Třebechovické muzeum betlémů

About the museum

The museum was founded in Třebechovice pod Orebem in 1925 on the initiative of native son Vilém Koleš, who gathered objects as gifts from the townspeople and in the 1920s and 1930s also organized Christmas exhibitions of nativity scenes. The collections were moved several times and were accessible to the public only to a limited extent. In 1980 the municipal collections passed to the Památník, which was renamed Městské muzeum four years later.

Gradually the museum developed a specialized profile as a museum of nativity scenes. Today it cares for two sub-collections: a regional collection, whose most valuable object is the hand-written, illuminated Literátský graduál from 1559, and a fund of more than 500 nativity scenes made of various materials from different regions of the Czech Republic. The museum is a contributory organization of the town and also includes a cultural centre and an information centre.

The most important exhibit is the mechanical Proboštův betlém (Probošt Nativity Scene), created by folk woodcarvers Josef Probošt and Josef Kapucián; the moving mechanism was designed by Josef Frimel. The nativity scene is made entirely of wood, measures 6.9 × 1.9 × 2.2 m and consists of more than 2,000 carved parts. It was first exhibited in 1906, achieved its greatest success at the EXPO 67 world exhibition in Montreal, and in 1999 was declared a national cultural monument. Because transport is difficult, it no longer travels and is permanently located in the building on the square.

Highlights

• Mechanical Proboštův betlém, a national cultural monument since 1999
• Wooden nativity scene including its drive mechanism, with more than 2,000 carved parts
• Fund of more than 500 nativity scenes made of different materials and from different regions
• Literátský graduál from 1559 in the regional collection
• Step-free access and a 3D virtual tour of the museum on the website

Permanent exhibitions

• Třebechovický Proboštův betlém – Mechanical wooden nativity scene by folk woodcarvers Josef Probošt and Josef Kapucián, with the mechanism by Josef Frimel. It is the only nativity scene in the Czech Republic that is a national cultural monument.
• Sbírka betlémů – The museum also displays other nativity scenes made of various materials and from different regions of the Czech Republic, including a large glass nativity scene by the glassmakers of Železný Brod and a mechanical nativity scene from Hostinné.

Founded

1925

Operated by

Město Třebechovice pod Orebem (příspěvková organizace)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 28 October (public holiday)

Price list valid from 4 February 2025. Children up to age 4 enter free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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 fully step-free: there is a lift to the 2nd floor, fixed ramps, step-free toilets on both floors and no thresholds inside. The doors to the building are 80 cm wide. One reserved parking space is on Masarykovo náměstí in front of the town hall.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Children up to age 4 enter free, and a reduced family admission is available for families. The museum offers schools the educational programme “Kouzelný svět betlémů” (The Magical World of Nativity Scenes), running from 1 September 2026 to 7 February 2027.

Getting there & parking

The museum stands on Masarykovo náměstí in the town centre.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum has a shop with nativity scenes and souvenirs; nativity scenes can also be bought in the online shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit