Capital Prague - Czech republic

First Slaves appeared in Prague territory in 5th and 6th century. They settled in an area of Dejvice and Bubeneč at that time. Afterthat, they started to colonize the spaces in direction to Hradčany and Malá Strana. Except of Šárka piece of ground, the seat of Přemysl-Princes arose at the end of 9th century (Prague piece of ground). Originally, the clan of  Bohemians was seated in Levý Hradec. Prague castle, as Prince-seat, was founded by Prince Bořivoj probably during 870-890 on a rocky headland over Vltava-river.

The Prague National Museum of Technics, open for public recently, undergone very hard and detailed reconstruction works during past years, which unvolved, except all buildings´ reconstruction, the renovation of practically all expositions, first of all gigantic (immense) hall, dedicated for transport and aviation objects.

Except of this, you can find there smaller halls, presented to themes, such as: architecture, engineering and design, astronomy, art of print and atelier art of photography.

From the first opening day, the Museum became very popular and was in the centre of interest of all visitors, first of all from line of fathers and sons, who admire (similarly as previous generations) a beauty and technical refinement of machines from all over the world, especially of Czech (or Czechoslovak) origin.

So, on weekends, endless queues were formed in front of Museum building, and casual visitors could be sick (during those winter months) from long waiting outside the building. From this reason, we prepared for you small sample of photos, showing you, what exactly would be possible to see in Prague Museum of Technics.

What is the ideal time period for visit? It is: on working days till 6 p.m. and except holidays. Anyway, the collection set (exposition) is still completed and its range is more than rich. Nevertheless, my impression is that, in past, the collection was more extensive, especially in model section of aviation, transport and shipping (to tell the truth, this might be caused by my vigorous child phantasy!), although this museum was a target of my excursions probably each second weekend of my early childhood (this visit was frequently changed with admiration of „Whale“, placed in National Museum Building).

Author´s note: as a target of this photo-gallery, it is no substitution of personal visit of National Museum of Technics but this gives a brief outline the atmosphere stressing some remarkable  details (which are worth to see) from chosen exposition section. So, this is not complete documentation in a form of catalogue, and it was not an intention, at all.  

Text/photo: Jan Chaloupka

Translation: ing. Jan Jonáš