Jihočeské muzeum

The South Bohemian Museum (Jihočeské muzeum) in České Budějovice is the region's flagship museum and one of the oldest regional museums in the Czech Republic, running continuously since 1877 and now holding more than 800,000 objects spanning nearly every field of regional science and culture.

How did the museum come to be?

The institution started modestly: its first collections opened to the public in the spring of 1877, housed in the "U tří korun" house right next to the town hall. The founding collection grew almost entirely from donations by local citizens and by countrymen who had emigrated abroad but kept sending back items connected to the region's history and nature. Donations soon outgrew the temporary space, which is what pushed the museum toward building a dedicated home of its own.

That monumental building on Senovážné náměstí was constructed between 1899 and 1901, designed by architect Viktor Schwerdner in a historicizing Neo-Renaissance style. It opened to visitors in June 1903 and has served as the museum's main seat ever since. Between 2012 and 2015 the building underwent a thorough reconstruction: the attic spaces were converted into usable areas, barrier-free access was introduced, and a new entrance was opened from Senovážné náměstí.

What will you find inside?

The collections cover botany, geology, entomology, mycology, zoology, archaeology, ethnography, numismatics, history, applied art, theatre, and music history — among the most systematically and scientifically organized regional collections in the country.

Following the reconstruction, the building now houses two permanent exhibitions. "Příběh města" (The Story of the City) walks visitors through the history of České Budějovice from its founding to the present day. "Příroda, archeologie a národopis" (Nature, Archaeology and Ethnography) covers the natural environment of South Bohemia along with the earliest traces of settlement and local folk traditions.

The South Bohemian Museum also runs several branches beyond the main building: the Horse-Drawn Railway Museum on Mánesova Street in České Budějovice, the Jan Žižka of Trocnov Memorial together with the adjoining Trocnov archaeological open-air site near Borovany, and Žumberk Castle near Nové Hrady, which holds an exhibition of folk furniture.

How do you get there?

The museum sits right in the historic centre of České Budějovice, on Senovážné náměstí, just a short walk from the city's main square, náměstí Přemysla Otakara II. The main train and bus station is likewise within easy walking distance of the centre, making the museum simple to reach on foot after arriving in town.

When should you visit?

The museum operates year-round, so a visit can be planned for any season. It's worth checking the current schedule of temporary exhibitions before travelling, since alongside its two permanent displays the museum regularly hosts themed shows that change throughout the year.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the South Bohemian Museum? It has been operating since 1877, making it one of the oldest regional museums in the Czech Republic, with a history now spanning more than a century and a half.

What architectural style is the main building? The building on Senovážné náměstí was built between 1899 and 1901 in a historicizing Neo-Renaissance style, designed by architect Viktor Schwerdner.

What permanent exhibitions can visitors see? There are two permanent exhibitions: "Příběh města," covering the history of České Budějovice, and "Příroda, archeologie a národopis," dedicated to the region's nature, archaeology, and ethnography.

Does the museum have branches outside the main building? Yes — the South Bohemian Museum also administers the Horse-Drawn Railway Museum, the Jan Žižka Memorial with its open-air site at Trocnov, and Žumberk Castle with its folk furniture exhibition.