Muzeum bratří Čapků

The Čapek Brothers Museum in Malé Svatoňovice is a small but deeply personal institution dedicated to two brothers who left a lasting mark on twentieth-century Czech culture — the writer Karel Čapek and the painter Josef Čapek. The village forms a single municipality together with the nearby settlement of Petrovice, which is why the location sometimes appears under either name, although the museum building itself stands in the center of Malé Svatoňovice.

Where is the museum and how do you get there?

The museum occupies house number 147 on Náměstí Karla Čapka, the very building where Karel Čapek was born in 1890. Malé Svatoňovice lies in the Podkrkonoší foothills, in the Trutnov district, close to the Polish border and within easy reach of the Broumov Highlands (Adršpach-Teplice Rocks area). The easiest way in is by car from Trutnov or Náchod; the surrounding villages are also linked by local bus and rail connections typical of this quieter corner of the region. Because the area is rural and low-key, it's worth planning transport ahead and pairing the visit with a walk through the surrounding hills.

What can you see inside?

The exhibition is split into two parts, one for each brother. The upper floor is devoted to Karel Čapek: family photographs, copies of personal documents including his birth certificate and a second-grade school report, and material evoking the home landscape that repeatedly surfaces in his literary work. The second part belongs to Josef Čapek — painter, graphic artist and writer, and Karel's older brother. Here visitors find reproductions of his paintings held by the National Gallery in Prague, a selection of his applied graphic work with strong social themes, and a moving set of his final drawings and poems, created while he was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp, where he died in 1945. In 2026 the museum opened a third permanent exhibition, this time dedicated to the brothers' older sister, the writer Helena Čapková.

Who were the Čapek brothers?

Karel Čapek remains one of the most recognizable Czech writers of the twentieth century, author of novels and plays, including the one that introduced the word "robot" to languages around the world. His older brother Josef was an avant-garde painter and illustrator who also worked as Karel's close literary collaborator, contributing satirical drawings and book covers. Both grew up in Malé Svatoňovice, and the family home and surrounding countryside clearly shaped their later work — one reason the museum was established in exactly this spot.

A short history of the museum

The museum has operated since 1946, growing out of a successful exhibition on the brothers' lives and work. Between 1972 and 1978 the displays underwent a thorough reconstruction that gave them a layout close to what visitors see today. Since then the collection has continued to expand, adding new biographical strands about the wider Čapek family.

Frequently asked questions

Is the museum really housed in the Čapek family home? Yes. House number 147 on Náměstí Karla Čapka is the authentic building where Karel Čapek was born.

How many exhibitions can visitors see? As of 2026 there are three permanent exhibitions — dedicated to Karel, Josef, and their sister Helena Čapková.

Who is this museum for? Mainly for fans of Czech literature and art, but also for anyone exploring the Podkrkonoší region who wants a quiet, culturally rich stop off the main tourist routes.

Is it worth combining with other attractions nearby? Yes — Malé Svatoňovice sits close to the Broumov region and its sandstone rock formations, making it easy to pair the museum with an outdoor excursion.