Smrčkův dům Soběslav

About the museum

Smrčkův dům is the only surviving Renaissance house in Soběslav. In the 15th century it belonged to the Libri family and, according to some assumptions, it belonged to the Rožmberks in the mid-16th century; under William of Rožmberk it was perhaps rebuilt into its present form. An inscription on the façade gives the name of Řehoř Smrčka and the year 1564; the mayor Řehoř Smrčka the Elder owned the house until 1589. Later the miller Václav Hron of Sabinov lived there, and until 1670 the prominent burgher Zachariáš Marek Markovský, founder of the Church of St Mark at the cemetery.

The reconstruction of the house in 2013–2015 was financed by the Ministry of Culture. Since 2017 it has housed the permanent exhibitions Život na Blatech a Kozácku, the largest coherent ethnographic exhibition in South Bohemia, and the gallery Krajina Táborska in fine art. In 2019 a memorial room to the composer Otakar Ostrčil, who spent summers in Soběslav, was added, and in 2023 the exhibition Soběslavský mincovní poklad, with a depository of more than a thousand silver coins from the early Thirty Years’ War.

The building is step-free, has a lift and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. It also houses the workplace of the ethnologist of the Blatské muzeum and a space for small exhibitions.

Highlights

• exhibition Život na Blatech a Kozácku in ten halls: folk costumes, the living room of a Blata farm, peat
• children’s theme play room and playful elements in the exhibition
• gallery Krajina Táborska in fine art
• memorial room of the composer Otakar Ostrčil with examples of his compositions
• Soběslav coin hoard, with more than a thousand silver coins from 1620
• the only surviving Renaissance house in Soběslav

Permanent exhibitions

• Život na Blatech a Kozácku – The largest coherent ethnographic exhibition in South Bohemia on traditional life in the Soběslav–Veselí Blata and the Kozácko region: folk costumes, living rooms, agriculture, crafts and peat extraction. Awarded second place in the Gloria musaealis 2017 competition.
• Krajina Táborska ve výtvarném umění – Gallery of landscape paintings from the museum’s collections, showing different faces of the Tábor region through the eyes of well-known and forgotten regional artists.
• Soběslavský mincovní poklad – Depository of more than a thousand silver coins from 1620, found near Soběslav, together with an explanation of the town in the Thirty Years’ War and a period scene from a tavern.

Operated by

Husitské muzeum v Táboře (Blatské muzeum)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 18 May (International Museum Day), 28 September (Czech Statehood Day) and European Heritage Days, if the day is a regular opening day; according to the website of the Husitské muzeum also every third Sunday of the month (from 19 April 2026, project Dostupná kultura pro všechny)

CZK 10 discounts apply with the Toulavka/JIKORD plus card (full, reduced and family admission), with the Senior pass (full and reduced admission), and with Family passes (family admission), but only in the Rožmberský dům and the Smrčkův dům in Soběslav. Groups of more than 20 people receive a 10% discount on pre-booked visits. An extraordinary tour outside opening hours costs 100% of the admission, but at least CZK 400. Free admission for children under 6, accompanying teachers (1 person per 10 children) and holders of AMG, ICOMOS and similar museum association cards.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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 entire building is step-free, has a lift and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. Holders of a WC card may use the toilets in all accessible buildings of the Husitské muzeum free of charge.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

In the exhibition Život na Blatech a Kozácku there are hands-on play elements for children in the individual halls, animated stories from the series Chaloupka na vršku, and a theme play room where children can play and even lie down on the stove (pec).

Getting there & parking

The house stands on Republic Square (náměstí Republiky) in the centre of Soběslav.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum shop sells products of bearers of folk craft traditions.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit