Muzeum Jindřichohradecka

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1882 as a town museum and opened its first exhibition two years later in the rooms of the castle archive. The collections were moved several times until, in 1928, they settled in the Renaissance building of the former Jesuit seminary on Balbín Square, where the main exhibition is still housed. The seminary was founded by Kateřina z Montfortu; after a fire in 1615 it was rebuilt and has stood in its present form since 1642. Later a school and a grammar school were housed there.

The museum acquired its best-known exhibit in 1935: the nativity scene of the stocking-maker Tomáš Krýza. It has 1,398 figures of people and animals, 133 of which move, and Krýza worked on it for more than sixty years. Its entry in the Guinness Book of Records in 1998 describes the work as the largest folk mechanical nativity scene in the world.

The museum has been a district institution since 1951, and in 2003 the South Bohemian Region became its founder; today it bears the name Muzeum Jindřichohradecka. Besides the nativity scene, you can see exhibitions on the history of the town of the lords of Hradec, South Bohemian nativity scenes, the historic pharmacy, the Landfras printing works, Gothic sculpture, the hall of Ema Destinnová, the LADA sewing machine collection and painted shooting targets. The museum also manages the Church of St John the Baptist and the Minorite monastery on Štítného Street, which has its own entrance and admission fee.

Highlights

• Krýza's Nativity Scene – the largest folk mechanical nativity scene in the world, with 1,398 figures
• exhibition “Město pánů z Hradce” on the history of the town from the 13th to the 16th century
• South Bohemian nativity scenes made from traditional and unusual materials
• historic pharmacy “U Panny Marie Pomocné” and the Landfras printing works
• Hall of Ema Destinnová and the exhibition “Holub ludens”
• picture gallery from the Renaissance to modern art

Permanent exhibitions

• Krýzovy jesličky – The largest folk mechanical nativity scene in the world has 1,398 figures, 133 of which move; the mechanism is now driven by a single electric motor.
• Město pánů z Hradce – The exhibition follows the history of Jindřichův Hradec from the 13th to the 16th century and the cultural world of the lords of Hradec.
• Lékárna „U Panny Marie Pomocné“ – A historic pharmacy with Latin inscriptions, painted landscapes and richly decorated furniture.

Founded

1882

Operated by

Jihočeský kraj

Admission & discounts

Holders of the Senior Pass and the Family Pass receive a 50% discount on the basic admission (it cannot be combined with an already reduced admission). Purchased tickets are not refunded or exchanged. The Church of St John the Baptist and the Minorite monastery on Štítného Street have separate admission (basic CZK 50).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Only the exhibitions on the first above-ground floor are step-free (Gothic sculpture, the aerial battle over Jindřichův Hradec, painted sharpshooting targets, the Landfras printing works). Exhibitions on the second above-ground floor and the first basement floor, including Krýza's Nativity Scene, can only be reached by stairs, as there is no stair lift.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

The museum offers family tickets and programs for school groups; children under 6 enter free.

Getting there & parking

The main building stands on Balbín Square in the historic centre of the town, about 100 m from the castle.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The website offers museum merchandise and souvenirs.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 70 guests.

The museum rents out a conference hall on Štítného Street (up to 70 people, projector, screen, microphones), exhibition halls and the Church of St John the Baptist; these spaces are not in the main building on Balbín Square.

Plan your visit