Latest Events in Prague(March Updated)

A smaller exhibition in the showcases located in the Eastern hall of the Historical Building presents the expeditions of the National Museum, which are primarily united by a desire for knowledge that overcomes borders. It presents a selection of the most important historical expeditions which demonstrate the institution's long research tradition, up to contemporary expeditions. One of the oldest research trips is reminiscent of A. Frič's expeditions to Banat (1853) and Dalmatia (1856) accompanied by acquired zoological specimens. The challenging nature of the expeditions is exemplified by the entomological expedition to Iran by Praga V3S museum vehicle in the 1970s or, at the time, the pioneering expeditions to the Mapuche area in South America. Current expeditions of the National Museum will take you to diverse corners of the world on almost all continents and unearth the latest scientific and archaeological discoveries made by the researchers. They will explain the importance of cooperation between scientific and museum departments and multidisciplinary approach, which lead to the joint results of the work of a team of experts that examine the topic from different points of view.

The exhibition Antonín Dvořák in Photographs presents more than 45 photographs taken by prominent Czech and international photographic studios, as well as amateur photographers, capturing Antonín Dvořák at various stages of his life. The display includes several rarely seen and previously unexhibited photographs of Antonín Dvořák from age 27 to the end of his life. A particularly unique feature is a set of amateur photographs (snapshots) showing Antonín Dvořák enjoying leisure time with his family at their summer residence in Vysoká u Příbramě. Also featured are stereoscopic photographs of the composer with his family taken during their stay in the United States of America.

This year, the National Museum commemorates 100 years since it took over the archaeological collection of Eduard Štorch. An educator by profession and a popular author of books for children and young people, he was also an avid amateur archaeologist. The exhibition Prehistoric Adventures of Eduard Štorch will introduce you to the unusual connection between Štorch's novels and the authentic archaeological finds that inspired him when writing his works. At the same time, the exhibition presents Eduard Štorch as a progressive personality – a progressive educator, founder of skiing courses, health holidays by the sea and the Children's Farm, an avid amateur archaeologist and collector, and an enthusiastic scout. The exhibition, which interweaves biographical and narrative lines, is divided into five parts: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Roman Age and the Early Middle Ages. Accompanied by Štorch's books, you can explore the period from the Early Paleolithic, represented by the legendary Mammoth Hunters, to the Early Middle Ages with the Hero Nik. The atmosphere of the exhibition is illustrated by examples of fauna from the time of mammoth hunters, which no longer occur in our territory, such as musk deer, wolverines, luminosa, or a mammoth cub, which has been moved from the National Museum's exhibition Windows to Prehistory especially for this exhibition. You can look forward to exceptional palaeontological and archaeological finds or the original of Štorch's diary. The Paleolithic animal figurines, together with the Venus of Věstonice, are considered to be the first ceramic objects in the world. From the Bronze Age, the needles from Nečín – a find from 1929, which inspired Štorch to write his novel Bronze Treasure, or a faithful anthropological reconstruction of a woman with the richest equipment in the Únětice culture from the burial site in Mikulovice are interesting. Furthermore, you can see the unusual equipment of Štorch's discovery of a Celtic warrior grave from Prague-Hloubětín with a sword and a golden ring, and you will be transported to the times of Marobud, king of the Marcomanni, by the luxury products of Roman workshops. Thanks to audiovisual elements, you can walk through the digital route of the mammoth hunters' wanderings, view a selection of photographs from the Štorch estate and browse through the Chronicle of the Children's Farm or recall the film trilogy by director Jan Schmidt based on Štorch's books in selected excerpts. Especially child visitors will enjoy the backdrop of a Paleolithic cave with a projected fire, a demonstration of the facade of a Neolithic house, a reconstruction of two graves or animals such as wolves, bears and beavers that appear in Eduard Štorch's books. There is also a library. You can also try out your literary and illustration skills right in the exhibition. There is a book in which you can write a short story for a sequel or try to design an illustration in the style of Štorch's books. Anyone can also send their stories and illustration designs to vystava@nm.cz. The best works will be published in the exhibition. The exhibition has been created in cooperation with the Memorial of National Literature, where Štorch's rich literary heritage and photographs are stored.

