Exhibition VLTAVA Famed & Flowing
The exhibition VLTAVA Famed & Flowing is the main activity of the project of the same name, which is organised by the National Heritage Institute together with other partners in 2025 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the first performance of Bedřich Smetana's symphonic poem Vltava. The exhibition will be available for viewing from September 5, 2025, to January 4, 2026 at the Prague Castle Riding School.
Come and admire unique exhibits connected to the Vltava River – from a replica of the famous statue of Charles IV from the Old Town Bridge Tower and a stone from the foundations of Charles Bridge, to the original statue of Samson from the fountain in České Budějovice.
The exhibition will feature models of allegories of the Vltava and Elbe rivers, as well as a wooden statue of St. John of Nepomuk by Jan Brokoff – the original model for the renowned bronze statue on Charles Bridge. From the St. Vitus Treasury, rare reliquaries containing the relics of St. John of Nepomuk will be loaned for the exhibition.
The artistic section is complemented by works of renowned painters such as Špála, Schiele, Havránek, and Schikaneder.
The musical aspect is represented by the original autograph of the famous symphonic poem "Vltava" from Bedřich Smetana's cycle Má vlast (My Country).
The exhibition also introduces important figures who have linked their lives to the Vltava, such as the "Vltava Admiral," entrepreneur Vojtěch Lanna.
Visitors will also learn about technical monuments and the development of river transport – models of bridges, boats, steamships, barges, and even timber rafting tools.
A section of the exhibition focuses on the natural wealth of the river. Among the exhibits, visitors will find rare art objects decorated with Vltava pearls, including vestments from the Vyšší Brod monastery and a reliquary containing the relics of St. John of Nepomuk. The eye of the visitor will also be drawn to Moldavite, which adorns, among other things, Art Nouveau jewelry, as well as the Schwarzenberg cup from 1889.
The traditional gold panning process will also be highlighted, showcasing everything from pebbles and gold ducats to other rare coins. There will also be a display of a portion of a silver treasure from the 11th century, discovered while digging the riverbed in České Budějovice.
Sports fans will appreciate the section dedicated to water sports and the achievements of Czech athletes. Medals, trophies, canoes, period swimsuits, and skates will all be on display.
The exhibition also recalls the beginnings of tramp hiking and the famous tramp settlement Ztracená naděje (Lost Hope), known as Ztracenka, through its first totem.
