Městské muzeum

The Kadaň City Museum tells the story of this town on the Ohře River through a network of historic buildings scattered across its old center, rather than through a single museum hall. Today the institution looks after five heritage sites and six permanent exhibitions, ranging from a medieval monastery to the town castle and the historic town hall.

How did the museum come about?

Museum tradition in Kadaň goes back to the 19th century, culminating in 1903 with the founding of the Society of Friends of the Museum. The institution survived the turbulent decades that followed, but was shut down in 1975 under the communist regime. It took until 1999, after the political changes, for the museum to reopen — and that reopening marks the true starting point of today's City Museum.

Since 2008 the museum has operated as a department of Kulturní zařízení Kadaň (Kadaň Cultural Facilities), the organization responsible for most of the town's cultural infrastructure.

What can you see in the Franciscan monastery?

The heart of the museum's offering is the former Franciscan monastery, built in stages between 1473 and 1500. It was in the monastery's cellars that the museum opened its first post-reopening exhibition in 1999, dedicated to mineralogy and displaying minerals and rocks from the region.

The real crowd-pleaser, however, is the "Life in the Monastery" exhibition, opened in 2004. It covers most of the medieval monastery complex, including the monastery church, and walks visitors through the daily routine of the friars — from their cells to the spaces used for prayer and work. A year later, in the former dormitory cells, the museum opened another exhibition, this time devoted to the history of the town of Kadaň itself, its development and key milestones.

What else belongs to the museum?

Over time the City Museum expanded well beyond the monastery walls. It now also curates exhibitions at Kadaň Castle, in the town's medieval bastion, and inside the town hall building. That means a single visit to Kadaň can combine several eras and architectural styles in one trip — defensive, ecclesiastical, and civic.

How to get there and when to visit?

The museum's address is Jana Švermy 474, Kadaň, right next to the Franciscan monastery, one of the old town's most recognizable landmarks. Because most of the sites are historic buildings — the monastery, the castle, the bastion — the exhibitions are typically open during the main tourist season, so it's worth checking current opening hours for each site before planning a visit.

Kadaň sits in the Ústí nad Labem region near the Ore Mountains, making it a convenient stop for history enthusiasts as well as anyone planning a longer tour of northern Bohemia.

Frequently asked questions

How many sites does the Kadaň City Museum manage? The museum oversees five heritage buildings in the town, hosting six permanent exhibitions between them.

What is the "Life in the Monastery" exhibition? It's the museum's most popular exhibition, opened in 2004, covering most of the medieval Franciscan monastery, including its church.

When did the museum reopen after being closed? After closing in 1975, the museum reopened in 1999, starting with a mineralogy exhibition in the monastery's cellars.

Where else besides the monastery can you see the museum's exhibitions? Additional exhibitions are located at Kadaň Castle, in the medieval town bastion, and in the town hall building.