Founded in 1995, the Prague Marathon, is known to be one of the most beautiful marathons in the world. Starting and finishing in the historical Old Town Square, the route also crosses the famous Charles Bridge and takes runners all around the magical Czech capital city, through all the different neighbourhoods and historical landmarks. It should be noted that the Prague Marathon, is considered by the media to be the most international marathon, with two thirds of runners coming from 55 different countries. It is also the seventh fastest marathon, has been awarded IAAF Gold Label Status (now World Athletics Elite Label) and voted one of the most beautiful in the world. And not only is the Marathon in Prague following a beautiful route, but the organizers are also doing their best to make it the most enjoyable event for runners, as well as a sustainable race for the planet. Minimizing waste and recycling are two very important elements in the spirit of this race. It is free of plastic cups, as well as paper free, and is running diverse recycling programs. If you are willing to run a marathon that will blow your mind from its beauty, but will also leave you with an incredibly heart-warming feeling, while being good for our planet, the Prague Marathon was made for you, and you can register today!

Every important building has its foundations, not only structural, but also symbolic. The pillar of the National Museum are its collections. They are the most important thing inside the building, which in itself is one of the most precious items. However, it is the people, not only the founders, employees, donors, but also the visitors, who make the museum come alive. Collections, buildings and people – this is the National Museum. Together they form added values. The Museum from the cellar to the attic exhibition offers its visitors to peek into the life of the institution. It is symbolically installed in period cabinets designed more than a hundred years ago by Josef Schulz, the architect of the Historical Building. Individual collections and themes across the institution compose a puzzle-like image of the museum in the cabinets. It reflects contemporary scientific practices and knowledge, cultural norms and political changes, as well as modifications in the ways of acquiring, preserving and presenting collections over a period of more than 200 years.

During his eleven years of exploration in South Africa, traveller Dr. Emil Holub collected tens of thousands of objects, made observations covering the fields of natural history and ethnography, hunted game, and studied the ethnic groups he encountered on his travels. His portrait with a typical tropical helmet is basically iconic. To this day, his immense popularity has been exploited by various artistic and advertising projects, shaping and distorting the traveller into an image that has become almost cult-like. The aim of the Emil Holub exhibition is not to convey a comprehensive view of Holub's personality, but to open up questions directed towards the present. How do we perceive Emil Holub and the activities associated with him today? How do various myths and legends influence this perception? What is the value of Holub's collections, how did he work with them and how does contemporary exhibition and collection-building work with them? Where can we see objects from these collections? How do we perceive Holub through the lens of colonial studies? The exhibition is divided into four parts. The first one is devoted to two journeys to Africa that Holub made in the 1870s and 1880s. Through several examples, it shows how Holub created a depiction of the course of these journeys, what their original goals were, how they were fulfilled, and how they were reacted to by some of the later products of mass culture. It also shows the most important discoveries made by Holub during his expeditions in South Africa and presents his natural history collection.

In May 2023, a selected part of the collection of the National Museum–Antonín Dvořák Museum was registered under the name Antonín Dvořák Archive in the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme Register which safeguards the most important documentary heritage of humanity. Following the addition of the Leoš Janáček Archive in 2018, this marks the second instance of a collection from a Czech music composer being included on this prestigious list. An archive containing Dvořák's musical manuscripts, letters, personal documents, non-musical manuscripts, his personal library, iconographic documents, first editions of Dvořák's compositions, printed documentation, diplomas and honorary memberships has been entried into the Register. A total of 3,500 units were part of the nomination. However, the collection of the Antonín Dvořák Museum contains significantly more objects. As of 2023, the museum oversees a compilation of approximately 9,000 items within its collection. The aim of the Antonín Dvořák: My life & Work exhibition is to comprehensively showcase the Dvořák collection, taking into account both the chronological progression of the composer's life and the essence of the UNESCO nomination. Over the course of a year, the exceptional exhibition will present 18 Dvořák’s original musical manuscripts.

A musician’s livelihood is built on diligence, their technical knowledge of playing, and their talent. But what is the use of daily practice and talent without the ability to reach an audience? Come behind the scenes of the music industry and go on a concert tour with us. How did music travel from the Czech Lands to the world and back again? Stars go on tour, itinerant musicians wander from town to town, some musical nomads may not even have a permanent home. They travel by land, air, and sea, on foot and by saloon carriage, and spend the night roughing it and in luxury hotels. As well as a way of making a living, travelling offers a number of stimuli, inspiration and the opportunity to see distant lands.