Galerie minerálů

Galerie minerálů is a private museum of minerals and gemstones in Dvůr Králové nad Labem, widely reported as the largest collection of its kind in the Czech Republic. Spread across nearly 2,000 square meters, it displays more than 6,000 specimens gathered from around the world, alongside a handful of striking prehistoric fossils.

Where did this collection come from?

The gallery is the life's work of Luboš Blaha, a local collector who spent years building a personal passion for minerals into something far bigger than a hobby shelf. By July 2021 the collection had grown large enough to warrant its own dedicated exhibition space, and it has kept expanding ever since, with new pieces regularly added to the permanent display.

What will you actually see inside?

The core of the exhibition is minerals and gemstones from both Czech deposits and far-flung corners of the globe — rock crystal, amethyst, tourmaline, and raw metal ore alongside more polished specimens. A few oversized showpieces stand out, including a two-ton rose quartz boulder added during one of the gallery's spring updates. A separate section houses complete skeletons of prehistoric marine reptiles — a mosasaur and a plesiosaur — giving the place something of the feel of a natural history museum alongside its mineral halls.

How do you get there, and when should you go?

The gallery sits at V Zahrádkách 3278 in Dvůr Králové nad Labem. It's open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, so a visit fits easily into most travel schedules regardless of season. The extra activities on offer are seasonal, though, so aim for a visit between May and August if you want the full experience.

What else can you do while you're there?

From May through August, the gallery runs a hands-on activity that works especially well for families: panning for Czech garnets and gold — technically pyrite — at dedicated sluicing stations. Bags of mineral-bearing sand are sold on site, and the panning equipment itself is available to rent, turning the visit into more than just a walk past display cases. It's an easy way to keep younger visitors engaged, since a stone they found themselves tends to stick in memory longer than any placard.

What does admission cost?

Adult tickets cost 180 CZK, with a reduced rate of 130 CZK, and children aged 3 to 10 pay 70 CZK. Children under three get in free. These prices cover the permanent exhibition only — the mineral-panning activity is booked and paid for separately.

Frequently asked questions

Is Galerie minerálů really the largest mineral museum in the Czech Republic? Local media coverage describes it as the country's largest such collection, with more than 6,000 exhibits spread across nearly 2,000 square meters.

Who founded the gallery? It was built by Luboš Blaha, a private mineral collector from Dvůr Králové nad Labem, who opened it to the public in July 2021.

Are there any fossils on display, or is it minerals only? Alongside the minerals and gemstones, the gallery houses complete skeletons of a mosasaur and a plesiosaur — prehistoric marine reptiles that predate the mineral collection by millions of years.

Is this a good stop for families with children? Yes — beyond the display cases, kids can try panning for garnets and gold themselves during the summer months, which tends to leave a stronger impression than reading labels alone.