The Steamboat Museum was opened on board the Vyšehrad steamboat

On one of the most beautiful technical monuments of Czech history – the historic steamboat Vyšehrad – the only Steamboat Museum in the Czech Republic was ceremonially opened. The new exhibition commemorates 160 years of Prague Steamboat Company and offers visitors a glimpse into both the rich past and the future of river transport.

“Our goal was to create a place where visitors can touch history, hear the stories of the river, and literally feel the heartbeat of the steam engine. Vyšehrad thus becomes a living symbol of 160 years of steamboating in Prague,” said Pavel Mácha, Director of Prague Steamboat Company.

The exhibition features, among other things, a fully renovated steam engine, the restored original beige paint of the vessel, and the refurbished paneling of the Mayor’s Salon. Historical navigation lamps and other authentic elements of the ship’s equipment are also on display.

An important part of the museum is the exhibition of the legendary Czech construction set Merkur, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025. It includes a unique almost two-meter model of the Vyšehrad steamboat built entirely from Merkur, complemented by additional exhibits and works created by children participating in the project “The Famous and Navigable Vltava”.

“For the Vyšehrad steamboat we had long been looking for a dignified use, as its regular operation is demanding. The museum has proven to be the ideal solution – the vessel itself has become an exhibit while at the same time carrying the story of the entire Czech steamboating tradition,” added Pavel Mácha.

The ceremonial opening was accompanied by the finale of the Vltava Relay with water from the source of the Vltava. A historic raft arrived at Rašín Embankment from South Bohemia, welcomed by the Symphony Orchestra of Czech Radio, the band Bárka, and the fanfares of the Schwarzenberg Guard. The festive atmosphere was further enhanced by the presence of the First Lady Eva Pavlová, who accompanied the final stretch of the relay and highlighted the importance of the river for Czech culture and for the lives of people along its banks. The water was subsequently transported by the steamboat Vltava to Kampa.

With the opening of the museum, the Vyšehrad steamboat has been transformed into a living reminder of Czech steamboating and the significance of the Vltava in the history of the capital. Visitors can thus enjoy not only the beauty of the historic vessel but also the stories that have shaped life on the river for decades.