Muzeum Říčany

Muzeum Říčany is the regional museum of the town of Říčany, located just east of Prague. It documents the history, nature and folk traditions of the Říčany area through a collection built up over more than a century.

How did the museum come to be?

The earliest objects in the collection were gathered back in the 1890s, in connection with preparations for the Czechoslavic Ethnographic Exhibition of 1895. Those early pieces later formed the core of the actual museum institution, which the Říčany town council officially established on October 15, 1908. From the start, its mission was to document the region across four fields: history, living and non-living nature, ethnography, and archaeology.

How has the museum changed over time?

The institution's history has had its share of twists. In 1955, the collections of the closed museum in nearby Nedvězí were transferred to Říčany, adding further regional material to the holdings. In 1965, the Prague-East regional museum was established, and the Říčany museum came under its administration. The most difficult period came in 1983, when the museum temporarily lost its independent status altogether and operated merely as a branch workplace of the Prague-East district museum. The situation began to change between 1992 and 2007, under the leadership of Jan Vít Trčka — after which the institution regained the independent status it still holds today.

What can you see at Muzeum Říčany?

The collections are remarkably varied for a town of this size. The regional history section includes everyday objects from bourgeois and peasant households — dishes, tools, old toys — alongside pieces of folk costume and fragments of uniforms. There are also relics of local craft guilds, textiles, and religious items, including traditional nativity scenes. A separate group covers fine art tied to the region: sculptures, prints, and paintings.

Archaeology enthusiasts will appreciate the subcollection made up mainly of prehistoric and medieval finds unearthed in Říčany and the surrounding area. The natural history section, meanwhile, holds taxidermy specimens, herbarium sheets, entomological and geological collections, and fossils found locally — a solid complement to a visit for anyone interested in the natural sciences.

How to get there?

Muzeum Říčany sits in the town of Říčany itself, only a short distance east of central Prague and well connected to the capital by both train and bus. Thanks to that proximity, a visit to the museum pairs easily with a half-day or day trip out of Prague, especially for travelers looking for a quieter alternative to the crowded attractions in the city center.

When should you visit?

A regional museum like this is best explored on quieter weekdays, when the exhibition rooms aren't filled with school groups. It's worth checking the current schedule of temporary exhibitions before visiting, since alongside its permanent collection the museum regularly hosts themed shows on the region's history and nature.

Frequently asked questions

When was Muzeum Říčany founded? The institution was formally established on October 15, 1908 by the Říčany town council, although the first objects for its collection had already been gathered since the 1890s.

What exhibits does the museum hold? Regional collections covering everyday life, folk costume, crafts and art; an archaeological subcollection of prehistoric and medieval finds; and a natural history collection with taxidermy, herbarium specimens and fossils.

Has the museum always operated independently? No. For a period, especially from 1983 onward, it functioned only as a branch of the Prague-East district museum before regaining full independent status.

Is it worth combining a visit with a trip to Prague? Yes — Říčany is close to Prague and well connected by public transport, which makes the museum a good stop for a day trip beyond the city center.