Our (hi)story
Do your kids play with dinosaurs?
Do you look for shooting stars while observing the summer sky?
Do you bring stones back as souvenirs from your holidays?
Then you might be surprised by the fact that Southern Bohemia is home to the only gemstones on Earth created by cosmic forces. And what’s more, they actually flew through the air to arrive in Bohemia!
The multilingual exhibition introduces you to the moldavites from many perspectives, is easy to understand but at the same time provides scientifically accurate information.
The topics of the exposition include: the cosmic crashes and their consequences, big extinctions in the history of human life, in addition to the threats that humankind now faces. How it works if two celestial bodies collide. The physical, chemical and esoteric features of moldavite. The most comprehensive exhibition of moldavites in the world.
Aside from moldavites you can see meteorites and other “strange” stones here or take a virtual visit to the most distinctive craters around the globe. You can also go through the cosmic impact step by step or throw your own meteorite onto the Earth.
The introductory film is presented by the well-known geologist and writer RNDr. Václav Cílek. The main exhibition is designed as an interactive light game. You can play with several applications on touch screens while the impact simulator is controlled simply by moving your body.
The history of Moldavite museum dates back to the 80s of the last century, when the founders, still as students of geology, were passionate collectors of minerals and moldavites. At a mature age, in 2006, they founded Občanské sdružení Muzeum vltavínů, with the goal to build a museum that would present moldavite as a unique natural phenomenon to visitors of South Bohemia in an interesting way. At the same time it would become a tribute and a high-quality presentation of this Czech stone.
After some time of searching, an opportunity arose to use a building in Český Krumlov for the establishment of the Moldavite museum, and then the preparatory work, mainly consisting of the development of the project, began. The house in Panská Street is easily accessible to Český Krumlov visitors, and the setting of the exhibition in its mysterious gothic and renaissance spaces is very impressive.
After 6 years of administrative work and unsuccessful attempts, it was possible to obtain the funds needed to renovate the premises, where a restaurant and a rock club operated for many years, and to purchase technology and equipment for the exhibition. With joy and enthusiasm, the founders embarked on the very realization of the museum project. Of course, the most important thing was the selection of the moldavites and the organization of the exhibition, so that it was not only interesting, but also showed the moldavites in their full beauty. The unique method of installation and lighting helped to achieve this. Moldavites and other exhibits were lent by members of the association, friends and other collectors, who significantly contributed to the high level of the museum.
Thanks to the help of many, the Moldavite museum was finally opened in June 2013.
Since 2012, the Moldavite Museum Residence has been operating on the upper floors of the museum building, where you can stay so you don't have to rush home and enjoy your visit in Český Krumlov to the fullest.
If you want to read a little more about the history of the museum, we have dedicated an entire page to it in our new book "Fenomén vltavín".
