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900 exhibits, royal treasures and unsolved mysteries The story of the dynasty that transformed the Czech principality into a kingdom and fundamentally shaped Central Europe comes to life in this year’s largest exhibition at the National Museum of the Czech Republic.
In cooperation with the Prague Castle Administration, the exhibition The Přemyslids – A Ruling Dynasty and Its Age opens on April 24, 2026, in the Historical Building of the National Museum of the Czech Republic, offering a unique opportunity to see exceptional exhibits that bring to life the dramatic story of a dynasty that shaped both Czech and European history.
In 2026, the National Museum is building its exhibition program around the thematic thread “History and Personalities,” which connects the year’s main exhibitions. It offers visitors a view of the past through prominent figures and key periods, placing the history of the Czech lands within a broader European context to appeal to both domestic and international audiences.
The exhibition in the Historical Building will feature more than 900 artifacts from the collections of the National Museum of the Czech Republic and nearly seventy domestic and foreign institutions, many of which are on display for the very first time. Among the most significant exhibits is the Romanesque sarcophagus of St. Longinus, which is being displayed outside Vyšehrad for the first time and likely once held the body of a monarch. The Royal Crown of Środa Śląska, textiles from the tomb of Saint Ludmila, the funerary jewels of Přemysl II Otakar, his sword, and the personal ring of Přemysl I Otakar – these are the objects through which history is transformed into concrete and powerful stories. The exhibition also appeals to international visitors and presents the Přemyslids as a dynasty of European significance within a broader historical context.
It tells the history of the Přemyslids differently than we traditionally know it from textbooks. It is not a list of rulers and dates, but a vivid story of a family clan in which power ambitions, military conflicts, representation, and the transformation of the spiritual world collide. Visitors will encounter the fates of princes and kings whom they know, at least in part, from their school days. Here, however, they will see them in their full context through objects that bear witness to these stories.
“The Přemyslids transformed the Czech principality into a kingdom and stand at the very origins of our statehood. The exhibition, which is being opened by the National Museum of the Czech Republic, is extraordinary in both its scope and its unique exhibits, and I believe that this year it will rank among the most significant exhibition projects of its kind not only in the Czech Republic but also in a European context. It offers visitors the opportunity not only to see rare medieval artifacts but also to learn the story of the Přemyslid dynasty, explore its key moments, and discover history in an engaging way,” says Michal Lukeš, Director General of the National Museum of the Czech Republic.
“Prague Castle was founded by Prince Bořivoj of the Přemyslid dynasty more than a thousand years ago, and it was the Přemyslids who laid the foundation for Prague Castle to be the longest-serving seat of the head of state today. We encounter their legacy on the grounds every day. In total, we have loaned over ninety items from our collections for the exhibition, most of which are not normally on display. Among them are, for example, the burial textiles of Saint Ludmila, which date from the 10th century and are among the most significant textile artifacts in Bohemia. We are very pleased with this collaboration with the National Museum; it is an exceptional project, and we believe it will attract many visitors,” says Pavel Vyhnánek, Director of the Prague Castle Administration.
The exhibition on the ground floor of the Historical Building is divided into four thematic sections. It guides visitors from the dynasty’s origins through the princely and royal eras to its legacy during the Luxembourg era. It thus traces not only the development of the ruling dynasty but also the transformation of Bohemia and Moravia from the late 8th to the early 14th century within a broader European context.
The story of the dynasty begins with the legend of Princess Libuše and the plowman Přemysl. It is a narrative straddling the line between myth and historical memory. Libuše’s decision to call a simple peasant to the princely throne is one of the most famous motifs in Czech history and symbolizes the rise of Přemyslid power. The exhibition brings this story to life through medieval illuminations and Romanesque paintings from the Znojmo Rotunda, which show how the motif of Libuše and Přemysl was perceived and interpreted over the centuries. Alongside these, archaeological finds from Přemyslid hillforts are also presented, placing the legendary origins of the dynasty within a specific historical context.
One of the exhibition’s highlights is the conflict between Saint Ludmila and her daughter-in-law Drahomíra. The struggle for influence over the young Wenceslas was not merely a family feud, but a clash between two value systems – Christian and pagan. It culminated in the dramatic murder of Ludmila at Tetín, which shook the entire country. The textiles from her grave, on display in the exhibition, provide an exceptionally authentic account of this story and are among the rarest early medieval artifacts in Bohemia.
This story is followed by the fate of her grandson, Prince Wenceslas. His life and death, too, are linked to a family conflict, this time between brothers. Wenceslas’s murder in Stará Boleslav ranks among the pivotal moments in Czech history. The exhibition illustrates how a political struggle for power became a powerful symbol. After his death, the ruler was venerated as a saint and protector of the land. Relics and liturgical objects associated with his cult document the transformation of a historical figure into a timeless symbol of Czech statehood.
The history of the Přemyslids is not merely a tale of tragedies, but also of the rise to power. Přemysl I Otakar succeeded in establishing the hereditary royal title and consolidating the position of the Czech lands within the complex landscape of European politics. His personal ring commemorates not only this specific ruler, but also the moment when the principality became a kingdom.
The pinnacle of Přemyslid power was the reign of Přemysl II Otakar, a ruler of European significance whose empire stretched from Bohemia to the Adriatic. His reign, however, is also a story of decline. His ambitions culminated in a tragic end at the Battle of Moravian Field in 1278. The funerary jewels from his tomb – the crown, scepter, and orb – are among the most impressive exhibits in the exhibition and serve as a reminder of the transience of even the greatest secular power.
Women also played a significant role in the history of the Přemyslid dynasty, as they were able to influence the course of the country even without formal power. The story of Saint Agnes of Bohemia illustrates a different kind of influence based on faith, education, and social welfare. The conclusion of the Přemyslid story is marked by the dramatic assassination of Wenceslaus III in 1306, which remains unsolved to this day and brought to a close one of the most significant chapters in Czech and Central European history.
In addition to objects associated with the ruling dynasty, the exhibition also offers a glimpse into everyday life in the early and high Middle Ages. It showcases religion, the emergence of fortified settlements and towns, trade, craftsmanship, art, and scholarship. Visitors will see jewelry, liturgical objects, weapons, coins and coin hoards, books, and other exhibits that document the transformation of society and its growing connections with neighboring lands.
The exhibition The Přemyslids – A Ruling Dynasty and Its Age invites visitors into a world where personal destinies intertwine with grand historical events. It is a world distant by centuries, yet through its stories and preserved artifacts, it remains surprisingly close to people today.
The exhibition The Přemyslids – A Royal Dynasty and Its Age will be on view at the Historical Building of the National Museum of the Czech Republic through October 15, 2026. It is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
