Muzeum Boženy Němcové

The Božena Němcová Museum in Česká Skalice is the oldest literary museum in the Czech Republic, dedicated to the life and work of one of the most important Czech writers of the 19th century.

What will you see at the museum?

The main exhibition occupies roughly 400 square metres inside the museum building, tracing Němcová's biography and literary output through manuscripts, book editions, personal memorabilia, photographs and documents from the era she lived in. The display follows the writer's life chronologically, from her childhood in nearby Ratibořice, through her mature literary career, to how later generations of readers received her work.

The museum is not confined to a single building. It comprises three permanent exhibitions spread across historic sites in the town: alongside the main museum hall, visitors can explore a former inn and the grounds of a former monastery, as well as the ruins of a medieval fortress that point to a much older history of Česká Skalice than the writer's own lifetime. A visit therefore combines a literary biography with the town's broader historical context.

Why Česká Skalice?

Česká Skalice and the neighbouring village of Ratibořice are inseparably linked to Božena Němcová's life and writing. It was here, in the valley of the Úpa river, that the author spent her childhood with her grandmother - an experience that later became the basis for her best-known novel, "Babička" (The Grandmother), one of the cornerstones of Czech national literature. The museum was founded to preserve the memory of this place and to show how strongly the local landscape shaped the writer's work; many visitors already know the novel before arriving, but only see its real, physical setting once they get here.

How to get there?

Česká Skalice lies in the Hradec Králové region, close to Náchod, and is well connected by rail and local roads to larger towns in the area, including Hradec Králové and Náchod itself. The museum sits in the town centre, so once you arrive no further transport is needed - all three parts of the exhibition are within walking distance of one another.

When to visit?

The best time to visit is spring and summer, when the museum and the surrounding sites are fully accessible and the weather also suits exploring the area, including the nearby chateau at Ratibořice and the Babiččino údolí (Grandmother's Valley) linked to Němcová's novel. It's worth checking current opening hours before your visit, since the individual sites can follow different seasonal schedules, especially outside the peak tourist season.

Frequently asked questions

What is the museum dedicated to? The museum is dedicated to the life and work of Božena Němcová, one of the most important figures in 19th-century Czech literature and the author of the novel "Babička".

How many parts does the exhibition have? The exhibition consists of three permanent parts: the main museum hall (about 400 square metres), a former inn, and the grounds of a former monastery together with the ruins of a medieval fortress.

Is this the only museum of its kind in the Czech Republic? It is the oldest literary museum in the Czech Republic, making it a unique institution among cultural sites dedicated to writers and their work.

What else is worth combining with a museum visit? It's worth pairing the visit with a trip to the nearby Ratibořice chateau and a walk through the Babiččino údolí (Grandmother's Valley), both directly connected to the writer's biography and work.