Městské muzeum Žacléř

About the museum

Museum work in Žacléř goes back to the interwar period. The first local history museum was established on the initiative of the German Krkonoše Association; the main organizer was the teacher Alfred Herrmann, and the collections focused mainly on the history of black coal mining. After the original inhabitants left following the Second World War, the museum ceased to exist, and part of its collections were scattered among neighboring institutions.

Before 1989 the teacher Vladimír Rychlík from Žacléř and the native Werner Baier, who lived in East Germany, were already working to restore the museum. In the 1990s the town leadership supported their efforts. The first floor of house no. 10 on Rýchorské náměstí (Rýchory Square) was entrusted to the museum, and the permanent exhibition was solemnly opened on 7 May 1999. Today the museum is housed in the listed building of the former district court.

In addition to the original four rooms of the permanent exhibition, two halls for short-term exhibitions have gradually been added. The newest part, since 2018, is the collection of Žacléř porcelain by Václav Petira. The permanent exhibitions now cover the eventful history of the border town, important personalities, black coal mining, the everyday life of the inhabitants and porcelain production. The museum also houses a tourist information center.

Highlights

• five permanent exhibitions in the former district court building
• collection of Žacléř porcelain by Václav Petira, with about 800 objects
• model of the town square from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and railway models
• exhibition on black coal mining with a mine wagon and a model of a mine cross-section
• educational programs and art workshops for children and adults

Permanent exhibitions

• Historie města – The exhibition tells the eventful history of the border town, which was shaped by Czech, German and Austrian influences: the hardships of war, its industrial past, a Jewish forced-labor camp and the departure of the original inhabitants. It is complemented by railway models, a model of the square from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Stachelberg artillery fortress.
• Dolování černého uhlí – The work of the miners is illustrated, for example, by a wooden mine wagon once pulled by horses, miners' lamps, rescue apparatus and a model of a mine cross-section. Local minerals and paleontological finds are also on display.
• Sbírka porcelánu Václava Petiry – About 800 objects from the Žacléř porcelain factory, whose tradition dates back to 1878, ranging from sacred statues for pilgrimage sites through decorative figurines to utilitarian and technical porcelain.

Founded

1999

Operated by

Město Žacléř

Admission & discounts

The price covers the permanent exhibitions, including the current exhibition. Holders of the Asociace muzeí a galerií ČR card enter free; holders of the Karta hosta a občana (guest and citizen card) pay CZK 25. Payment by card is possible.

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

Short-term exhibitions are accompanied by art workshops, games, quizzes and worksheets for children and adults. The museum also offers educational programs tailored to order, for example on the history of the town, coal mining or porcelain production.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The tourist information center in the museum building has a small shop with gifts, souvenirs and regional products.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit