Chlupáč Museum

Chlupáč Museum of Earth History is a compact but content-rich geology and palaeontology museum tucked into the basement of the Faculty of Science, Charles University, at Albertov 6 in Prague 2. It's a place for travelers who want to see the story of our planet written in fossils rather than read about it in a textbook.

What is the Chlupáč Museum?

Named after professor Ivo Chlupáč, a respected Czech geologist and palaeontologist, the museum operates as the teaching and research collection of the Institute of Geology and Palaeontology at Charles University. It isn't a mass-tourism attraction — first and foremost it's a working collection used for teaching historical geology, stratigraphy, palaeontology, and general and regional geology. Even so, the museum regularly opens its doors to outside visitors.

What will you see inside?

The core of the collection is fossils that document Earth's history across hundreds of millions of years, from the earliest organisms to specimens much closer to our own time. A standout part of the holdings is the collection of Upper Palaeozoic amphibians from the Boskovice Graben, numbering more than 3,000 catalogued specimens — one of the more significant collections of its kind in Central Europe. Alongside it you'll find invertebrate fossils, minerals and rocks illustrating geological processes, and exhibits linked to prehistoric reptiles that give the basement galleries their memorable "underground laboratory of Earth's history" feel — a draw especially for younger visitors.

How do you get there?

The museum sits within the Charles University science campus on Albertov Street, right in the heart of Prague 2's academic quarter, next to the university's other geology, biology and geography institutes. The location pairs naturally with a walk through Nové Město or a visit to nearby Vyšehrad, which is only a short walk away.

When should you visit?

The museum is open to visitors on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free for Charles University employees and members of the university's alumni club — it's worth checking current entry terms before your visit, since access conditions can differ depending on visitor status. Larger groups are advised to register in advance by phone or email so the museum can prepare the space and, where needed, arrange a guided tour.

Who is it for?

The Chlupáč Museum is a great stop for natural-science enthusiasts, families with children curious about dinosaurs and fossils, and geology students passing through Prague. Its compact scale means a visit won't take long, but the academic backing behind the collection offers a depth of knowledge you won't always find in more commercial natural-history museums.

Frequently asked questions

Is admission to the museum free? Admission is free for Charles University employees and alumni club members. Other visitors should check the current entry terms before their visit, as a university-run museum can apply different conditions to different groups of visitors.

What are the opening days and hours? The museum welcomes visitors on Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. That's the only regular opening day of the week, so plan your visit around it.

Do you need to book in advance? Individual visitors can simply come during opening hours without a reservation, but larger groups should contact the museum by phone or email beforehand to arrange a time slot and a possible guided tour.

What's the highlight of the collection? The more than 3,000 catalogued fossils of Upper Palaeozoic amphibians from the Boskovice Graben are one of the collection's most significant elements, alongside minerals, rocks and fossils that trace the region's geological history.