Galerie veteránů

Galerie veteránů is a private automobile museum in Turnov, in northern Czechia, dedicated to historic cars and motorcycles from 1920 to 1970. It occupies a former town cinema building from the interwar period on Trávnice street, which opened its doors to visitors on 28 June 2025 after a five-year renovation.

Who is behind the collection?

The museum was founded by Jindřich Svoboda, a local Turnov entrepreneur who spent years assembling vehicles from the golden age of motoring. In 2020 he bought the disused cinema building with the intention of turning it into a display space for his private collection. The extensive renovation covered both the restoration of the building's historic facade and a full conversion of the interior into museum galleries — work that took nearly five years to complete.

What will you see inside?

Across two floors of permanent exhibition, more than 40 vehicles — cars and motorcycles — spanning the 1920s through the 1970s are on display. It's a window onto several decades of automotive development, from early mass-produced cars through post-war models to classics closer to our own time. The exhibition highlights not just the technical side of the vehicles but the character of the era they came from — bodywork styling, finishing details and design solutions typical of each decade.

The building itself is part of the appeal: the restored interior of the interwar-era cinema provides an unusual, atmospheric backdrop for the vehicle collection. There is also a café on site with views over the town, a good spot to relax after touring the exhibition.

How do you get there?

The gallery is located in Turnov, a town on the edge of the Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj) region, also known as a centre of gemstone cutting. Turnov lies close to Liberec and is well connected by both rail and road to Prague and Liberec, making the museum a convenient stop while exploring the Bohemian Paradise area.

When is the best time to visit?

As an indoor attraction, the museum can be visited year-round regardless of weather. Since the gallery only opened in June 2025, it's worth checking current opening hours on the museum's official website before your visit — as a relatively new tourist attraction, its schedule may still be adjusting to seasonal demand and visitor numbers.

Frequently asked questions

What is Galerie veteránů? It's a private automobile museum in Turnov displaying more than 40 vintage cars and motorcycles from 1920 to 1970, housed in a restored former cinema building.

Who created the collection? The collection was assembled and the museum founded by Jindřich Svoboda, a Turnov entrepreneur who bought the former cinema building in 2020 and opened the gallery there after a five-year renovation.

When did the museum open? The gallery opened to visitors on 28 June 2025.

What else is there to do besides viewing the vehicles? The building houses a café with views over the town, a good place to take a break before or after touring the two-floor exhibition.