Oblastní muzeum v Lounech

About the museum

The Louny museum was founded in 1889 and belongs to the first wave of Czech museum foundations. Its collections grew out of donations from citizens, but soon they became a purposeful collecting activity, especially in archaeology. From the beginning the museum focused on the whole region, not only on the town of Louny. In 1955 the municipal museum became a district museum, and since 1 January 2003 it has been a contributory organization under the Ústí Region, under its current name, Oblastní muzeum v Lounech.

The collecting area covers the former Louny district, a territory with a rich history and nature. The museum is a local history museum and has no narrower specialization; its archaeological, historical and natural science collections are of high informative value. It is housed in listed buildings in the town centre that were reconstructed for museum purposes. These include the Dům Sokolů z Mor (House of the Sokolové z Mor) with a late Gothic oriel and a vaulted Gothic hall on the ground floor, the former Krakeš joinery, the former pharmacy U Bílého jednorožce (At the White Unicorn), and the bastion below the Žatec Gate.

Short-term exhibitions take place in the museum throughout the year, and it offers permanent natural science exhibitions on the geology and on the steppes of the Lounské středohoří. In the bastion there is a unique exhibition of petrified wood. Since 1994 the museum has also included the Březno Archaeological Open-Air Museum, a set of reconstructions of prehistoric and early historic buildings, which is run as a separate visitor destination.

Highlights

• Geological exhibition “Za krásou kamenů” on the history of non-living nature in the Louny region
• Natural history exhibition on the steppes of the Lounské středohoří, with ground squirrels
• Petrified Forest: petrified araucarite wood in the bastion
• House of the Sokolové z Mor with a late Gothic oriel
• Short-term exhibitions and lectures throughout the year

Permanent exhibitions

• Za krásou kamenů – The geological exhibition tells the long and complex history of the non-living nature of the Louny region and shows rocks from the surface as well as from geological surveys and mining.
• Stepi Lounského středohoří – The natural history exhibition presents the steppes of the Lounské středohoří, their plants and animals, including the critically endangered ground squirrel; children can complete tasks and a quiz.
• Zkamenělý les – The medieval bastion displays petrified araucarite wood, a unique exhibition in Central Europe; a visit must be arranged at the museum's ticket office.

Founded

1889

Operated by

Příspěvková organizace Ústeckého kraje

Director

PhDr. et JUDr. Jiří Matyáš

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 24 December (Christmas Eve) is free admission.

Free admission is also granted to the accompanying teacher, holders of AMG ČR, RG ČR, ZMS, RGS and ICOM cards, and journalists. Lectures cost CZK 20.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

In the Steppes of the Lounské středohoří exhibition, children can look into a ground squirrel burrow, test their senses, put together a puzzle or complete a quiz. Worksheets are available for some exhibitions.

Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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