The Vrchlabí exhibition in Four Historic Houses is undergoing a transformation
The group of four historical cottages is among the oldest traditional buildings in the region and represents a rare preserved piece of the original urban architecture. This project requires necessary construction adjustments to the historic buildings, which include installing new utility systems and changing the heating to heat pumps. This change will lead to cost savings in the future. Additionally, there will be the installation of a security camera system and renovations to inadequate sanitary facilities. However, the modernization is not merely about construction investment; a key element of this project is also the professional preparation and implementation of completely new content for the exhibition. The new exhibition will focus on the history of the town of Vrchlabí, its urban development, the daily lives of its residents, as well as traditional crafts and the cultural heritage of the region. The aim is to showcase Vrchlabí as a natural historic center of the Krkonoš Mountains.
Experts are currently working intensively at the depository of the Krkonoš Museum of the KRNAP Administration in Vrchlabí to prepare new items for the collection and 3D exhibits. These will allow visitors to explore historical artifacts as well as construction and craft techniques from the past in greater detail. These modern presentation tools will make history accessible and engaging to broad audiences.
The garden behind the historical cottages will also be enhanced, with new visitor infrastructure added. This will allow for the hosting of workshops, folk showcases, craft workshops, and other activities focused on the intangible cultural heritage of the region. The existing temporary stage will be replaced with a new shelter that includes a stage, designed in an architectural style that resonates with the historical context, ensuring it does not disrupt the character of the area. The renovations will also include the construction of a new restroom building with direct access from the garden. The result will be a refined and functional space that reflects the importance of this valuable heritage site.
This project responds to the long-standing need to expand the tourist offerings beyond the most visited sections of the Krkonoš National Park. It aims to contribute to a more even distribution of visitors in the area. The modernized exhibition in Vrchlabí will complement other project activities being carried out on the Polish side, specifically in the Sobieszów area near Jelenia Góra. The project will also contribute to preserving and showcasing the shared cultural heritage of the Czech-Polish borderland.
The project is scheduled to be completed by March 2027. With the support of the Interreg program, a modern museum and cultural facility will be developed in Vrchlabí, connecting history, traditions, and current visitor needs, allowing the Krkonoš heritage to truly come alive before the eyes of visitors.
Vrchlabí – the gateway to the Krkonoš Mountains, serves as an ideal starting point for exploring the central part of the highest mountains in the Czech Republic. Czech Vrchlabí and the German Hohenelbe are connected by their location on the upper part of the Elbe River, just as the oldest Latin name Albipolis is linked to the Latin term for the Elbe, Albis (White). In 1533, Vrchlabí was purchased by Kryštof Gendorf from Gendorf, a mining expert from Carinthia and a royal advisor, and the same year the settlement was elevated to town status. Vrchlabí emerged as one of the most significant centers for metallurgy in the Czech lands, gaining importance as a center for iron processing in addition to various flax production. Alongside Jilemnice, Vrchlabí is also considered one of the birthplaces of skiing in Central Europe.
The Renaissance castle built in 1546 is one of the first of its kind in Bohemia. Currently, it houses the city office, and the most precious artifact from its original furnishings is the original tiled stove in the former knight’s hall, now used as a large meeting room. The castle park still contains many rare and significant trees. Notable landmarks in Vrchlabí include the dean’s church of St. Lawrence, the Marian plague column from the 17th century, the oldest wooden house At Seven Gables, historic burgher houses, and the stone bridge from the 17th century with a statue of St. John of Nepomuk. The most significant Baroque monument in the entire Krkonoš region, the Augustinian monastery built in 1705, is now home to the Krkonoš Museum. Additionally, Vrchlabí is the headquarters of the Krkonoš National Park Administration. Did you know that Miloš Forman began filming his famous movie “The Firemen’s Ball” at the Střelnice in Vrchlabí in December 1966?
