Regional Museum in Decin

The rich and precious collections, which are now housed in the historic building of the former hunting lodge of the Thun-Hohensteins from the first half of the 18th century right in the centre of Děčín, are offered to visitors by the Regional Museum in Děčín, a contributory organisation of the Ústí nad Labem Region. It is the only museum in the Czech Republic that maps the development of shipping on the Elbe. However, it does not neglect the history of the city of Děčín from the earliest times with examples from archaeological finds. In the following lines we present the main sightseeing tours of this exceptional museum.

Development of shipping on the Elbe

More than thirty ship models present the development of shipbuilding in the reconstructed exhibition "The Development of Shipping on the Elbe" and offer the opportunity to learn about the rich history of shipping in Bohemia. Together with the presentation of new information, although maintaining the original concept and exhibition space, they have created a unique exhibition in the Czech Republic.

Attention is paid to the development and growth of transport over the centuries, the river's navigation and the nature of the river and its surroundings. The text accompaniment should introduce the visitor to the most important milestones in the development of transportation, such as the use of the steam engine, the emergence of the CPSL, modern designs emerging in our state, and the importance of shipping as a whole. The rich pictorial accompaniment, coming from the museum archives and private collectors, appropriately complements the text part.

The Děčín Museum has one of the largest libraries on navigation ever and owns an extensive photo archive of vessels, a collection of old water maps of the Elbe and Vltava rivers, a comprehensive set of construction drawings and plans and many other realia documenting this specific mode of transport and transportation. The development of shipping is presented from the earliest times to the present day. The historical diving suit from the beginning of the 20th century is an essential part of the exhibition.

City on the meadow

Visitors to the museum can learn about the oldest history of the town in the exhibition Town on the Meadow. Archaeologists were able to document the origins of the town and its settlement from its earliest times during long-term research at Mariánská louka in the 1980s. The discoveries from the research can be seen in the museum today. You can see medieval ceramic shards, skeletal remains or examples of small metal objects and many other interesting things from the earliest history of Děčín.

Gothic Art in the Děčín Region

In addition to the overall structural modifications of the museum premises, the oldest art from the city of Děčín is presented to visitors in a completely new modern artistic treatment. The opening of the exhibition was accompanied by the launch of a catalogue with colour images of all the Gothic sculptures with detailed descriptions, the contents of which were contributed by a team of leading Czech experts in the field of Gothic art. The Regional Museum in Děčín prepared the permanent exhibition in professional cooperation with the North Bohemian Gallery of Fine Arts in Litoměřice.

Birds of the Decin region

Especially children will enjoy the permanent exhibition Birds of the Děčín Region. In modern illuminated showcases, the museum presents the most famous and lesser-known bird species living in the Děčín region. The exhibition also includes bird voices, which together with the exhibits create the impression of a real stay in nature.

Lapidarium in the courtyard

An integral part of the museum is also the lapidarium in the courtyard, where sculptural elements from liquidated monuments in the Děčín region are concentrated. Among the most valuable exhibits are the 16th century stone coat of arms of the Lords of Bünau, the tombstone of Count Lev Thun, the 15th century reconciliation cross and the remains of columns from the Děčín Loreto. The courtyard is dominated by a Renaissance portal, relocated from the former restaurant at Kvádrberk, which offers a view of the statue of Arion of Corinth from the defunct Dolnožleben baths. The ensemble is complemented by stone coats of arms, boundary stones and the remains of millstones. At the back of the lapidarium is a gigantic metal statue of Lenin as a reminder of a bygone era.

The Děčín Museum also offers many interesting exhibitions and tours of the Beskydy tugboat. There are many cultural and social events in the atrium of the museum. The current list of exhibitions and cultural events can be found at official website of the museum.