Retro Computer

Retro Computer is a private computer museum in Žatec, tucked into the cellars of the historic U Zlatého beránka restaurant right in the town centre. The collection, assembled over more than thirty years by enthusiast Pavel Jambor, now counts over a hundred fully working machines from the 1970s, 80s and 90s — home microcomputers alongside office rarities you won't find displayed anywhere else in Europe.

What will you see inside?

The exhibition runs working units from both sides of the old Iron Curtain: HP, Olivetti, Datapoint, Osborne, Commodore, Atari, ZX Spectrum, Epson, Sony and Sirius Victor stand next to Czechoslovak Tesla machines and East German Robotron models. It's exactly this mix of Western consumer electronics and socialist-era computer manufacturing that makes Žatec a genuinely unusual stop on the Central European tech-history map.

A handful of exhibits are proper unicorns. The Datapoint 1560 reportedly isn't shown anywhere else in the world outside Žatec. The Olivetti P6066 can only be seen here and in a museum in Milan, while the HP-250 is on display only in Žatec plus two locations on opposite sides of the globe — Melbourne and North Carolina. For anyone even mildly curious about computing history, that alone is reason enough to step off Žatec's main sightseeing route.

Crucially, this isn't a look-but-don't-touch collection. Most of the computers actually work, and three gaming stations run playable titles from the 1980s — which is why kids tend to linger here just as long as parents reliving their first home computer or school computer lab.

How do you get there?

Retro Computer sits right in the heart of Žatec, in the cellars of the U Zlatého beránka restaurant, close to the streets leading onto Náměstí Svobody. The historic old town is small and entirely walkable, so whether you arrive by train at Žatec station or drive in and park near the old town, the museum is only a short stroll away.

What else is there on site?

Directly beneath the restaurant stretch two levels of medieval cellars known as Jedová chýše — the "Poison Cottage." It's a separate, atmospheric exhibition with dim lighting and a psychedelic soundtrack, covering roughly 1,450 square metres in total. Pairing computing nostalgia with a slightly eerie Gothic underground makes for an unusual but memorable afternoon combo in Žatec.

When is the best time to visit?

The computer museum can be visited on weekdays, but weekends — Saturdays in particular — tend to be the best time to go, since that's when the medieval cellars beneath the restaurant are also open for touring. Plan for more than half an hour: between the working machines and the gaming stations, it's easy to stay longer than you intended.

Frequently asked questions

Do the computers actually work? Yes — that's the whole point of the place. Most of the more than one hundred exhibits are fully functional, and at several stations you can sit down and play games from the 1980s yourself.

Is Retro Computer suitable for children? Very much so. The retro gaming stations are just as appealing to kids as they are to parents and grandparents reminiscing about their first computers.

How long does a visit take? The computer exhibition alone usually takes 30–45 minutes, but combined with the Jedová chýše cellars underneath, plan for a full hour or more.

Is there anything else connected to this site in Žatec? Yes — the museum occupies the same building as the U Zlatého beránka restaurant, and directly beneath it lie the town's historic cellars, open as a separate themed tour.