Museum Kořenec

Museum Kořenec is a small regional museum in the village of Kořenec, in Moravia's Boskovicko area, a short drive from Boskovice. Housed in a former farmstead, it brings the everyday life of a Moravian village back to life through folk costumes, forgotten crafts, and old agricultural tools.

Where is the museum located?

The museum sits right in the heart of the village, next to the community centre, so it's easy to spot on a walk through Kořenec. It occupies a square farmhouse building with a garden, registered as house number 16 — a former working farmstead that the municipality bought thanks to a donation from Jiří Pelikán, an honorary citizen of the village. That gift is what allowed the old farm building to become a museum in the first place.

What can you see inside?

The museum was founded in 1985 and has been collecting mementos of village life in Kořenec ever since. Visitors are greeted in the entrance hall by a wall painting by sculptor Buřival, depicting Hradisko Monastery near Olomouc — a nod to local history, since the Premonstratensian order based there once owned the Šebetov estate, which included Kořenec.

The permanent exhibition centres on the daily life of past villagers. On display are traditional Kořenec folk costumes and the story of the Kořeňák and Kořeňáček folklore groups, which still keep the village's singing, dancing, and folk customs alive today. A separate section is dedicated to forgotten trades and the way local craftsmen once worked. The museum has also recreated a traditional living room and a so-called "black kitchen" — a kitchen built around an open hearth, its walls and utensils darkened by smoke, typical of village homes before electrification.

In the farmstead's former courtyard, larger agricultural exhibits await: threshing machines, blacksmith's bellows, horse-drawn sleighs, and farm wagons. A separate corner is devoted to the history of the village fire brigade, with historic firefighting equipment on show, including a hand-operated fire pump from 1895 — a reminder of how the village once fought fires long before modern fire engines arrived.

Who is this museum for?

The museum appeals to anyone interested in Moravian ethnography and folklore, families looking for a small, low-key stop while touring the Boskovicko region, and visitors curious about rural crafts and old-fashioned farming. Given its modest size, a visit typically takes half an hour to an hour, making it an easy add-on to a day trip around the surrounding villages or a visit to nearby Boskovice.

How do you get to Kořenec?

Kořenec lies in the South Moravian Region, in the Blansko district, not far from Boskovice and Letovice. Driving is the most convenient option, as the village is well connected to the local road network. Travellers relying on public transport should check current bus connections from Boskovice, from where Kořenec is only a short ride away.

When is the best time to visit?

Because this is a small, locally run museum, it's worth checking the current opening hours before you set off — many village museums in the Czech Republic keep limited days and hours, especially outside the summer season. Calling ahead or checking the Kořenec municipality's website before your trip is the safest bet.

Frequently asked questions

What is Museum Kořenec? It's a local ethnographic museum showcasing the history and traditions of the village of Kořenec, from folk costumes to farming tools and firefighting equipment.

Where exactly is the museum located? In the centre of Kořenec village, inside a former farmstead building (house number 16), next to the community centre.

When was the museum founded? It was established in 1985, housed in a former farmstead the municipality acquired thanks to a donation from Jiří Pelikán.

What shouldn't you miss? The reconstructed traditional living room with its black kitchen, the folk costume collection, and the historic firefighting gear, including an 1895 hand pump.