Hliníkárium

Hliníkárium is one of the most delightfully odd small museums in the Czech Republic, tucked away in Humpolec in the Vysočina region. Housed in a former cinema building right on Havlíček Square in the town centre, the whole exhibition is built around a single absurd line from a Czech film comedy that ended up permanently changing how the country sees this small town.

Where does the name come from?

The story starts in 1976, when director Oldřich Lipský released the now-classic Czech comedy "Marečku, podejte mi pero!" (roughly "Marecek, pass me the pen!"). In one scene, a character played by Zdeněk Srstka blurts out the line "Hliník se odstěhoval do Humpolce!" — "Aluminium has moved to Humpolec!" The joke made no real sense, which is exactly why it caught on: over the following decades it turned into a genuine piece of Czech pop culture, a kind of running gag permanently linked to Humpolec.

As the quote's fame kept growing, the town eventually decided to embrace the joke officially. In September 2002, Humpolec unveiled a commemorative plaque dedicated to "Hliník" (Aluminium) itself. The plaque quickly became a pilgrimage site for fans of the film from across the country, and the town hall started receiving letters, postcards and small gifts addressed simply to "Hliník" — not just from within the Czech Republic, but from abroad too, including from the United States.

What will you see inside?

The town's answer to this wave of attention was the Hliníkárium museum, which opened its doors on 22 September 2006. The exhibition is arranged in three parts that walk visitors through the whole story:

The first section is dedicated to the film itself, with clips from "Marečku, podejte mi pero!" playing on screen, behind-the-scenes photographs from the shoot, and original props connected to the production.

The second section covers the unveiling of the memorial plaque in 2002, using photographs and short texts to recreate the atmosphere of that day and the town's reaction to the sudden surge of interest.

The third and most charming part is a collection of letters, postcards and keepsakes sent in by people from all over the world, all addressed to "Hliník." It is tangible proof of how one nonsensical film line managed to connect strangers from opposite ends of the globe.

How do you get there?

The museum sits right in the heart of Humpolec, on Havlíček Square, next to the town's tourist information centre and cinema. Humpolec lies directly on the main route connecting Prague and Brno, so arriving by car or long-distance bus is straightforward. From the train station and the bus stop it is only a short walk of a few minutes to the town centre. Given how compact the exhibition is, it is worth pairing a visit with a walk around the main square and Humpolec's other historic sights.

When is the best time to visit?

Hliníkárium is a small, low-key attraction that works well at any time of year — it does not require much time, which makes it a great stop on a longer trip through the Vysočina region, for instance while travelling between Prague and Brno or Jihlava and Humpolec. It is worth checking the current opening hours in advance, since as a small facility it may keep limited days and hours, especially outside the main tourist season.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is Hliníkárium? It is a small museum in Humpolec dedicated to the famous film line "Hliník se odstěhoval do Humpolce!" from the 1976 comedy "Marečku, podejte mi pero!" and the wave of public fascination it triggered in the town.

Where exactly is it located? Inside a former cinema building that also houses the tourist information centre, right on Havlíček Square in the centre of Humpolec.

How much does admission cost? A ticket costs 30 Czech crowns per person, and children under 6 enter free of charge.

How much time should I plan for a visit? Because the exhibition is compact, a visit usually takes between 20 and 40 minutes, which makes it easy to combine with exploring the rest of Humpolec.