Slezské zemské muzeum

About the museum

The Slezské zemské muzeum was founded in 1814. It presents itself to the public in several exhibition complexes; the main visitor site in Opava is the Historická výstavní budova (Historical Exhibition Building) on Komenského Street.

The neo-Renaissance building stands by the city park. It was built in 1893–1895 to designs by the Viennese architects Johann Scheiringer and Franz Kachler for the Museum of Emperor Franz Joseph for Art and Crafts, founded in Opava in 1882. The building was paid for by the chamber of commerce and trades on a plot donated by Prince Liechtenstein. In spring 1945 it was seriously damaged by bombing, and the repairs took ten years.

After the war, exhibitions opened here in 1955 and 1981, and in 1985 the building was declared a cultural monument. After an extensive reconstruction it reopened in May 2012 with the new Silesia exhibition, which occupies all three floors and for the first time also opened the cellar spaces. Since May 2019 the museum has also used the neighbouring Müller’s House with its park.

Highlights

• The Silesia exhibition across three floors and the cellar
• The section Nature of Silesia, with geology and biodiversity
• The section Encyclopedia of Silesia, from prehistory to the 20th century
• The neo-Renaissance building of 1893–1895
• The neighbouring Müller’s House with its park

Permanent exhibitions

• Slezsko – Permanent exhibition across the three floors of the Historical Exhibition Building, including the cellar spaces, divided into a section on nature and a section on the cultural history of Silesia.
• Příroda Slezska – Presents the natural conditions and the diversity of life in the region, with links to Europe and the wider world; the geological section briefly shows the oldest development of Silesia and northern Moravia.
• Encyklopedie Slezska – A thematic selection of examples from the history, culture and everyday life of the inhabitants of Czech Silesia, from prehistory to the 20th century.

Founded

1814

Operated by

Slezské zemské muzeum (příspěvková organizace Ministerstva kultury ČR)

Visitors per year

approx. 85,810

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free-entry days for the permanent exhibitions according to the Czech Ministry of Culture: 1 November and 6 December 2026.

Prices valid from 16 June 2026. Admission also covers Müller’s House and its park. Free entry is granted, among others, to children under 6 and to holders of AMG and ICOM cards. Photography without flash and tripod is free. Admission to the educational programme for booked groups costs CZK 50 per pupil.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The building is classed as partly accessible. Steps lead to the main entrance, which can be overcome with a ramp; the entrance doors open automatically. Inside there is a lift large enough for a wheelchair and a step-free toilet that can be unlocked with a RADAR key. There is no reserved parking space at the building; the Komenského public transport stop is nearby. The museum offers a tour in sign language, and a tablet with speech transcription can be used to communicate with deaf visitors.

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

• Spaces for rent

The museum rents out the festive hall in Müller’s House (from CZK 500 per hour; with facilities for a reception from CZK 800 per hour) and offers short-term hire in the Historical Exhibition Building from CZK 4,000.

Plan your visit