Městské muzeum Nový Bydžov

About the museum

The idea of setting up a museum in Nový Bydžov arose among professors at the local grammar school. In January 1888 the town council approved the establishment of a municipal museum, which was to collect objects significant for the history of the town and its surroundings. The basis of the collections was formed by relics kept in the old and later the new town hall. The first exhibition was set up in the large hall of the town hall and opened to the public for the first time in July 1892. Space soon ran out, so the collections moved to the former district court building.

In 1905 to 1907 the savings bank built an Art Nouveau building on the square and gave the entire second floor to the museum. The collections moved in there in 1907 and were first opened in October 1908. During the First World War and the occupation the museum's activity ceased and the exhibition was closed; after the war it was reopened. After the district was abolished in 1960, the museum remained, although it lost its district status, and gradually changed from a local history museum into a historical exhibition.

Today the museum occupies two floors of the savings bank building. Its collection is divided into twelve sub-collections and contains over 16,000 objects. Visitors can see the historical exhibition, rural folk culture, panel paintings from the 16th century, including the Archa bydžovská (Bydžov Altarpiece), Baroque paintings by Petr Brandl, sculptures by the naive artist Václav Kudera-Křapík and a gallery of 19th- and 20th-century fine art.

Highlights

• Archa bydžovská – winged panel altarpiece from the Reformation period
• Baroque paintings by Petr Brandl, Crucified Christ and Mater Dolorosa, 1733
• Epitaph of Jindřich Kapoun of Svojkov, 1599
• sculptures by the naive artist Václav Kudera-Křapík
• Gallery of Jaroslav Prokop and the memorial room of the Nevyjel family

Permanent exhibitions

• Historická expozice – The historical exhibition presents the history of Nový Bydžov and the surrounding area, including 16th-century panel paintings, applied arts and rural folk culture. The second floor also includes an exhibition on 20th-century history.
• Václav Kudera-Křapík – Exhibition of sculptures and other works by the naive artist Václav Kudera-Křapík (1895–1987), stone sculptor, woodcarver and puppet maker.
• Galerie Jaroslava Prokopa a Pamětní síň Nevyjelových – Gallery of 19th- and 20th-century fine art, supplemented by the memorial room of Professor Bohumír Nevyjel and his daughter, with further paintings and art objects.

Founded

1888

Operated by

Město Nový Bydžov

Admission & discounts

Free admission: every first Friday of the month and other designated days with free admission

The price applies separately to circuit I (the historical exhibition and the exhibitions Vivat merenda! and Václav Kudera-Křapík) and to circuit II (the Gallery of Jaroslav Prokop and the Nevyjel Memorial Room). Children under 6, holders of an AMG or ICOM card and accompanying teachers enter free. A guided tour for pre-booked groups of 10 or more costs CZK 100 extra per hour.

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