If you are interested in the history of Prague, then it would be a good idea to start exploring the city from this fascinating museum. Located in a beautiful Neo-Renaissance building, it offers a richly detailed exhibition, documenting how Prague developed – from the earliest settlements up until the 19th century.
The exhibition is broken down into 4 parts: Prague in Prehistory, Medieval Prague, Prague at the turn of the Modern Era and Baroque Prague.
Discover who were the first inhabitants of this region – before the arrival of Slavs, as well as their customs and traditions, learn about the construction of Prague Castle in the Middle Ages and how the city evolved into one of the major European capitals. Reflect on how the development of Renaissance ideas affected Prague and marvel at the way arts flourished in the Bohemian capital of the 17th-18th centuries.
The displayed items include sculptures, paintings, but most importantly some wonderful household artefacts – for example, completely furnished interiors of a particular period or a collection of house signs.
An absolute highlight is the 3D model of the city made by A.Langweil in 1826-1837, which shows how the Old Town, Lesser Town and Prague Castle looked in the 19th century. On the main staircase, you can admire the original calendar wheel from the Prague Orloj (Astronomical clock), painted by Josef Mánes.
