Museum in Vimperk

Address: Chateau Vimperk, 385 01
Phone: +420 388 411 506

The Museum is situated in the section of the chateau built on the site of the original 13th-century castle. The last reconstruction was carried out after a fire in 1857 by the owners from the Schwarzenberg dynasty. The oldest part that is preserved to this day is the mid-14th-century Vlček tower. The museum is open daily (except Mondays) from 1 May till 31 October.

Glassmaking: the first evidence of glassmaking in the Šumava region dates back to the mid-14th century. In the late 17th century Bohemian glass began to dominate the world markets, replacing Venetian glass, which had until then been very much in demand owing to its quality. The reputation of Bohemian glass was highlighted by Michal Müller from the Helmbašská glassworks near Vimperk, who discovered a technology to produce chalk, crystal-like glass. The 19th-century rise of glass production in the Vimperk region owes a lot to Josef Meyer – the founder of glassworks in Vimperk and Lenora. His products were technologically and artistically advanced, and his clear glass was considered the best in the country.

Printing: Vimperk takes a lot of pride in the fact that, after Pilsen, it was the second Czech town where books were printed as early as the 15th century. Having moved to the town in 1484, the printer Jan Alacraw printed two books in Latin there: St. Augustine’s Soliloquies, and Summa de Eucharista Sacramento by Albert Magnus, in beautiful leather binding, as well as the first Czech calendar for 1485, called Minuci. This printing heritage was resumed as late as 1855 by Jan Steinbrener, who started to print prayer books, later adding calendars. His printing office also produced miniature Korans, 18 by 27 millimetres in size, with 832 pages.

National Park: the Šumava has had a long tradition of protecting nature, and the declaration of the Šumava National Park on 21 March 1991 was therefore a logical step. The Park has an area of 690 square km, and ranges in altitude from 600 to 1378 metres above sea level.

Expositions

Nature in the Šumava National Park: essential information about the Park and its flora, photographs of natural landmarks, animals and birds living in the Park.

Printing: history of book printing in Vimperk, specimens of miniature Korans (and the production process), prayer books, calendars, a printing press, a blocking and embossing press, etc.

Glassmaking: history of glassmaking in the Vimperk region, specimens of hyalite, painted, engraved and cut glass.

Town history: interesting aspects of the history of Vimperk.