Ostravské muzeum
City museum in the Old Town Hall on Masaryk Square, with permanent exhibitions on the history of Ostrava, mining, art and the nature of the region.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The first museum in Ostrava was founded in 1872 in Slezská Ostrava by the teacher and collector Karel Jaromír Bukovanský. In 1904 a German industrial and trade museum was established in Moravská Ostrava, alongside which a Czech museum of applied arts existed. In 1924 these three museums were merged into one city museum, and in 1931 its seat became the Old Town Hall on Masaryk Square. It was solemnly opened on 4 October 1931.
The Old Town Hall building is one of the oldest in Ostrava and is a listed monument. The first written mention of it dates from 1539. Its present form developed gradually: the tower was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1727, the town hall was rebuilt in the Empire style in 1831–1837, and a second floor was added in 1859. During reconstruction in 2004–2006, remains of stone walls of a house probably dating from the 14th century and a silver Prague groschen of John of Luxembourg came to light beneath the floor of the ground floor.
The permanent exhibitions draw on the museum's collections and present art-historical collections, the history of the city from 1267 to 1989, mining, ethnography, archaeology and the nature of the Ostrava region. Among the best-known exhibits are a mammoth tusk from the River Oder, a bronze sword from Koblov and Maška's indoor astronomical clock. The museum also offers a lookout tower with guided tours and holds temporary exhibitions and accompanying programmes.
Highlights
- Old Town Hall on Masaryk Square with a lookout tower
- Permanent exhibition on the history of Ostrava from the founding of the town in 1267 to 1989
- Mining exhibition with a unique collection of mining lamps and an interactive map from 1928
- Mammoth tusk found in the Oder and a bronze sword from Ostrava-Koblov
- Maška's indoor astronomical clock, a technical rarity with 2,500 parts
Permanent exhibitions
- Dějiny Ostravy – The history of the city from its founding in 1267 to 1989, shown in period photographs and collection objects, including the period of the world wars and life in the city after 1945.
- Hornictví a etnografie – Mining exhibition with a unique collection of mining lamps and surveying instruments and an interactive city map from 1928, supplemented by an ethnographic section on folk art and customs.
- Příroda a krajina Ostravska – The natural history section presents geology, minerals, Carboniferous fossils, archaeological finds and the living nature and landscape of the region.
- Founded
- 1960
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 100 Kč |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 70 Kčchildren aged 6–15, students aged 15–26, seniors over 65 and holders of a ZTP card |
| Children & teens | 70 Kčfree up to age 5 · Children under 6 enter free. |
| Seniors | 70 KčSeniors over 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | 70 Kčcompanion free · Holders of a ZTP/P card and their companion enter free. |
| Students & apprentices | 70 KčStudents aged 15–26. |
| Groups (10+ people) | 60 Kč per personSchool groups of 10 or more people without an educational programme: CZK 60 per person; other groups of more than 10 people receive a 20% discount. |
| Families | 290 Kč2 adults and up to 2 children aged 6–15. |
| Guided tour with a guide (surcharge on the ticket) | 25 KčFor the current exhibition or the museum. |
| Lookout tower – tower entry only | 55 Kč |
| Lookout tower – with a museum ticket | 45 KčEntry to the tower is only possible with a guide, for no more than 5 people. |
| Accompanying programme (talk, lecture, curator tour) | 100 KčReduced CZK 70. |
| Special accompanying programme (creative workshops, workshops, experience programme) | 170 KčReduced CZK 130. |
The basic admission applies to the permanent exhibitions and all temporary exhibitions. Free admission for members of AMG (Asociace muzeí a galerií) and ICOM, and for the accompanying teachers of school groups. Holders of an Ostravacard receive a 20% discount. The museum accepts VISA and MasterCard payment cards.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- 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
The museum is barrier-free, with the exception of the lookout tower and the attic exhibition spaces. There is a lift to the third floor above ground and a platform lift with a load capacity of 250 kg.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | 290 Kč · 2 adults and up to 2 children aged 6–15. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly: not available
The museum offers family tickets as well as workshops and programmes for children and schools. Pushchairs cannot be taken into the exhibitions; by arrangement with staff they can be left in a designated place before entering the exhibition spaces.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Elektra · 5-min walk
Trams nos. 1, 2 and 8 to the Elektra stop (about 5 minutes on foot); trams nos. 4, 6, 10, 12 and 14 to the Výstaviště stop (about 5 minutes on foot); buses nos. 22, 38, 71 and trolleybuses nos. 101, 105, 106, 107, 108 and 109 to the Most Miloše Sýkory stop (about 7 minutes on foot), or bus no. 99 to the Divadlo loutek stop (about 6 minutes on foot).
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park of its own for visitors. It recommends the paid car parks at Černá louka, Smetanovo náměstí, Biskupská and by OC LASO.
The museum is located in the listed Old Town Hall on Masaryk Square in the centre of Ostrava.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Coat check
- Lockers
Cloakroom with lockable lockers; bags larger than A4 cannot be taken into the exhibition spaces.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The museum offers rental of spaces; details are on the page Pronájem prostor (Venue Rental).
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Group guided tours of the temporary and permanent exhibitions must be booked in advance by telephone on +420 720 077 716 or by e-mail. Educational programmes for nursery, primary and secondary schools are booked through the education department. Entry to the lookout tower is only with a guide, and at most five people at a time. An English-language guide to the exhibitions is also available. |
