Antonín Dvořák

The Antonín Dvořák Museum occupies a Baroque villa called Vila Amerika on Ke Karlovu street in Prague's New Town, and it is the only place in the Czech capital dedicated entirely to this composer. Surrounded by a garden decorated with Baroque statues from the workshop of Matthias Bernard Braun, the villa looks at first glance like a private residence, yet for close to a century it has served as a biographical museum run by the National Museum.

What is the building that houses the museum?

Vila Amerika was built between 1717 and 1720 for Count Jan Václav Michna of Vacínov, with the design attributed to Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, one of the leading architects of Prague Baroque. This compact summer residence, set in a garden filled with sculpture, has hosted an exhibition devoted to Antonín Dvořák since 1932 — one of the most recognizable Czech composers, who alongside Bedřich Smetana helped shape the national style in 19th-century Czech music.

Who was Antonín Dvořák, and why does he have a museum here?

Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer, conductor and pedagogue whose music drew heavily on the rhythms and folk idiom of Moravia and his native Bohemia. In doing so he continued the Romantic-era nationalist example set by Smetana, blending folk inspiration with classical symphonic form into what has been described as one of the fullest fusions of a national idiom with the symphonic tradition in European music. Dvořák is also considered one of the most versatile composers of his era, the author of works known worldwide, including the Symphony "From the New World" and the Cello Concerto in B minor.

What can visitors see inside?

The National Museum's permanent exhibition, titled "The Journeys of Antonín Dvořák," takes visitors through the composer's life and career via musical manuscripts, correspondence, photographs and sound recordings. Among the exhibits are personal items that belonged to Dvořák — including his viola, piano, watch, pen and glasses — along with furniture from his former workroom, which together recreate something of the atmosphere of the composer's own study inside the villa.

Is the garden worth visiting too?

The garden surrounding the villa can be visited free of charge, independently of the museum exhibition, and is an attraction in its own right. It is adorned with Baroque statues from the workshop of Matthias Bernard Braun, one of the most important sculptors of Czech Baroque, making the grounds a pleasant stop for a walk through Prague's New Town even for visitors who do not plan to go inside the building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the Antonín Dvořák Museum located? In Vila Amerika on Ke Karlovu street, in Prague's New Town, near the Karlov district.

Who designed the villa? It was built between 1717 and 1720 for Count Jan Václav Michna of Vacínov, with the design attributed to architect Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer.

What exhibition can visitors see in the museum? The permanent exhibition "The Journeys of Antonín Dvořák," featuring manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, recordings and personal items such as the composer's viola, piano and glasses.

Can you enter the garden without a museum ticket? Yes, the garden with Baroque statues from the workshop of Matthias Bernard Braun is freely accessible to the public at no charge.

What compositions is Dvořák best known for? His best-known works include the Symphony "From the New World" and the Cello Concerto in B minor.