Museum of Vyskov Region, Library

The Museum of the Vyškov Region is a regional museum housed in the chateau of Vyškov, in South Moravia, a short trip east of Brno.

Where is the museum located?

The exhibitions occupy the former castle of the Olomouc bishops, originally a Gothic stronghold that was rebuilt into an imposing Baroque residence between 1665 and 1682. The building stands in the historic heart of Vyškov and counts among the town's most notable landmarks in its own right. Besides the main chateau, the institution also runs two other sites: the "Anny" building with its adjoining Spitálek, and a branch museum in nearby Bučovice.

How did the museum come to be?

The roots of museum work in Vyškov go back to the 1890s: an Ethnographic Society was founded in 1893, and the museum itself followed a year later, in 1894. Over the decades it moved premises several times. In 1923, thanks to the efforts of Professor Vojtěch Procházka, a town museum opened inside a secondary school building; in 1931 the collections moved again, to a former temple on the main square; and since 1954 the museum has resided in the renovated old wing of the chateau, where it remains today.

What can visitors see in the exhibitions?

The museum runs eight permanent exhibitions in total — seven in Vyškov itself and one in Bučovice. The oldest dates back more than fifty years, while the newest was installed in 2016. Together they cover a wide range of subjects: archaeology, ethnography, natural history, fine art and regional history.

The collection's centerpiece is Vyškov folk ceramics — one of the most significant collections of folk faience in Moravia. The display traces the craft from its Habán origins in the 17th century, through local Vyškov faience production in the 18th to 20th centuries, up to its decline in 1945. These brightly hand-painted vessels have become something of a regional symbol, and they're well worth lingering over during a visit.

How to get there?

Vyškov sits on the main routes connecting Brno and Olomouc and is well served by both rail and regional bus lines. The chateau housing the museum stands right in the town center, within easy walking distance of the main square and other historic sights, so a museum visit pairs naturally with a stroll through the old town.

When is the best time to visit?

The permanent exhibitions are worth seeing at any time of year, but it's worth checking the current schedule of temporary exhibitions too — the museum regularly adds new themed shows alongside its permanent displays, giving visitors an extra reason to return outside the peak tourist season.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Museum of the Vyškov Region located? Inside the chateau in the center of Vyškov — a former Gothic stronghold of the Olomouc bishops, rebuilt as a Baroque residence in the 17th century.

What is the standout part of the collection? The Vyškov folk ceramics collection — one of the most important collections of folk faience in Moravia, tracing the craft's development from the 17th to the 20th century.

How many permanent exhibitions does the museum have? Eight in total — seven in Vyškov and one at the museum's branch in nearby Bučovice.

Since when has the museum been in its current location? Since 1954, when the collections moved into the renovated old wing of the chateau; before that, the institution had occupied other buildings in town starting from its founding in 1894.