Open-air museum in Krňovice

The Open-Air Museum in Krňovice sits in the village of Krňovice, part of the town of Třebechovice pod Orebem in the Hradec Králové Region of eastern Bohemia. It's the only museum of its kind in the whole region, dedicated to the folk architecture and technical heritage of the area stretching from the Podorlicko lowlands to the foothills of the Orlické Mountains and Krkonoše.

What will you see there?

The grounds hold more than a dozen relocated and reconstructed buildings, both rural and urban, illustrating how people in the Hradec Králové region and the Orlické Mountains foothills once built and lived. Highlights include a typical East Bohemian farmstead, a working water mill moved here from Bělč nad Orlicí, a granary, and several farm barns. Interiors are furnished with period tools and household objects, so the exhibit tells a story about daily life, not just about carpentry.

A lot of attention goes into keeping things functional rather than static: many of the machines on display, including petrol and electric motors and various pieces of farm equipment, still run and are demonstrated to visitors during guided tours. The museum also puts on themed craft days — bread baking in a historic oven, blacksmithing demonstrations, flax processing — turning a visit into something closer to a hands-on history lesson than a walk past glass cases.

How do you get there?

The museum is located at Krňovice 33, Třebechovice pod Orebem. The most straightforward approach is from Hradec Králové, driving through the village of Blešno and on into Třebechovice pod Orebem itself. The outdoor grounds are wheelchair accessible throughout; the interiors of some historic buildings are less so, given their age and original layout, though most of what's on display inside can still be seen from the doorway.

When should you visit?

The museum runs a seasonal schedule, open to visitors from May through October. Outside that window, a visit can still be arranged individually by contacting the museum in advance. Tours are guide-led, which is the best way to learn the history behind each building and see the old machinery actually working. If you can, time your trip around one of the craft demonstration days — that's when the museum feels most alive.

While in Třebechovice pod Orebem, it's worth pairing the museum visit with a stop at the town's Museum of Nativity Scenes, home to a world-famous mechanical wooden nativity scene.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Open-Air Museum in Krňovice? It's an open-air architecture museum in the village of Krňovice, showcasing rural and urban buildings typical of the Hradec Králové region and the Orlické Mountains foothills. It opened to the public in 2002.

What can you see at the museum? An East Bohemian farmstead, a water mill relocated from Bělč nad Orlicí, a granary, several barns, and working farm machinery, including petrol and electric motors.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible? The outdoor grounds are accessible, but the interiors of some historic buildings are not fully so — most exhibits, however, can be viewed from the entrance.

When is the museum open? The visiting season runs from May to October. Outside those months, visits are possible by prior arrangement.