Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague
Museum in Prague
Since its founding in 1885, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague (Uměleckoprůmyslové muzeum, or UPM) has served as a national showcase for applied arts and design, chronicling Czech creativity from the Baroque to the Bauhaus and beyond. During the height of the Czech modern movement—particularly through the Art Nouveau and avant-garde periods—the museum amassed one of Europe’s most comprehensive collections of decorative and functional art. Housed in an ornate Neo-Renaissance building near the Jewish Quarter, the museum itself is an artwork in stone, embellished with delicate mosaics, elegant sculptures, and intricate stained glass.
The museum recently underwent an extensive and much-needed renovation, which focused not only on restoring the historical structure but also on updating its interior curation and display technologies. The result is a thoughtfully modernized exhibition experience that presents the vast collection in a more accessible and immersive way. Highlights include an extraordinary array of textiles, including embroidered ecclesiastical garments from the 15th to 18th centuries, finely woven lace, and historical costumes spanning 300 years. But the showstoppers are arguably the collections of Bohemian glass, ceramics, and pottery—internationally regarded for both their craftsmanship and aesthetic innovation.
Beyond the more traditional applied arts, the museum also features striking modernist and contemporary design pieces, such as jewelry, furniture, photography, and graphic works. Exhibits on Czech interwar design showcase book art by Josef Váchal, avant-garde layouts by Karel Teige, and the haunting, atmospheric photographs of Josef Sudek. Alfons Mucha, whose stylized posters became synonymous with Parisian Art Nouveau, is well represented with several original advertising pieces that fuse beauty, sensuality, and marketing brilliance. Temporary exhibitions on the ground floor continue to explore topics at the intersection of design, fashion, and cultural commentary, always providing something new to discover.
Tip: Make time for the museum’s stylish design-focused gift shop, which features high-quality reproductions, books, and contemporary Czech artisan goods. The adjacent café is a favorite among Prague’s artists and design students, offering a cozy and creative atmosphere that’s perfect for unwinding after your visit. Whether you’re a design devotee or just curious about Czech visual culture, the Museum of Decorative Arts is a must for anyone who appreciates the artistry behind everyday beauty.
The Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Prague!
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Visiting Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague
Wednesday–Sunday 10am–6pm
Tuesday 10am–8pm
Monday closed
CZK 350
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