Petrof Pianos: Global Legends to Escape Boredom—Discover Your Next Adventure!

Both renowned musicians Gustav Mahler and Rudolf Firkušný played on Petrof pianos, and he created pieces on their unique flaps. Notably, Paul McCartney has done so too. When Taylor Swift proudly shared a studio photo on Instagram, many fans were astonished to learn he creates his popular songs using a rare Czech instrument from the 1900s. This particular piano was crafted under the watchful eye of Zuzana Ceralova Petrofová, whose great-grandfather oversaw its production. The image she posted has gained massive attention, reaching over 280 million views. This could be considered the biggest advertising boost that Petrof pianos from Hradec Kralove have ever received, and it was done at no cost.

How a carpenter became the king of pianos

The tale of Petrof pianos is almost like a fairy tale. Antonín Petrof (1839-1915), who originally worked as a cabinetmaker, moved to Vienna at just seventeen years old to learn. There, he became enchanted by the art of piano making. Upon returning to his hometown of Hradec Králové, he built his first piano in 1864, and just a year later, he turned his father’s workshop behind the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit into an official piano manufacturing business.
Interest surged so quickly that he soon had to relocate to larger facilities on what is now known as Na Brně Street. This is where Petrof continues to craft its instruments today, with the fifth generation of the Petrof family skillfully blending time-honored traditions and modern innovation.
By the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century, pianos from Hradec captured audiences around the globe. Antonín Petrof earned the esteemed title of His Majesty’s Court Supplier. However, the tumultuous 20th century brought challenges such as wars and changes in ownership through nationalization and privatization, yet the brand persevered. Today, Petrof is proud to be Europe’s leading maker of acoustic pianos, producing around two thousand grand pianos and twelve thousand upright pianos annually, with significant demand in Eastern markets and prestigious concert halls in Japan and the USA.

Seven thousand parts and a year of work

Creating a piano is a complex process. Each Petrof piano has a unique character, assembled from roughly 7,000 individual parts. It can take many years from the time the trees are felled to the completion of the final tuning. Typically, producing a piano takes five to six months, while creating a grand piano can take around nine months to finish. Various types of wood, chosen for their special qualities, are used in its construction. The soundboard, for instance, is made from mountain spruce, renowned for its dense grain—the same type that Stradivari used for his violins. Although Petrof uses wood from the Czech mountains, such as those in Šumava, the best wood for soundboards comes from Italy, particularly the Val di Fiemme.

Each piano is expertly crafted by skilled artisans who treat the wood with the same care as a sculptor. They meticulously tune, sand, and finish even the tiniest details, believing that every note played is like a signature. When the first note rings out, it is a magical moment for the masters at Petrof, as they see wood transform into music.

Museum, café and concert hall under one roof

If you want to explore the Czech musical wonders, make your way to the Petrof complex in Hradec Králové. In 2017, they unveiled the Petrof Gallery, which serves as a business and cultural hub and is home to one of the most modern piano showrooms in Central Europe.
Inside, there’s a music café with a self-playing piano along with a multi-purpose hall designed with excellent acoustics, where concerts, conferences, and social gatherings are held. A small museum on-site showcases the history of piano production, featuring truly unique items, including an 1882 piano made by the company founder’s brother, Josef Petrof.
Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the production facilities, and those adventurous enough can even try out some of the instruments. Plus, there’s an exciting new exhibit at the PETROF Museum in the Information Centre along the Eliška embankment in Hradec Králové.

Curiosities to delight the musical soul

• • Pianos have been evolving for hundreds of years, but by the time Antonín Petrof started his craft, they were already quite similar to what we see and hear today.

• • Each instrument is unique: at Petrof, they believe that pianos have voices as distinct as humans.

• • The production still involves significant manual labor today; modern technology assists but cannot replace the emotional touch of a craftsman.

• • In 2018, Petrof produced a special model called the Republic to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia. This model features a plaque made from Beskydy spruce, a frame of Slovak maple, and decorative elements of Carpathian walnut.

• • Pianos typically have a keyboard with black and white keys. Did you know there are 88 keys in total? Of these, 52 are white and 36 are black. While white keys used to be made from ivory and walrus tusks, and black keys from ebony, these materials have now been replaced with synthetic options.

• • Pianos even have their special day: on March 29, we celebrate World Piano Day, which falls on the 88th day of the year, symbolizing the number of keys on the keyboard.

Take a trip to Hradec Králové and explore the legendary sounds. Kudy z boredy invites you to visit the place where the pianos played by the world’s biggest stars came from. Whether you prefer classical, pop, jazz, or simply enjoy the sound of piano keys, there are melodies for everyone.
Explore the Petrof Gallery, wander through the Museum, relax at the Music Cafe, and immerse yourself in an atmosphere enriched by the scent of wood, the harmonies of piano music, and over a hundred sixty years of tradition.