Museum barokních soch (Chrudim)

Museum of Baroque Sculptures in Chrudim is one of the very few museums in the Czech Republic devoted entirely to Baroque sculpture, housed in the former Capuchin Church of St. Joseph on Školní náměstí, right in the historic centre of this East Bohemian town.

What will you see inside?

The exhibition holds around thirty sculptures, deliberately kept to a modest number so visitors aren't overwhelmed and the former church interior can "breathe" around each piece. The core of the collection is East Bohemian sculpture from the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries and the first half of the 18th century, the peak period of Baroque art in the region. Works on display include pieces by Jiří František Pacák, Ignác Rohrbach and Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff — one of the most significant sculptors of Czech Baroque — alongside the local master Jan Pavel Čechpauer, whose output is closely tied to Chrudim and its surroundings. Both stone and wood sculptures are represented, giving visitors a good sense of the range of Baroque workshop techniques.

Part of the visit includes a screening of "Kamenný příběh" (Stone Story), a film made specifically for the museum by the Miroslav Ondříček Film Academy in Písek under director Jan Vejnar. It walks visitors through the history of Baroque sculpture and the craft of stonework in an accessible way, adding a multimedia layer to the otherwise quiet, contemplative exhibition.

How to get there?

The museum occupies the former Capuchin church on Školní náměstí, an easily reachable spot close to Chrudim's historic centre. Chrudim lies in the Pardubice Region, a short distance from Pardubice itself, which has regular train and bus connections to the town. Once in Chrudim, the museum is an easy walk of a few minutes from the main square.

A church turned museum

The building underwent a complete reconstruction and renovation — covering both the exterior and the interiors — carried out from January 2009 to August 2011. This modernisation is what made it possible to convert the sacred interior into a museum space that meets contemporary exhibition standards, while keeping the atmosphere and architecture of the original church intact.

When to visit?

Because the space is a former church, the interior keeps a cool, hushed character regardless of season, making it a pleasant stop at almost any time of year — including as a welcome break from summer heat. With a compact number of exhibits, a visit doesn't take long, so it fits well into a walking route that also takes in Chrudim's historic square and its other churches.

Who is it for?

The museum appeals especially to visitors interested in sacred art, regional history and Baroque architecture, as well as anyone who prefers a small, carefully curated exhibition over crowded galleries. The combination of an authentic sacred space with high-quality sculpture creates an atmosphere that's hard to replicate in an ordinary city gallery.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the museum located? In the former Capuchin Church of St. Joseph on Školní náměstí, in the centre of Chrudim.

How many sculptures are on display? The collection includes around thirty carefully selected Baroque stone and wood sculptures.

Which sculptors are represented in the exhibition? Works by Jiří František Pacák, Ignác Rohrbach, Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff and local master Jan Pavel Čechpauer.

Is there anything beyond the sculptures themselves? Yes — the visit includes a screening of "Kamenný příběh," a film about the history of Baroque sculpture made specifically for the museum.