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The National Museum in Prague

20th February 2007

Almost 200 years old and housing around 14 million relics and artefacts, Prague's National Museum is the largest museum in the Czech Republic and provides a fascinating look back at hundreds of years of history.

The museum was opened in 1818, and moved to its current location later that century, having been designed by architect Joseph Schulz. The huge structure stands in Wenceslas Square and remains one of the country's most distinctive buildings.

Due to its size the museum was unsurprisingly damaged during World War II, though the worst damage to the collection came at the end of the Prague Spring in 1968.

The collection itself features a number of separate categories, ranging from classical archaeology to foreign coin collections and a look at the history of the Czechoslovak people. The museum also examines the history of a number of cultural forms in areas such as the Department of Theatre.

A series of temporary exhibitions are also staged regularly, with current features including an investigation into the lives of mammoth hunters who lived 30,000 years ago. The museum's interior staircase, meanwhile, is able to host a number of chamber and choral concerts thanks to its excellent acoustics. Visitors to Prague should not miss the chance to investigate the country's social and cultural heritage.

© Adfero Ltd

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