National Museum (Národní muzeum)

NEW TOWN SIGHTS:  Café Slavia | Charles Square | Dancing House | Jindřišská Tower | Na Příkopě Street | National Museum | National Theatre | Main Train Station | State Opera | Wenceslas Square


The National Museum in Prague dominates the top of Wenceslas Square. It was opened in 1890, at the peak of the Czech National Revival movement, as a grand representation of Czech history and nationalism. Severe damage was caused to the front facade, pillars and statues when the building came under fire from the occupying Soviets in 1968. Combined with the damage caused in World War II, the National Museum found itself in disrepair and had to be closed for extensive reconstruction in 2011, to reopen on October 28, 2018.

The museum houses exhibits on the prehistory of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia, collections of rocks and minerals, and vast paleontology, zoology, and anthropology displays.

Address: Václavské náměstí 68, Prague 1 (historical building), Vinohradská 1, Prague 1 (new building)
Getting there: Metro A/C or tram 11 or 13 to Muzeum
Website: www.nm.cz

Fountain in front of the National MuseumHistorical building of the National MuseumHistorical building of the National Museum with the new building in the background