Muzeum jižního Plzeňska v Blovicích, příspěvková organizace

The Museum of Southern Plzeň Region is a regional museum housed in the pseudo-Gothic Hradiště chateau on the banks of the Úslava river, in the small town of Blovice in the South Plzeň district of the Czech Republic. The institution documents the history, culture and nature of the southern Plzeň area, and its home is a 19th-century romantic neo-Gothic remodelling of an older manor house.

How to get there?

Blovice sits just under 20 km southeast of Plzeň, along the road connecting Plzeň with Nepomuk. The easiest way to reach the town is by car or bus, with a journey from Plzeň taking roughly 30 minutes. The Hradiště chateau itself, home to the museum, stands on the edge of town surrounded by an extensive English-style park, so it's only a short walk of a few minutes from the town centre.

What can you see there?

The heart of the exhibition is the chapel of St. Ondřej, preserved within the chateau walls as a reminder of the building's earlier residential function. The museum holds rich archaeological, ethnographic and applied-arts collections, alongside fine art works and literary-historical materials tied to the region. Permanent displays include reconstructed bourgeois and aristocratic interiors, an ethnographic section on traditional folk costumes, and exhibits documenting rural life in the southern Plzeň region in past centuries. A dedicated space is given to the legacy of František Raušar, the museum's founder, as well as to works by Milan Knížák, one of the most significant contemporary Czech artists. Outside, it's worth walking through the English-style park surrounding the chateau — the landscaped grounds stretch along the bank of the Úslava and make a natural extension of the visit.

A brief history

The museum's roots go back to 1913, when a museum department was established at the local town-beautification society on the initiative of František Raušar, then director of the local schools. Raušar died in 1941, leaving his entire estate to the town with the explicit wish that a museum be founded. That vision was only fully realised after an extensive reconstruction of the Hradiště chateau, and the museum opened to the public in its current form and location in 2002.

When to visit?

The museum operates as both a seasonal exhibition space and a cultural venue — alongside its permanent displays, it hosts lectures, concerts, literary evenings, children's workshops, and special events such as Museum Night, international heritage days, and themed walks around Blovice. It's worth checking the current events calendar before visiting, since several programmes run only during specific months, while spring and summer are especially pleasant for exploring the chateau park.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the museum located? In the Hradiště chateau in Blovice, a small town in the South Plzeň district, about 20 km from Plzeň.

What else is there to see besides the permanent exhibitions? The chateau's chapel of St. Ondřej, the English-style park along the Úslava river, and a regular programme of cultural events, including concerts, workshops and Museum Night.

Who built up the museum's collection? The foundations were laid by František Raušar, a local education official who initiated the museum department in 1913 and, upon his death in 1941, bequeathed his entire estate to the town for that purpose.

Is the museum suitable for a family visit? Yes — it offers children's workshops and a walk through the chateau park, making it an appealing stop when exploring the southern Plzeň region.