Městské muzeum Moravská Třebová

The City Museum (Městské muzeum) in Moravská Třebová is one of the more unexpected finds in eastern Bohemia – a small town holding a collection that would not look out of place in a national museum, from Egyptian mummies to samurai swords, all housed in a purpose-built neo-Renaissance building from the early twentieth century.

Why does a small Czech town have such a museum?

The museum's story starts in the 1870s, when a local educational association was founded in Moravská Třebová with the explicit goal of building a town collection of artifacts and curiosities. The institution only reached its full scale, though, thanks to one local native who emigrated to the United States and made his fortune there as a businessman: Ludwig Vincenz Holzmaister. He funded the construction of the museum's grand neo-Renaissance building, completed in 1906 specifically to house the growing collection, and he enriched it further with objects gathered on his own trip around the world.

What can you actually see inside?

The core of the exhibition consists of souvenirs from Holzmaister's journey through Japan, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Java, Sumatra, Ceylon, China, India, Burma and Africa. Among the most photographed items are four samurai swords and a set of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including several mummies. The undisputed star of the collection is the mummy of the Egyptian princess Hereret – the first mummy in the Czech Republic to undergo a 3D facial reconstruction, which means visitors can see not only the sarcophagus but also an approximation of what the princess actually looked like.

Following a thorough reconstruction of the building, the museum is opening a new permanent exhibition, "Město a svět" ("The Town and the World"), which weaves the local history of Moravská Třebová together with the story of the exotic cultures brought to the town through Holzmaister's donations – a journey from regional history to one-of-a-kind artifacts from across the globe.

Should you pair the visit with the castle?

Definitely. Part of the museum's collection is also displayed at the nearby Moravská Třebová castle, as part of the "Poklady Moravské Třebové" ("Treasures of Moravská Třebová") tour. That route leads visitors through an alchemist's workshop, mysterious underground passages and a medieval torture chamber, giving the same historical material a much more theatrical setting than a standard museum display. The castle also hosts concerts and historical events, so it's worth checking the event calendar before you go.

How to get there and when to visit?

Moravská Třebová sits on the border between Bohemia and Moravia and is easy to reach by car or by train from Pardubice or Brno. The museum is located right in the town centre, within easy walking distance of both the main square and the castle, so a single day trip can easily cover both sights. Because the building recently underwent reconstruction and is unveiling a new permanent exhibition, it's worth checking current opening hours on the museum's website before setting off. Weekends and summer months tend to draw the most visitors, so a weekday visit outside peak holiday season means a quieter experience.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the City Museum and the castle in Moravská Třebová? The museum is a standalone neo-Renaissance building from 1906 dedicated mainly to the Holzmaister collection – mummies, Asian and African artifacts, and the town's history. The castle displays part of that same collection in a more theatrical setting, as part of the "Poklady Moravské Třebové" tour.

How did Egyptian mummies end up in a small Czech town? They were brought there by Ludwig Vincenz Holzmaister, a native of the town who made his fortune in the United States. During a trip around the world he assembled a collection of exotic artifacts, which he then donated to his hometown.

Who was Princess Hereret? Her mummy is the centerpiece of the Egyptian collection – the first mummy in the Czech Republic to receive a 3D facial reconstruction, letting visitors see an approximation of what she may have looked like in life.

Can you visit the museum and the castle on the same day? Yes. Both sights are located close together in the town centre and their collections complement each other, so most visitors combine both stops in a single trip to Moravská Třebová.