Melicharovo vlastivědné muzeum

The Melichar Regional Museum (Melicharovo vlastivědné muzeum) in Unhošť is a small local museum housed in the town's former town hall, right on the main square of this quiet town in the Central Bohemian Region, in the Kladno district. It's a stop for travelers curious about the everyday history of one of the region's lesser-known towns — no crowds, no queues, just a genuine local collection.

How do you get there?

Unhošť sits a short distance west of Prague and just a few kilometers from Kladno, so the easiest way in is by car or by regular bus service from either city. The museum occupies the former town hall building, marked house number 1, right in the town center — once you reach the main square, it's hard to miss. Unhošť has no train station of its own, so travelers relying on rail should plan for a connecting bus for the last stretch of the journey.

Where does the name come from?

The museum is named after František Melichar (1842–1925), a local schoolteacher who was collecting local artifacts long before anyone in Unhošť thought of opening a museum. Melichar gathered items from the surrounding area for the Czechoslavic Ethnographic Exhibition held in Prague in 1895, and for years kept part of his collection stored at the local school. The town eventually recognized the value of his work, and in 1912 set aside a room in the town hall building specifically to display it — the starting point of today's museum.

What will you find inside?

The core of the collection consists of archaeological finds from Unhošť and its surrounding region — physical evidence of settlement stretching back centuries and testifying to the area's long history. Alongside these are guild relics and objects tied to the history of local crafts, as well as materials documenting the region's literary and theatrical past. The museum also holds paintings by regional artists and documents chronicling the town's own history.

The ground floor hosts occasional temporary exhibitions that change with the seasons and with whatever local theme is being explored at the time. Upstairs, a representative hall houses a small but permanent regional exhibition, and it's also where the museum hosts talks and lectures for residents and visitors alike. The same building is home to the town's tourist information center, where you can pick up "Listy z Unhošťska," a regional magazine the museum has published since 1990 — a nice keepsake and a useful resource for anyone who wants to dig deeper after the visit.

When should you visit?

The museum pairs well with a short walk around Unhošť's compact town center — the whole visit doesn't take long, which makes it a good stopover on the way between Prague and Kladno. Because it's a small, locally run institution, it's worth checking current opening hours and the schedule of temporary exhibitions before setting out, since both can shift with the season and with events happening in town.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the museum located? In the former town hall building in the center of Unhošť, marked house number 1, on the town's main square.

Why is the museum called "Melichar's"? It's named after František Melichar, the local teacher who started the collection while gathering items for an ethnographic exhibition in Prague in 1895.

What's in the collection? Archaeological finds from the region, guild artifacts, objects related to the history of crafts, literature and theater, and paintings by regional artists.

Is there a tourist information point at the museum? Yes — the same building houses an information center where you can buy the regional magazine "Listy z Unhošťska," published since 1990.