About this place
The Mrštík Brothers Memorial is a small literary museum in the village of Diváky, in the Břeclav district of South Moravia, dedicated to the writer brothers Alois and Vilém Mrštík. It occupies the very house where the two men actually lived, and its story as a memorial dates back to 1963, when the first exhibition opened here.
Who were the Mrštík brothers?
Alois Mrštík (1861–1925) taught at the local school in Diváky for more than three decades, from 1889 to 1924. It was here that he wrote his sprawling novel cycle "Rok na vsi" (A Year in the Village), in which he portrayed the life of a Moravian-Hanák village around the turn of the 20th century under the fictional name Habrůvka. His younger brother Vilém (1863–1912) is likewise tied to Diváky, where he is buried in the local cemetery. Together the brothers wrote the realist drama "Maryša," one of the landmark works of Czech theatre, drawing on rural life in the nearby village of Těšany.
What is inside?
The house where the brothers lived has undergone extensive reconstruction, and visitors today can walk through five exhibition rooms. The displays trace the two writers' life stories, their literary work, and everyday rural life in Diváky more than a century ago. A separate section is devoted to Božena, Vilém's wife, who played an important part in preserving the brothers' legacy after their deaths. The interiors combine family mementos, documents, and period household objects, giving the visit an intimate, personal feel rather than that of a large institutional museum.
How to get there?
Diváky lies near Hustopeče, in the heart of South Moravia's wine country, not far from Mikulov. The memorial is managed by the Regional Museum in Mikulov, which is worth keeping in mind when planning a visit — Mikulov makes a natural base for exploring the wider region, known for its vineyards and typical Moravian village architecture. The surrounding countryside is well suited to a cycling trip linking several smaller villages of the Břeclav district.
When to visit?
Because it is a small, locally run site, it is worth checking current opening hours in advance, as regional memorials of this kind are often open seasonally or by prior arrangement. Spring and summer are a good time to combine the visit with a tour of the nearby vineyards and the rural trails typical of this part of Moravia.
Why visit?
This is a destination for anyone interested in Czech literature and regional history who wants to see the authentic setting that inspired one of the most significant fictional chronicles of village life in Czech literature. Unlike large literary museums, here the connection between a specific place and the content of the books is direct and tangible — the house, the school, the village, and the people the Mrštík brothers wrote about still form the backdrop of the surrounding area.
Frequently asked questions
Who were the Mrštík brothers? Alois and Vilém Mrštík were Czech writers active around the turn of the 20th century, authors of the drama "Maryša" and the novel cycle "Rok na vsi," inspired by life in Diváky.
Where exactly is the memorial located? In Diváky, a village in the Břeclav district of South Moravia, near Hustopeče and Mikulov.
Is it worth combining with other regional attractions? Yes — the area is known for its vineyards and cycling routes, and nearby Mikulov is one of South Moravia's major tourist hubs.
Who manages the memorial? The site is managed by the Regional Museum in Mikulov.
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