Museum of Czech Literature

The Museum of Czech Literature in Prague is dedicated to the history of Czech writing and is run by the Památník národního písemnictví (Memorial of National Literature) institution. For 70 years it occupied part of Strahov Monastery, before relocating in 2022 to the Petschek Villa in the Bubeneč district, on Pelléova Street.

A short history

The museum's roots go back to the early 1950s. After the communist regime expelled the Premonstratensian order from Strahov Monastery in 1950, the vacated monastic buildings were turned into the Museum of National Literature, which opened to the public in 1955. Over the following decades the collection of manuscripts, first editions and literary memorabilia grew steadily, and Strahov became one of Prague's key cultural addresses. After the fall of communism, the monastery itself was returned to the Norbertine order, which still lives and works there today, while the museum continued to operate on the site for another three decades before finally moving to its current home.

What you'll see

The permanent exhibition, titled "The World as an Open Book," guides visitors through the development of Czech literature across the 19th and 20th centuries. It is spread over ten rooms on two floors, and each room has its own distinct character shaped by a different curator — rather than a single chronological narrative, it plays out as a series of separate, thematic stories. Exhibits combine manuscripts, books, film and audio recordings, interactive multimedia stations, and personal objects that once belonged to writers. This mix of classic literary artefacts with contemporary presentation formats keeps the museum from feeling like a static display case and instead lets visitors get a feel for the era each work came from.

How to get there

The museum is housed in the Petschek Villa on Pelléova Street, in the quiet, villa-lined district of Bubeneč in northwestern Prague. This is a different location from the museum's former home at Strahov, which is worth double-checking before a visit, since some older guides and maps still list the monastery as the museum's address. The neighbourhood sits close to the Výstaviště exhibition grounds and Stromovka Park, so a visit here pairs easily with a walk through the greenery nearby.

When to visit

The exhibition appeals mainly to visitors interested in literature, history and villa architecture — plan for at least an hour, longer if you want to explore the interactive stations in detail. Bubeneč is pleasant year-round, but in spring and summer the neighbouring Stromovka Park makes it especially easy to turn the visit into a longer outing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Museum of Czech Literature the same institution that used to be at Strahov Monastery? Yes. It is the same organization, Památník národního písemnictví, which operated at Strahov Monastery for 70 years before moving to the Petschek Villa in Bubeneč in 2022.

Do I need to know Czech to enjoy the museum? Knowing Czech helps you appreciate the manuscripts and literary texts in full, but the exhibition relies heavily on visual, film and interactive material, so it remains accessible even without the language.

Can Strahov Monastery still be visited? Yes. The monastery buildings returned to the Norbertine order after 1989 and now operate independently — home to the famous Strahov Library — separate from today's Museum of Czech Literature.

How many rooms does the permanent exhibition have? "The World as an Open Book" is spread across ten rooms on two floors of the Petschek Villa.