Oblastní muzeum v Mostě Museum building

The Regional Museum and Gallery in Most is a cultural institution established by the Ústí Region. It is based in the former State Real Gymnasium building and focuses on the protection and presentation of history, nature and art Mostecka.

The museum was founded in 1888 thanks to the initiative of the then mayor Karl Pohnert, who called on the people to collect collections. The first premises were located in a former piarist dorm and later in a military educational institution in U Masné Stones Street. In 1891 the first employee of Willibald Göpfert joined and a permanent exhibition was built until 1893. Originally, the institution focused on science, folklore and the history of the German part of the population. For better coordination, the Association of Friends of the Museum in Most was founded on 2 January 1894, which together with the city bought exhibits. Josef Konstantin Beer provided significant support; it referred to a collection of paintings and funding for a foundation to support young artists.

From 1924 to 1938 the museum was led by Kurt Oberdorffer. After the Munich Agreement, the Czech Podkrušnomountain Museum was abolished and its collections were merged with the bridge. In 1944, exhibits were moved to the cellar of the castle in Milesov for security reasons due to intense bombing of chemical plants in Záluží.

After 1945, the administration went under the leadership of Josef Boroviček's teacher. With effect from 1 January 1954, the institution was divided into City Museum in Most and District Archive. Since 1960, it's been a county museum. This connected the Lithuanian branch in 1964 and in 1966 the collections of the cancelled Museum in Mount Saint Catherine. Natural sciences were housed in the castle of Litvinov. In 1969, the institution was again divided into separate museums and galleries, but they continued to carry out joint activities in limited areas.

The liquidation of the Old Most has forced the removal of brown coal. In 1978 the museum moved to the Street of Victory February and since 1982 it has been housed in a building of the former German Real Gymnasium in the street of the Czechoslovak Army. The gallery was located in the house Sputnik in 1978 and since 1993 in the premises of the Dean's Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Between 2000 and 2013, the institution also managed the Memorial to the victims of World War II in the building of the former crematorium.

The museum's current headquarters, the former State Real Gymnasium building, was completed in 1913. After World War II, there was a secondary industrial school until 1981. The building was subsequently extensively renovated, which was completed in 1996.

Following the administrative reform of 2002, the Ústí Region became the founder. Between 2007 and 2013, the museum left the Litvinov Castle and the Bridge Crematorium; all the collections were united in the main building in Most. On 1 January 2019 Oblastní muzeum v Mostě and the Art Gallery in Most were officially merged. This created an institution covering the areas of history, culture, nature and art. The gallery used the basement hall of the dean's church, but it definitely left during the CoVid-19 pandemic.

The focus of the museum is regional and includes the territory of the former Most district with an overlap to the surrounding area. From a geomorphological point of view, it focuses on the Krány Mountains, the western part of the Czech Mediterranean and Mostecka pelvis. The most historically important exposition is the personal estate of Baroness Ulrice von Levetzow.

The Regional Museum and Gallery in MostA is a key place for understanding the native and historical identities of the region. It offers a comprehensive view of the development of Mostecka, from nature to art. We recommend a visit to anyone looking for a factual overview of the history of this area.