Dětské muzeum

The National Museum in Prague is the Czech Republic's most important museum of culture and natural history, housing a wide range of collections in several historic and modern buildings. The main building, which stands directly on Wenceslas Square, was built in the Neo-Renaissance style and is accessible via a ramp. Its imposing facade is richly decorated with allegorical figures, reliefs depicting historical events, and gilded marble plaques bearing the names of important Czech figures. Statue groups and bronze figures by well-known sculptors adorn the entrance area and the interior rooms, which were originally designed by artists who also worked on the National Theatre. Here you can not only admire the architectural splendor but also discover traces of history: the facade still shows damage from 1968, when Red Army tanks mistakenly fired on the building.

The museum's history goes back to 1818, when it was founded as the Patriotic Museum in Bohemia. The project was initiated by patriotic noblemen led by the paleontologist Count Kaspar Maria von Sternberg, whose collections formed its foundation. Over the decades the museum went by various names and had a major influence on Czech science and culture in the 19th century. After a comprehensive seven-year renovation that lasted until 2019, the museum reopened in 2018. The renovation significantly expanded the exhibition space and made it possible to create new, modern permanent exhibitions covering both historical and natural science topics.

Inside, a varied program awaits you. The historical section houses departments for prehistory and early history, mineralogy, zoology, and anthropology. A particular attraction is the paleontological collection, which includes a bone from the only dinosaur ever excavated in the Czech Republic. The zoological exhibition is devoted to the history of evolution and takes you through the development of life from prehistoric forms to mammals. The building also contains the Treasure and Coin Cabinet with jewels and numismatic collections, as well as an exhibition on human evolution. The adjoining new building covers the history of the 20th century and offers a multimedia presentation on the development of Wenceslas Square.

A special highlight for families is the children's museum in the new building. Here children can explore topics such as mammoth hunting, the Middle Ages, or the discovery of the laws of nature in a playful way. The exhibition offers interactive museum education and a leisure zone that combines learning with fun. Besides the main building, several other important sites belong to the National Museum, including the Náprstek Museum of non-European cultures, the Lapidarium, and various memorials and museums dedicated to composers such as Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák. These decentralized venues expand what the National Museum has to offer and make it a central place for the study and presentation of Czech culture and natural history.