Muzeum Velké Meziříčí

About the museum

The château in Velké Meziříčí grew out of a castle founded before the mid-13th century, indirectly documented for 1236. In the 16th century Jan of Pernštejn rebuilt it into a more comfortable Renaissance residence; after a fire in 1723 the Counts of Ugarte gave it a Baroque makeover, and in 1733 the Prague builder Ferdinand Václav Špaček completed the rebuilding. The estate was later held by the Lobkowicz family, and from 1908 by the Harrach family. After 1948 the château became state property, and since 1995 it has belonged to the Podstatzký-Lichtenstein family.

The beginnings of the museum go back to 1893, when a regional exhibition was held in the town. Objects from it formed the basis of the collection; in 1917 the town founded the Krajinské muzeum (regional museum), and in 1948 the museum moved into the château. Since 1996 it has been a municipal contributory organisation.

Tours offer two permanent exhibitions. The Château exhibition (Expozice Zámek) includes the Sarajevo Salon devoted to the imperial manoeuvres of 1909, the Great Salon with historical objects and the bedroom of Emperor Franz Joseph I, who stayed here at the time. The Museum exhibition (Expozice Muzeum) shows a collection of weapons and oriental objects, natural history collections, Cubist furniture from 1913 designed by Pavel Janák, and the exhibition Ve znamení sedmi per (Under the Sign of Seven Quills) on the history of the town. A special tour leads to the Knights' Hall with Romanesque frescoes.

Highlights

• Sarajevo Salon devoted to the imperial manoeuvres of 1909
• bedroom of Emperor Franz Joseph I with a Baroque bed from 1703
• Knights' Hall with frescoes from before 1300
• Cubist furniture from 1913 by Pavel Janák
• collection of weapons, oriental objects and a natural history exhibition

Permanent exhibitions

• Expozice Zámek – The Sarajevo Salon on the imperial manoeuvres of 1909, the Great Salon with historical objects and the bedroom of Emperor Franz Joseph I.
• Expozice Muzeum – Collection of weapons and oriental objects, natural history exhibitions, Cubist furniture from 1913 and the exhibition Ve znamení sedmi per on the history of the town.
• Fresky v Rytířském sále – Hall with Romanesque wall paintings: a knightly duel from before 1300 and the legend of St Margaret with a Latin inscription.

Founded

1917

Operated by

Muzeum Velké Meziříčí, příspěvková organizace města Velké Meziříčí

Director

Mgr. Irena Tronečková

Admission & discounts

The prices in the main fields apply to Route B (standard CZK 80, reduced CZK 40, seniors CZK 60); Route A costs CZK 160 (reduced CZK 80, seniors CZK 120), and the fresco tour CZK 60 (reduced CZK 30, seniors CZK 40). Nursery schools pay CZK 25 per tour route. Visits outside the regular hours are charged double admission in season and triple admission out of season. Supervising teachers enter free; some professional groups (for example staff of partner museums and journalists) also enter free by prior arrangement.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: not available
• 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

The tour route runs over two floors, and both can be reached by lift; the doors are wide enough and the floors are carpeted. The museum has no accessible toilet. Two steps lead to the main courtyard; the main gate can be entered without steps, but a prior arrangement is needed, as the gate is often closed. The courtyard surface is gravel.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Weddings / ceremonies

Wedding ceremonies take place in the château during the season, only on Saturdays at 12:00 and 13:00.

Plan your visit