The Museum of Czech Garnet is a privately-run institution on Prague’s most frequented street, Karlova, close to Charles Bridge. But if you’re trying to escape the crowds and you’re not paying attention, you could easily miss it. Enter by the passage leading to the Divadlo Ta Fantastika theatre.
In the small basement you’ll find a small exhibition on jewels and various artifacts, which tells the story of Bohemian garnet. Also included is a short film about garnet processing in the Czech town of Turnov. The film is shown in English, Czech, German, Russian, Chinese and Japanese. The exhibition descriptions are in English, Czech and Chinese.
The explanations are available as an app on tablets that can be hired for free at the entrance. As well as the above languages, the app is available in French and Spanish.
The very helpful museum staff are on hand to answer any questions you may have. They’ll also advise you on how to recognise a reputable garnet dealer in Prague.
The museum entrance area, which is not covered by the entry fee, is devoted to the gem trade.