Permanent Exhibition City Through Time: Stories From the 19th Century Brought to Life

City Through Time. One exhibition. Five halls. Countless stories. Simple numbers? Here are the complex ones. An immersive hall with a resolution of 9 974 x 6 018 px – you will hold your breath. That is 60 MP. More than the new planetarium at Stromovka or the renowned Deep Space 8K in Linz, Austria. And this is just one part of the exhibition. Four more await you.

Embark on a journey through time to explore the 19th century and other significant eras using advanced digital tools. Walk through streets and observe everyday life from a new perspective. With AI, you can even chat with Antonín Langweil. In the past, this experience was mainly available abroad, but here in the Czech Republic, the approach to museums is different. As a result, we have brought a world-class museum experience to Florenc. Come and visit it.

• Hall I: You have probably seen Prague from above before, but what about Prague in the 19th century? That view is exclusive to our museum. An animated film lets you fly over the city with an eagle, offering views of landmarks such as Charles Bridge and the astronomical clock. The experience lasts only five minutes, but its memory will stay with you forever.
• Hall II: When seeing the first 'live image', you might think: 'Wow, am I in the world of Harry Potter?' A butcher, a child, a noblewoman, a nanny, a veteran... They are all connected by Prague, Langweil's model, and everyday life in the 19th century.
• Hall III: This hall features a film about Antonín Langweil. Discover the life and dedication of a man who invested much of his free time and savings into creating an extraordinary piece. Focused on details. Driven by vision. And ultimately, for us.
• Hall IV: After watching the film, you may have many questions. If only Antonín Langweil could answer them. Good news – he can! Thanks to artificial intelligence, his animated portrait will be able to talk to you.
• Hall V: Welcome to the Living Hall. Thanks to advanced technology, the city surrounds you on all sides, along with its stories. You will find yourselves on both banks of the Vltava River, observing sites such as Vyšehrad, Čech Bridge, Prague Castle, and Holešovice as they evolve. Discover what the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries have contributed. What endures. What has been erased by time.

Langweil's Model of Prague: A Paper-Based Memory

Twelve display cases and a man with scissors, paper, and a big dream. Antonín Langweil. Come and see his extraordinary work – a faithful reminder of Prague as it once looked, completely different.

Antonín Langweil started his work in 1826. It took him eleven years. Seriously. Eleven long years. Building house by house, street by street. Why? Maybe he loved Prague. Maybe he wanted to secure a dowry for his five daughters. It's hard to say. One thing is certain – thanks to his model, we can see Old Town, Lesser Town, and Prague Castle as they looked before the dramatic changes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

An area of approximately 20 m² contains over two thousand buildings. Most notably, it features hundreds of houses that have long disappeared, such as those from the former Jewish Town. The 1:480 scale model includes everything: facades, courtyards, gardens, and even farm buildings. Langweil truly paid close attention to the details. Hats off!
Who was this enigmatic artist? He was an employee at Prague's University Library, working alone without a team, financial backing, or job security. His only resources were free time, access to paper, and strong determination. At thirty-five, he launched a project that gained wide recognition among scholars. Despite this, he had no patron. Antonín Langweil died impoverished, leaving behind an unfinished work and debts.

What did he leave us? Memories of Prague – places he lived in, cherished, and preserved for us.

Come enjoy it.

We look forward to seeing you!