Recommendation to the visitors of Prague
 

Imperial Armoury in Schwarzenberg Palace

Excelent ... and tempting.
Thanks Martin

Thanks for the info! My wife and I are considering a trip to Prague next spring. I searched for arms museums but hadn't been able to come up with anything. We will have to make this one of our stops.

We are thinking of finishing our trip with a couple days in either Cesky Krumlov or Karlovy Vary. Would you know if either of them have anything arms and armour related?

Thanks,
Casey

Thanks Fernando.

Dear Casey, in Český Krumlov you will find something here: http://www.zamek-ceskykrumlov.eu/tou...castle-museum/. (look at 8.10 Armoury). Karlovy vary is a town of spas, glassworks, film festival and Russian tourists. Weapons would be in the castles of West Bohemia, I do not know if there is something directly in the city.

In Prague you could also visit Military History Museum and Náprstkovo museum (http://www.nm.cz/Naprstek-Museum/). Nevertheless, as far as weapons in Náprstek Museum are concerned, there is only stable exhibition of American Indians ans Pacific weapons. Others, like e.g. Africa, are in deposits and they display it from time to time ----
Regards,
Martin

I highly recommend Ceske Krumlov. The arms collection is very pleasing with matchlocks, wheellocks, Turkish arms and also a room of minting tools and you are allowed to photograph and take your time going through. Several cannon associated with the castle since the Thirty Years War are sheltered under a verandah.

In Prague Castle's Golden Lane is a display of armour that I think must be leftovers from the movies, but I could be wrong.

The Lobkowitz palace in Prague Castle has a lovely display of arms, and there is another in their castle at Nelahozeves. The amazing residence of Franz Ferdinand at Konopiste has the best of all, a huge collection of fascinating arms (plus his truly ridiculous amount of hunting trophies). But sadly these last two collections are guided tours only; you are herded into a room, it is discussed for five minutes, then the party is herded into the next room and the door locked behind. No photography at any of them. :( :(

I missed the museum of military history, but we were walking along the river when I realised I was looking at the massive brick faced bastion of a star fort. And I was looking for cannon, but saw almost none except smaller privately held ones.

I will post some pics later.

The Imperial Armoury in Schwarzenberg Palace is absolutely fantastic! I was there just after the renovation, a few years ago. Make sure you find it, because the entrance to the exhibition is hidden behind a closed door and one must climb up.

I missed it, not knowing it was there. :( Maybe one day I can go back.

Meanwhile does anyone know if there is old artillery displayed in Prague?

I thought I'd bring this topic back to life for a bit. The Schwarzenberg Palace armoury is still around and of course a wonderful gallery. However there are a few other places off the beaten track worth seeking out. I recently had a free day to make a few museum visits.

First of all The City of Prague Museum, this one isn't as well trafficked as the national museum network, but it has some wonderful exhibits detailing the history of Prague. Part of that includes arms and armour artifacts.

A few selections below including an exceptional bronze sword, early iron swords and spears, 13th century swords and axes and Hussite arms as well as an early bronze hand cannon.

Rest of the images.

Hussite etc.

Finally there is also the excellent ethnographic museum Martin mentioned, Náprstkovo. While this is not a particularly large museum they have regularly changing exhibits. The top floor also has a permanent exhibit from Australia and Oceania. This is a bit of an old fashioned display but has many cases dedicated to the islands of Oceania and includes many weapons. Just a few images below.

For all the images, my apologies for the less than stellar quality, lighting was not great!

After reading this thread, i did not know that there was a arms museum in Krumau.

Its farely near to my house so i will check it out very soon. :cool:

I spent a few days in Prague to see the Christmas market. I took the opportunity to visit the Imperial Armoury. It’s well worth a visit when in Prague. It was difficult to find. It’s next (not inside) to the Castle at a square ouside the Western gate. It’s situated in the attic of the Czech National Gallery (a.k.a. Schwarzenberg palace). You take the elevator to the top floor and ask an attendant for the Imperial Armoury and they will point to an unmarked door behind which is a staircase to the attic.

The exhibition is not very big but good. I did not spot any items from Wagner’s Cut and Thrust Weapons and did not see any swords with notches at the tips. The Military Museum was closed for refurbishment.