The museum was founded by Kašpar Maria Šternberg and František Palacký in1818 to preserve Czech heritage and identity. In the beginning, the museum focused on natural history with the help of aristocracy donations. From 1885 to 1891, the Neo-Renaissance Historical Building on Wenceslas Square was constructed and is now considered a symbol of pride for ►
The museum was founded by Kašpar Maria Šternberg and František Palacký in1818 to preserve Czech heritage and identity. In the beginning, the museum focused on natural history with the help of aristocracy donations. From 1885 to 1891, the Neo-Renaissance Historical Building on Wenceslas Square was constructed and is now considered a symbol of pride for the Czech Republic.
During the two world wars, the museum and its collections in it suffered significant damage, especially during the Nazi occupation and communist regime. However, the museum went under restoration and expansion after the Velvet Revolution in 1989.
Today, the museum stands high and mighty, operating from five different buildings in Prague. The collections inside are diverse and equally fascinating, including archaeology, history, art, music, and more.
Here is a breakdown of the five buildings that the museum takes up:
The historical building
This building was constructed between 1885 and 1891 and was designed by Josef Schulz in the Neo-Renaissance architectural style. Inside are collections of Czech history from the 9th to the 19th centuries, including historical artifacts and paintings.
The new building
This building was built in the functionalist style by Otakar Novotný and Karel Roškot in 1934-1938. The collections mainly cover the 20th century and include modern and contemporary art, applied arts, and historical documents.
Industrial Palace (Lapidarium of the National Museum)
Designed by Josef Zítek, this building was built in the Neo-Renaissance architectural style in 1891. Now, it’s used to display temporary exhibitions covering various themes such as technology, international art, historical events, and more.
Ethnographic Museum
Also designed by Josef Schulz and built in the Neo-Baroque style in 1895, the ethnographic museum has exhibits showcasing Czech folk culture and traditions.
National Gallery
The gallery is located across several buildings in Prague and has vast collections of Czech and international art, from medieval paintings to modern sculptures and contemporary installations.
You might be wondering how you will fit all of this into your visit, but don't worry, there is an underground corridor that connects two buildings, the Historical Building and the New Building.
The museum’s opening hours are from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with the last entry between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM. It closes on Mondays and the first Tuesday of every month.
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