of a princely Iron Age tomb and a Celtic residence. These archaeological and ethnographic collections are among the most valuable in the country. The visit is well worth it in view of the number and quality of the pieces presented.

In this beautiful Art Nouveau building, the craftsmanship that became an industry and was the pride of the city until the end of the Second World War is on display. The collection is immense and includes thousands of objects made by numerous artists in different styles according to the fashion of the time. Accessories, glass services, carafes, lamps... No great marvels or rare pieces to be discovered, but a real complete overview of this know-how.

The city museum is housed in a 17th century pink house (formerly called the Pachelbel house - pachelbluv dum) and exhibits the memories of Generalissimo Wallenstein, who was murdered here in 1634. The museum has been open since 1873, at the request of the population, who were fascinated by this ancient event. Among the souvenirs of the general, one will see his room, the weapon of his assassin or a stuffed horse dating from the battle of Lützen.

This museum offers fascinating exhibitions on the history of the city and the region, but also on the history of the shoe! A must-see in the city of Bata, the most famous Czech shoe designer in the world! It offers a journey through time and the evolution of this ambassador of national craftsmanship. You will find Czech and foreign pieces from the 16th century to today, with of course Bata models (from 1894). For aficionados , therefore.

The city is closely connected with the famous Czech automobile brand. It all began in 1895, when two Czech automotive pioneers, Václav Laurin, a mechanic, and Václav Klement, a bookseller, manufactured the Slavia bicycle. Today, the factory is a large complex with the most modern production halls in the world. In this colossal museum you will discover the history of this company, which will please the nostalgic of the great era! The exhibition presents all or almost all Škoda models, since the creation of the company, in chronological order. In the first part you will discover elegant vans, the first models of Škoda Octavia or the fantastic Škoda Sport Montecarlo of 1936. There are also some trucks and rarer models. As the brand has become more well-known and popular in France in recent years, those of you who own a Škoda will be delighted to visit the second part of the exhibition, which includes all the models on three exhibition floors. The design work was particularly successful and contributes to the presentation of more than 340 exceptional vehicles that have been perfectly preserved and maintained. Finally, one room, which opens with the 1950 Škoda Sport, the first to take part in the Twenty-Four Hours of Le Mans, is dedicated to racing and rally models. Don't leave without asking to see the prototype room, which also contains some wonderful exhibits.

It is not difficult to imagine why the first Slavic tribes who settled in the territory of the present-day Czech Republic decided to establish a fort on this beautiful rocky peak. From here, one can overlook the plain and control the region. But of course, no trace of this first stronghold remains today. The medieval walls that can still be seen today date from the 13th century, when the fort was first enlarged. Two old towers are noteworthy. The present baroque castle was built in 1719 by the Dietrichstein family on top of the medieval citadel (which had already been remodeled into a Renaissance castle). But the palace also houses a folklore and wine exhibition and... a curiosity: the enormous 17th century barrel with a capacity of 1,010 hectoliters, the largest in this part of Europe and much larger than the barrels one is used to seeing in the cellars. Another highlight of the visit is the library, built after the fire of 1729, which now houses over 11,000 priceless volumes. The terraced gardens (free admission) offer beautiful views of the city. The regional museum has been closed in 2021 due to renovations of both the premises and the collections, with no reopening date yet given due to delays during the pandemic. Check the website for more information.

The museum is located in the original brewery. Many objects related to beer are exposed in several rooms of the 15th century. The visit allows, among other things, to understand the making of the beverage. Several interactive workshops allow you to learn about the flavors and aromas of hops. The museum is connected to the friendly and touristy Na Parkánu tavern, ideal for tasting local specialties, washed down with Pilsen beer of course.

This church, consecrated in 1256, is located at the end of the short Farní street. Inside, you can admire the beautiful, typically Baroque furnishings, embellished with Gothic sculptures. Don't miss the golden Renaissance baptismal font either. But the most interesting thing is undoubtedly the ascent of the North Tower (the highest) of the building, from where the view on the square and the old town is superb. It is 63 meters high and was built in the 14th century as a watchtower.

Wallenstein, the famous Habsburg general was in love with the city and had Italian architects (Sebregondi, Spezza) come to build this urban castle in 1633. It is a beautiful building with arcades, with two floors and many high windows. Inside there is a regional museum with some artistic and archaeological works. The visit allows you to discover different rooms of the castle, because only the part dedicated to the museum is open.

It is located along the small street Minorítská, west of the square, at the end of Matky Boží. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city, which has preserved (at least inside) its original appearance: late Romanesque columns, statues, gargoyles... There are beautiful Gothic frescoes and the oldest painting in the city (16th century), illustrating a victory of the army and the local population in the early 15th century.

Wallenstein Castle was built in the 16th century in Renaissance style on the remains of the Benedictine monastery. Baroque elements were added at the end of the 17th century. The result is an elegant building with many windows. It now houses a regional museum. The history, folklore and geography of the Třebíč region are told through various documents. Old trades (pipe making, making wooden cribs) feature prominently.

The only museum in the country dedicated to the Trabant, the small car produced in Germany between 1957 and 1991 and a true icon of communist Germany. It's a veritable kingdom: the museum houses more than 4,800 exhibits, 386 Trabant models and more than 150 other cars! More generally, the museum offers a glimpse of everyday life in the former GDR, with many objects from the era. Children are also catered for, with a race track, a model train and a working simulator. An informative and highly entertaining visit.

Czech cartoonist and director Karl Zeman is an icon of animation in his country and around the world. He has left behind a monumental body of work, as well as a rich and fantastic universe. This interactive museum in the centre of Mala Strana is dedicated to the protection and presentation of his work. The visit is very playful: through many rooms, you can experiment several of his inventions and techniques, discover the richness of his work and have a lot of fun. It is an excellent visit, especially with children.

In this museum of public transport, you can contemplate old streetcars, all of which once ran in the Czech capital. Over one hundred and thirty years of public transport history are recounted here with the help of photos, objects and numerous vehicles. Interesting photographs also give an idea of the changes that have taken place in Prague's urban planning. A small, unadorned but effective museum for enthusiasts of locomotion.

This beautiful museum is housed in the former baroque church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. The site contains more than 200,000 pieces, including 2,800 musical instruments of all periods and types. Viols, violins, Renaissance cellos are really well highlighted. The interest of the exhibition is not only visual. Using headphones, you can hear the sounds emitted by most of the instruments presented, some of which are unique.

Lose yourself in this world of tiny things nestled on a few small square meters at the foot of Strahov's library. Caravan of camels in a needle cat, portraits of John Lennon or Vaclav Havel on a mammoth bone of one square centimetre and many other strange things visible only with a magnifying glass. The whole thing is the work of a mad genius, Anatolij Konenko, born in Siberia, one of the five people in the world capable of making such wonders.