If you’re a history buff and want to know how Prague began, you should pay a visit to the main building of the City of Prague Museum. There you can also find out how the city developed over the centuries, how the most important monuments came into being and how the artistic tastes of Praguers have changed. A short walk from Florenc metro station, the museum houses an extensive exhibition that takes you from Prague’s prehistoric era to the Baroque period.
The exhibition of prehistory presents, using archaeological finds, everyday life in that era, as well as the history of the Slavs’ arrival in the early Middle Ages. The Medieval Prague section focuses mainly on the establishment of Prague Castle and Vyšehrad, the establishment of individual Prague quarters, and the turbulent era of the Hussite wars. Another section, Prague at the end of the Middle Ages and the Start of Modern Times, looks at the transition from medieval to modern. It examines the era of Rudolf II and features several documents charting the lives of Prague inhabitants. Besides, the display mentions the Estates rebellion in the early 17th century, culminating in the Battle of White Mountain. Focusing mainly on artistic exhibits, the Baroque Prague display takes a different angle and includes paintings by Karel Škréta and Petr Brandl, and Baroque sculpture.
Perhaps the most engaging exhibit of all is Langweil’s model of Prague, which was created between 1826 and 1837. On a scale of 1:480, the handmade card model shows the Old Town, Lesser Quarter and Prague Castle before Prague underwent redevelopment at the turn of the 20th century. You can see all the details of facade decoration, as well as gardens, courtyards, and numerous demolished buildings in the Old Town and the former Jewish Quarter.
Besides the exhibitions, the museum offers much more, including workshops, lectures, and absorbing activities for families with children.