Military History Institute Prague

Adress: U Památníku 2, 130 05 Praha 3, Phone: +420 973 204 900, e-mail: muzeum@vhu.cz, fax: +420 222 541 308

Headquarters: Brigadier general Mgr. Aleš Knížek – Director of the Military History Institute Prague, Phone No: +420 973 204 900 – the Director’s Secretariat

The Board: +420 973 204 903 – decides upon export licenses, loans, gifts or purchases

Library: +420 973 20 49 28 – Head Librarian. Study room: +420 973 20 49 44. Lending library: +420 973 20 49 46

The Historie a vojenství Magazine: David Pazdera – Editor-in-Chief. Phone No: +420 973 204 941

About The Military History Institute Prague

Military History Institute

The Military History Institute Prague is a military institution, governed by the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic. The Military History Institute consists of the headquarters and three specialized departments (the museum and administration department with the restoration section, the history and documentation department that manages also the military history library, and the operational/economic department. The research activities focus particularly on the issues of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd resistance, and the personal issues of top military personalities. The Czech and Czechoslovak militarism, especially in the 20th century, is subject to the thorough and long-term research.

The Institute is the research center, museum, library and archive facility of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. Its mission, as defined by law, is to gather constantly and purposefully the written and material relics related to the history of our militarism and army; to take the expert care of these funds and collection; and to research them scientifically. The results are presented by the exhibition activities, archive and library services, at expert conferences and seminars, in books and magazines, and by other services provided for the army units, institutes and general public.

Museums and exhibition areas are integral part of the Military History Institute Prague. They include the Army Museum Žižkov, Air Museum Kbely, Military Technical Museum Lešany and The National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror in Prague.

International contacts. Abroad, the military history is represented by the Czech Committee for the Military History, the member of the International Committee for the Military History (Commission Internationale d'Histoire Militaire, CIHM). The Military History Institute Prague is a member of the committees at the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the International Committee for Museums of Arms and Military History (ICOMAM) with UNESCO.

The Army Museum Žižkov

U Památníku 2, Praha 3 - Žižkov, Phone No: +420 973 204 924 (museum reception - only basic information, not specialist issues).
The museum is open every day except Monday from 10.00 AM to 6 PM. Admission is free of charge. To get to the museum take bus No. 133, 175, 207 from metro station Florenc (line B and C), stop U Památníku.

The Aviation Museum Kbely

Mladoboleslavská ul., Praha 9 - Kbely, Phone No: +420 973 207 500. The museum is open in the summer season, i.e. from May till October, every day except Monday from 10.00 AM to 6 PM. Admission is free of charge. To get to the museum take bus No. 185, 259, 280, 302, 375, 376 - 10 minutes from Letňany underground station, stop Letecké museum.

The Military Technical Museum Lešany

Lešany near Týnec nad Sázavou, Post Office Krhanice, 257 42, Phone No: +420 973 296 161.

The museum is open during the summer season: 

June and September: weekends only, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM;
July and August: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM;

The last visitor is admitted to the museum at 5:00 PM.

Admission is free of charge.

How to get to the museum:
By car Prague - highway D1 direct to Brno - exit Velké Popovice - Babice - Lešany u Týnce nad Sázavou.
Due to the extensive construction work around the Military Technical Museum Lešany, we strongly recommend that visitors familiarize themselves with the current state of detour routes! Expect delays on the way and stay informed about the current traffic situation!

By train: from station Praha Hlavní nádraží, direction Týnec nad Sázavou, to the Krhanice station. Then walk 2 km to the museum. (follow the navigation)

The National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror

Resslova 9a, 120 00 Praha 2. Contact: tel.: +420 720 988 421, office: +420 222 540 718, e-mail: pamatnik-heydrichiady@vhu.cz. Opening hours: Year round: Tuesday – Sunday 9.00 – 17.00. Guided school programs from Tuesday till Friday: Email reservation: pamatnik-heydrichiady@vhu.cz.  Transportation: Metro station Karlovo náměstí (Palackého náměstí direction); Tram no. 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 14, 16, 22, 24, Karlovo náměstí station;  Tram no. 5, 17, Jiráskovo náměstí station.

Rules for Visitors to MHI Museums - read here