Muzeum Dr. Šimona Adlera

The Dr. Šimon Adler Museum stands in the hamlet of Dobrá Voda, part of the town of Hartmanice in the Šumava (Bohemian Forest) region, right next to the Church of St. Vitus and a small healing spring. It is a modest but distinctive institution dedicated to the memory of the region's Jewish community and to one of its most notable members.

Who was Dr. Šimon Adler?

Dr. Šimon Adler was born on 15 March 1884 in Dobrá Voda itself. A rabbi, educator and scholar, he devoted much of his life to studying the history and culture of the Jewish minority along the Czech-Bavarian border. He was murdered in 1944 at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The museum bearing his name was founded on the initiative of his sons, Matityahu Adler and Rabbi Sinaj Adler, with support from the town of Hartmanice and its then-mayor Jiří Jukl. It opened in 1997 with funding from the Ministry of Culture, and its exhibition underwent a thorough renovation in 2019.

What is on display?

The exhibition is arranged in several parts. The first tells the story of Šimon Adler himself — his family background, biography and key life milestones. The next section presents the customs, holidays and everyday life of Jewish residents in the western Czech borderlands before the Second World War. A separate part surveys 25 towns and villages across the region that once had Jewish communities, documenting both preserved and long-destroyed monuments — synagogues, Jewish cemeteries and other remaining traces. The final section covers the history of Czech-Israeli relations, including the lesser-known chapter of Czechoslovak military assistance to Israel in the 1950s.

How to get there?

The museum sits in Dobrá Voda, a few kilometres from the centre of Hartmanice, in a scenic corner of the Šumava range within the Klatovy district. Driving is the most practical option, as local roads wind through the forests and hills typical of this part of the country. It also pairs well with a hike or cycling trip, since Dobrá Voda lies along several marked Šumava trails. Consider combining your visit with a short walk to the nearby Church of St. Vitus and the spring that has long drawn pilgrims seeking its healing waters.

When should you visit?

The museum operates as a branch of the Šumava Museum based in Sušice and typically runs seasonally, open daily except Mondays, in a morning and afternoon block with a midday break. Because opening hours at smaller, regional museums can shift with the tourist season, it is worth checking current times before setting out. Spring through autumn is the most reliable window, when the surrounding hiking network is also fully accessible.

Who should visit?

The museum appeals to anyone interested in 20th-century history, the Holocaust, and Jewish heritage in Central Europe, as well as travelers looking for quieter, lesser-known sites in the Šumava region. It also makes a worthwhile educational stop for school trips and for visitors tracing the multicultural history of the Czech borderlands.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the museum located? In Dobrá Voda, part of the town of Hartmanice, in the Šumava region of the Klatovy district, near the Church of St. Vitus.

Who is the museum dedicated to? Dr. Šimon Adler, a rabbi and scholar born in Dobrá Voda in 1884 and murdered at Auschwitz in 1944.

What can visitors see in the exhibition? The Adler family's history, the culture and traditions of the region's Jewish residents, documentation of 25 towns with former Jewish communities, and the history of Czech-Israeli relations.

Is the museum part of a larger institution? Yes, it operates as a branch of the Šumava Museum headquartered in Sušice.