Africké muzeum Dr. Emila Holuba
Interactive museum of the traveller Emil Holub in Holice, with personal belongings, African objects, touch quizzes and mysterious cabinets.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum in Holice grew out of the idea of building a memorial to the traveller Dr. Emil Holub, who died in 1902. The first museum room opened in 1925 in the Holice town hall, but it was destroyed by fire during the May Uprising of 1945. After the war, documents and objects were collected for the centenary of Holub’s birth, and in 1950 the ministry decided to concentrate Holub’s memorabilia and collections in Holice. The museum opened on 1 May 1956 in part of the parish building. After the death of Růžena Holubová in 1958, her legacy, including Holub’s study, passed to the town.
A separate building was constructed in 1962–1966 through voluntary work, to a design by the Bratislava architect Štefan Imrich, and the Památník Dr. Emila Holuba (Dr. Emil Holub Memorial) opened on 30 April 1966. The collections consist of tens of thousands of objects that Holub brought from Africa, and the personal belongings of the Holub couple. In the early 1890s Holub organised a large ethnographic exhibition in Vienna and Prague; its transport required three trains.
In 2010 the town obtained European funds for a reconstruction, and the memorial was closed for about a year. The new exhibition, with many interactive elements, was designed by the architect David Vávra. The renewed exhibition opened on 2 May 2012, and at the same time the institution was renamed Africké muzeum Dr. Emila Holuba.
Highlights
- personal belongings of Emil and Růžena Holub
- objects from Holub’s African expeditions
- six mysterious cabinets with African objects to identify by touch
- touch screens with quizzes about Africa and Holub
- the Trabant that drove across Africa
- children’s corner and an outdoor African village
Permanent exhibition
- Stálá expozice Africké muzeum Dr. Emila Holuba – The exhibition presents the life, expeditions and work of Dr. Emil Holub and his wife Růžena, and shows objects from Africa, the personal belongings of the Holub couple and their followers in Africa.
- Founded
- 1966
- Operated by
- Kulturní dům města Holic
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 70 Kč |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 50 Kčchildren aged 3 to 18, students and seniors |
| Children & teens | 50 Kčfree up to age 2 · Children under 3 enter free. |
| Seniors | 50 KčReduced admission. |
| Visitors with disabilities | 30 Kčcompanion free · Holders of a ZTP card pay CZK 30; holders of ZTP/P with a companion enter free. |
| Students & apprentices | 50 KčReduced admission. |
| Groups | –Groups of more than 15 people are accompanied by a guide; the tour must be booked in advance. |
| Families | 190 KčFamily admission applies to 2 adults and up to 3 children. |
Holders of Family Passes receive a 10% discount; people with the surnames Holub and Holubová receive 50%. Members of AMG enter free. Tickets are bought at the cash desk at the museum entrance.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The exhibition is in a single-storey building and is fully accessible. An accessible toilet is about 100 metres from the museum, in the outdoor refreshment building. In the exhibition, visitors can identify African objects by touch in the mysterious cabinets.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 2 |
| Family ticket | 190 Kč · Family admission applies to 2 adults and up to 3 children. |
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Playground / play area
Children are drawn to three touch screens with quizzes, six mysterious cabinets with African objects (a worksheet is sold at the cash desk), a children’s corner and an outdoor African village with rocking animals. Children under 3 enter free.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
There are two free car parks near the museum; buses can stop on Holubova Street.
Amenities & dining
The outdoor refreshment stand is about 100 metres from the museum.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | A visit takes about 60 minutes and begins with a ten-minute film about the life of Dr. Holub. Individual visitors walk through the exhibition on their own; groups of more than 15 people are accompanied by a guide (the talk lasts 30–40 minutes) and must be booked in advance. Pets are not allowed. A virtual tour is available. |
