Every modern traveler who has visited the Czech capital at least once is acquainted with the largest museum in Prague. Proudly standing in the central Wenceslas Square, the building of the National Museum is considered one of the city's hallmarks. But few people know about another outstanding historical museum in Prague, the unique exhibits of which allow visitors to trace the rich history of the ancient European city from its foundation to the present day.

The City of Prague Museum was founded in 1881 in a lofty and patriotic attempt to stop the sale of the country's historical and cultural monuments and the export of original art from the Czech Republic.

The neo-Renaissance building for the museum was built a few years later. Each of its floors was occupied by permanent exhibitions dedicated to different periods of history. Today, museum tours usually start from the prehistoric period. This part boasts unique artifacts found during the museum-sponsored archaeological excavations.

Then visitors go up the luxurious staircase to the "Medieval Prague" part located on the second floor. The walls along the staircase are decorated with beautiful frescoes depicting marvelous views of Prague by the talented Czech master Ladislav Saloun. There are also impressive collections of weapons and clothes of the 15th-16th centuries. A separate exhibition is devoted to the traditional medieval life, as well as various crafts of ancient workshops.

The central exhibit of the museum is a three-dimensional wooden model of Prague. With an area of 20 square meters, its layout features even the smallest details and impresses with the precision of performance. Antonin Langweil created this model in the 19th century on a scale of 1:480 with the numbers of each building indicated. In addition to the houses, the model comprises benches, trees, and lanterns that filled the city streets back then.

The City of Prague Museum is an ideal place for those who have already visited its main squares and streets and now dream of exploring the city through the locals' eyes.