City in Time

Five halls, five experiences

You don't have to be a fan of history, architecture, archaeology or any of those fields that don't mean much to the average person. That doesn't mean these fields can't offer something interesting worth knowing. And besides, at the Museum of Prague we add a bit of technology, originality and perspective. Really, a museum doesn't have to be boring..., even though people say so.

Hall 1. Hopefully you don't suffer from vertigo. No, don't worry. Really. In the first hall you'll enter the subjective view of birds circling over 19th-century Prague. During the flight you'll glance at the Charles Bridge and fly over to the astronomical clock. And with a bit of attention you'll notice that Prague looked quite different back then than the one you know today from Google Maps.

Hall 2. Living paintings. What is it? Exactly what it says. Like a live photo from a phone. Only from the 19th century and life-size. Thanks to digital technology you'll see a war veteran idling on the embankment, a caring nursemaid, a conceited aristocrat, or a nun fascinated by candles.

Hall 3. Was that guy crazy? What would make you spend a full 11 years building a model of a city? Redrawing every window, door and little detail on the facade? Nothing? Okay. Antonín Langweil saw it differently, and in 1826 he started doing exactly that. The model has survived to this day, and when you look at it you can only marvel and wonder what was going through his mind over those years.

Hall 4. A chat with Mr. Langweil. Here you'll watch a film. A short one, don't worry. It's about why Mr. Langweil devoted those 11 years to such entertaining and exciting work. And the best part? Thanks to artificial intelligence, his revived portrait will speak to you.

Hall 5. Castaways from the present. Imagine that by some invention you've ended up in the middle of the Vltava, and around you both of its banks are changing over time (space remains the same). What did today's Holešovice, Vyšehrad or Smíchov look like in the 19th century? And in the 20th? You'll see. Pleasingly, even though you're standing in the middle of the Vltava, you'll manage it with dry feet. So you can leave your rubber boots at home.

A city of paper and patience

Langweil's model is a world unique. It covers 20 m² in total and is made up of more than 2,000 objects that amaze and fascinate with their precision. It took eleven years to create. How many kilometres did he walk around Prague, how many notes and sketches did he make? And how much cursing when something didn't work out? Well, anyway. This is a model of 19th-century Prague. Half of the buildings no longer exist, and something completely different stands in their place. But the model is so detailed that architects and restorers still study it today when reconstructing historic buildings. The whole thing looks like one big toy that you'll simply stare at while trying to find familiar places. You won't always find them, as Prague has changed a lot since the 19th century. It is still a beautiful city, but this 200-year-old city of paper is pretty cool too.

Questions and answers

The most frequent questions from visitors about the main building and its exhibition. We summarise clearly the information that will help you prepare better for your visit and enjoy it without unnecessary uncertainty.

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