Jindřichův Hradec – Museum

The Museum of the Jindřichův Hradec has a rich history dating back to the 19th century. A major milestone was the year 1928, when a new museum exhibition was opened in the Renaissance building of the former Jesuit seminary on Balbín Square in Jindřichův Hradec, where the museum is still located today. It is a one-story late Renaissance building, which is part of the nearby Jesuit college. The building is protected as a cultural monument.
In 1935, the museum acquired its most important and most visited exhibit – the Krýz Nativity Scene, the largest folk mechanical nativity scene in the world.

The museum's big attraction is the largest folk mechanical nativity scene in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of Records since 1998. Local hosiery master Tomáš Krýza worked on the magnificent piece for more than 60 years, practically his entire life.

On display is the original equipment of the historic Hradec Králové pharmacy from the late 18th century, originating from house 164/I on Hlavní náměstí.

The exhibition on the ground floor presents one of the largest air battles over the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. On August 24, 1944, six American four-engine B 24 Liberator bombers from the 15th Air Army and at least fourteen Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke Wulf Fw 190 fighters of the German Luftwaffe were shot down over the territory of South Bohemia.

The exhibition presents the artistic legacy and life of the most famous Czech singer. In two rooms, in addition to photographs, documents and objects representing the artist's singing career, there are also samples from the singer's rich collections, including furniture, musical instruments, porcelain and curiosities, which she collected at the castle in nearby Stráž nad Nežárkou, where she lived from 1914 until her death. The exhibition is complemented by audio samples of Ema Destinnová's sin­ging skills.