Chmelařské muzeum Žatec

About the museum

The Hop Museum is housed in hop warehouses and packing houses dating from the second half of the 19th century, a type of industrial architecture typical of Žatec as the hop capital. The buildings survived the war years and the period of unfreedom, but gradually ceased to serve their original purpose. Then planning, construction and the collection of exhibits began, and in 1997 the museum was opened to the public.

The museum is owned and operated by the cooperative CHMELAŘSTVÍ Žatec, which seeks to preserve the history of Czech hop growing. The 4,000 m² exhibition traces the development of hop cultivation from the early Middle Ages to the present. It explains why the world's best hops are harvested in the Žatec area, and why they had to be protected from low-quality imitations as early as the Middle Ages.

The collections include period photographs and written records of hop cultivation and beer brewing, agricultural tools, mechanisation and historical machines, such as a hop press and a hop stripper (česačka). The tour also includes the building itself, with the chimney of the sulphur chamber, which is a technical monument. Since 2023, Žatec and the Žatec hop-growing landscape have been a UNESCO heritage site.

Highlights

• the largest hop exhibition in the world, on 4,000 m²
• hop press, hop stripper and other historical machines
• period photographs and written records of hop growing and beer brewing
• chimney of the sulphur chamber and hop kilns (žoky) in the original building
• children's game “Cesta chmelového skřítka Hopa” (The Path of the Hop Sprite Hopa)

Permanent exhibition

• Stálá expozice Chmelařského muzea – The 4,000 m² exhibition traces the development of hop cultivation from the early Middle Ages to the present, showing tools, machines, photographs and documents.

Founded

1997

Operated by

CHMELAŘSTVÍ, družstvo Žatec

Director

Vladimír Valeš

Admission & discounts

The full admission price applies from the age of 16. Supervising teachers, journalists and guides also enter free.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

For children there is the game “Cesta chmelového skřítka Hopa” (The Path of the Hop Sprite Hopa), at the end of which participants receive a small gift. The museum offers a family ticket.

Getting there & parking

The museum stands on Prokop Veliký Square (náměstí Prokopa Velkého), next to the Hop and Beer Temple. In front of the building is a pedestrian zone with fountains.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check

At the museum reception, bicycles, pushchairs and bulky luggage can be stored safely.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit