Atelier of Josef Seidel

The Josef Seidel Photo Studio in Český Krumlov is a remarkably intact 20th-century photography studio, preserved almost exactly as it looked when it was in daily use. The building dates back to 1905, purpose-built by photographer Josef Seidel to capture natural light for portrait work, and it still stands today as one of the most atmospheric small museums in town.

Who was Josef Seidel, and why does the studio still look original?

Josef Seidel was born in 1859 into a family of glass cutters before turning to photography as his life's work. His son František later took over the business, continuing the family trade for decades. Together, father and son produced an extraordinary visual record of Český Krumlov, its residents, and the wider Šumava region. Everything changed in 1948, when the state nationalized a large portion of the studio's postcard negatives. After that, František largely stopped taking clients and retreated to working quietly in the darkroom — which, ironically, is exactly why the studio was never modernized or cleared out, and instead survived frozen in time.

What you'll see inside

Now run as a branch of the Regional Museum in Český Krumlov, the site occupies an Art Nouveau villa that still holds its original, fully functional photographic equipment. Visitors walk through the old studio room with its vintage cameras, lighting rigs, and portrait backdrops, then continue into the preserved darkroom where the glass plates were once developed. Display cases hold personal belongings from the Seidel family alongside a sample of the enormous surviving archive — roughly 140,000 images, most of them glass negatives, making it one of the region's most significant photographic collections. A popular extra for visitors is the chance to sit for a retro-style portrait in period costume, recreating exactly the kind of sitting the studio's clients once paid for.

How do you get there?

The studio sits within Český Krumlov itself, so the easiest way to reach it is on foot from the historic center — usually a walk of no more than fifteen minutes or so. The town is well connected by bus from České Budějovice and Prague, and the museum's slightly quieter location, off the busiest tourist lanes, is itself a welcome break from the crowds around the castle and main square.

When should you visit?

Aim for a quieter part of the day, ideally outside the peak summer rush, so you can take your time in the small rooms and enjoy the costume photoshoot without feeling hurried. As with many smaller museum branches, opening hours can shift between the summer and winter seasons, so it's worth double-checking the current schedule shortly before your visit.

How long should you plan for?

A standard visit with a guide or audio guide typically takes about an hour. If you want to try the retro photoshoot, build in extra time for changing into costume and posing for pictures.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the actual original building where Seidel worked? Yes — it's the same building Josef Seidel had constructed in 1905, designed specifically to serve as his photographic studio.

What happened to the Seidel family's photo archive? A large share of the negatives was nationalized in 1948, but around 140,000 images, mostly on glass plates, survived and now form the core of the museum's collection.

Can visitors get a retro-style photo taken? Yes, the museum offers photoshoots in period costume, recreating the studio's original portrait sessions.

Is the studio part of a larger museum network? Yes, the Seidel Photo Studio operates as a branch of the Regional Museum in Český Krumlov.