Museum of Local History in Šumperk

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Šumperk

Free admission with ORC

The voice of Baroness Pauline Chiara, a former resident of the splendid house, accompanies the eleven halls of the museum.

The museum in Šumperk was founded as a private collection in 1896. At the beginning of the 20th century it was housed in the Dominican Convent, later it moved to the nearby Geschader House. After the Second World War, the museum was taken over by the Czech state administration and soon the collections were finally established in Pavlina dvor, originally a farmhouse converted into a Neo-Renaissance palace. From the 1960s to the 1970s, the building underwent a complete reconstruction, thanks to which the museum gained high-quality exhibition space, a concert hall and facilities for the staff. At the end of the last century, the roofs and utilities were repaired and in 2005-2006 the façade of the north wing of the courtyard was restored. A new gallery, information centre and lecture theatre were added.

The exhibition space of Pavlina dvor offers information about the history and nature of the Šumperk region in 11 halls. Visitors are guided by the voice of Baroness Paulina Chiara, after whom the building is named, thanks to an automatic audio guide in four languages. In the headphones, she not only talks about the exhibits on display, but also about the history of the town, its important inhabitants and the picturesque surroundings. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the Šumperk Museum organises thematic and art exhibitions in other areas of the yard. Cultural and social events are held irregularly in the large square area inside the buildings. The collections of the Museum of Local History document the development of society and nature in the Šumperk region. Its permanent exhibition entitled Nature and History of Northwest Moravia corresponds to this focus. Every year the museum prepares a number of new, original exhibitions, accompanying programmes and workshops, lectures and other cultural events for visitors.

In 2016, the Museum of the Museum was created, a specific facility for families with children, young people and adults. In the pleasant surroundings of the Museum, several interactive exhibitions and programmes will take place throughout the year for the whole family to enjoy. Visitors can also enjoy the museum shop with souvenir sales and refreshments. The museum is located in the grounds of Pavlina dvor, a historic building in a park in the centre of the town. It is open year-round from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.

In addition to the Šumperk exhibitions, the wings of the present-day Museum of Homeland History in Šumperk also include the Hunting and Forestry Museum in Úsov, the Zábřeh Museum, the Mohelnice Museum and the Adolf Kaspar Memorial in Loštice.