Discover Křižík’s Creations: A Must-Visit in Plánice, Šumava Mountains
František Křižík was an important figure who developed power plants, illuminating numerous cities across the Czech Republic. His remarkable inventions in electrical engineering gained him worldwide recognition. Among his notable creations is the arc lamp, and he also designed the famous Křižík fountain located at the Prague Exhibition Grounds. Additionally, he played a key role in constructing the electrified railway line that connects Tábor and Bechyně was built.
Křižík was born into a family of poor shoemakers. He grew up in Plánice, studied in Klatovy, and later moved to Prague to pursue engineering. Unfortunately, he couldn’t finish his studies and started working for Kaufmann, a company that produced telegraph and measuring equipment. This job led him to focus on railways, particularly working on telegraph and safety equipment designed for train systems.
In 1878, Křižík went to the World Exhibition in Paris, which sparked his interest in electric lighting. He designed his own version of the Piette-Křižík arc lamp, which received first prize at the International Electrical Exhibition in Paris and was patented in several countries, including England, Paris, the USA, Germany, and others. During the early 1880s, Křižík showcased the arc lamp in various celebratory displays, and due to its success, he moved his business to Karlín in Prague. At that time, one of his significant projects was the electrical lighting for the presentation building at Prague’s Žofín. He went on to build power plants and city lighting in many places, including Písek, Jindřichův Hradec, and Prague’s Žižkov and Karlín.
In 1891, a Jubilee Exhibition was held in Prague to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the very first industrial exhibition in the city. František Křižík was among the key organizers and exhibitors. He was responsible for the lighting at the Exhibition Grounds in Stromovka and constructed a light fountain, as well as the first electric railway that linked the exhibition grounds with Letná. During the 1890s, he played a pivotal role in introducing electric tram transport in Prague, establishing the Prague – Libeň – Vysočany line and subsequently the Prague – Královské Vinohrady – Žižkov line. He also built electric railways in Plzeň, Bosnia, and Croatia. By 1903, Křižík had successfully launched the first inter-city electric railway in what is now the Czech Republic, connecting Tábor and Bechyně.
The main attraction of the museum is the arc lamp
The arc lamp and a more than 100-year-old electric generator are featured in the interactive exhibition located in the birthplace of František Křižík in Plánice. This exhibition takes place in a 19th-century rural building, which was saved from destruction by the state in 1955, after being bought from a private owner and subsequently restored. The exhibition originally opened in 1957 and was last updated during a major renovation that occurred in 2010.
The room where František Křižík was born still maintains the original furnishings of the Křižík family, including the tools that Křižík’s father used in his shoemaking business over a century ago. The house also features photographic evidence of Křižík’s groundbreaking inventions, including the first electric car, the first electric locomotive, a light fountain, and more. Among the displayed items, one can see a dynamo designed by Křižík, which was installed in Čachrov to provide electricity for lighting up 80 homes.
Take a trip around Plánice
Nearby the museum is the Baroque Church of St. Blaise. Legend has it that this church was built based on the designs of architect K. I. Dienzenhofer, who was also working on the nearby pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Nicov, so he “popped over” to Plánice to construct it. Nicov is rumored to be one of the tiniest villages in the world, featuring just a few houses, a rectory, and a beautiful Baroque church, which was established on an ancient pilgrimage site. Close by, you can find a spring believed to have healing properties, and a chapel stands above it. Other points of interest in Plánice include the remains of a large Baroque granary hidden in the Maxberk forest and a Romanesque stone rotunda that dates back to around 1200 in the village of Zborovy.
Count Ludvík Taaffe, who came from the ancient Irish noble family Taaffe of Carlingford, established a forest called Prašivice near Nalžovské Hory. This area transformed into a forest park with a pond and a gazebo, surrounding the artificial ruins. You can also discover an enormous stone dragon, a turtle, and the remains of other natural sculptures.
