Severočeské muzeum v Liberci

About the museum

The North Bohemian Museum was founded in 1873 and already in its first years gathered exceptional collections from many fields. Because of local tradition, the greatest attention was paid to glass and textiles. After several moves, the museum obtained its own building, which the Prague professor Friedrich Ohmann built in a romantic-historicising style in 1897–1898. The complex combines elements of sacred and palace architecture and is complemented by a replica of the Renaissance tower of the old Liberec town hall.

In 1904 the museum received about 2,500 works of art from the estate of the patron Baron Heinrich Liebieg. After the Second World War the regional collections of the dissolved Vlastivědné a přírodovědné muzeum v Liberci were added to it. The building underwent a general reconstruction in 1982–1988.

Today the museum holds more than 700 thousand collection items from the fields of natural science, history, archaeology and the history of art. The most valuable parts include Oriental carpets, contemporary artist’s tapestry, Coptic textiles, historical tapestries, glass, porcelain and an extensive photographic collection. The museum also includes a historic museum park, which was created in 1876 as the first public botanical garden on the territory of today’s Czech Republic.

Highlights

• Krása + užitek – development of European applied arts from antiquity to the present
• Doteky severu – nature of the Jizera Mountains and the Frýdlant region in dioramas
• Automatofony – collection of mechanical musical automata
• Metelka’s mechanical nativity scene from the western Krkonoše region
• museum tower with an installation of a glass ladder by the Salanský brothers

Permanent exhibitions

• Krása + užitek – Chronological overview of European applied arts and of the lifestyle of the middle and upper classes, from antiquity to the present.
• Doteky severu – New exhibition on the nature of the Jizera Mountains and the Frýdlant region, presented in dioramas.
• Automatofony – Mechanical musical automata that make music by themselves, with emphasis on craftsmanship and inventive technology.

Founded

1873

Operated by

Severočeské muzeum v Liberci, příspěvková organizace

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is voluntary. Charges apply for the ascent of the tower, guided tours and educational programmes.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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

The website does not publish information on step-free access; questions can be directed to the museum reception.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum offers children workshops, theatre performances, tours for children and educational programmes for school groups; the events calendar also includes Sunday programmes for families.

Getting there & parking

The museum stands at the junction of Masarykova and Vítězná streets; GPS coordinates 50°46′28″ N, 15°4′6″ E. The website gives no information on parking.

Amenities & dining

The museum runs an online shop; the website does not mention a café.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The website offers room hire in its Services section; details are on the Rental page.

Plan your visit