Eduard Held muzeum
Private museum in Zákupy about the production of carnival goods and masks, with machines and mask painting in the workshop.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Paper production of carnival goods has operated continuously in Zákupy since 1884, when Eduard Held founded it. The company is one of the oldest of its kind in the country, and in 2017 the Ministry of Culture added it to the list of intangible assets of traditional folk culture of the Czech Republic (Seznam nemateriálních statků tradiční lidové kultury České republiky).
The museum opened on 31 May 2008 and was founded by Zdeněk Rydygr, owner of the related company PVO. The exhibition shows the history of production from 1884 to the present: masks, lanterns, giant head frames, production machines, plaster moulds, old postcards and photographs, and a restored clerk’s workplace from 1925. The museum also includes a private picture gallery.
Also on display are the Expozice mizejícího času (Exhibition of Vanishing Time) about the life of Sudeten Germans up to 1946, and a talk about the Hradčany military airfield near Mimoň and the founding of the 71st Infantry Battalion of Czechoslovak paratroopers in Zákupy.
Highlights
- Paper carnival masks
- Giant head frames to pose in for photos
- Production machines from the 1880s
- Clerk’s workplace from 1925
- Mask painting in the workshop
- Exhibition of Vanishing Time about the Sudeten Germans
Permanent exhibitions
- Historie výroby masopustního a karnevalového zboží – The exhibition shows production in Zákupy since 1884: masks, lanterns, giant head frames, machines, plaster moulds and a clerk’s workplace from 1925.
- Expozice mizejícího času – The exhibition traces the life of Sudeten Germans in Zákupy up to 1946.
- Vojenské letiště Hradčany a 71. pěší prapor – A talk about the history of the Hradčany military airfield near Mimoň and the founding of the 71st Infantry Battalion of Czechoslovak paratroopers in Zákupy.
- Founded
- 2008
- Operated by
- PVO s.r.o.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 120 Kč |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 90 Kčpensioners and students |
| Children & teens | 60 KčChildren under 15, schools and kindergartens pay CZK 60 per person. |
| Seniors | 90 KčPensioners. |
| Students & apprentices | 90 Kč |
| Groups | –Schools and kindergartens pay CZK 60 per person; with mask painting in the workshop and admission to the exhibition, CZK 120. |
| Schools and kindergartens with mask painting in the workshop (per person) | 120 KčIncludes admission to the exhibition. |
Prices apply for 2026. The mask blank for painting in the workshop is sold separately.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Children can have their photo taken in masks or giant head frames and paint a mask in the workshop. The talk can be adapted for small children, and a programme is prepared for schools and kindergartens.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Publications on the history of production and life in the Zákupsko region, mask blanks and carnival goods are sold.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours are guided. Visitors can choose a general talk or one of three routes: the history of carnival goods production since 1884, the Exhibition of Vanishing Time about the Sudeten Germans up to 1946, or the history of the Hradčany airfield and the 71st Infantry Battalion of Czechoslovak paratroopers. The talk can be adapted for small children. Visitors can buy a mask blank and paint it in the workshop; seasonally, large paper eggs are decorated before Easter, or a paper kite is built in autumn. A programme with expert assistance is available for schools. |
