Museum of the Škoda Family
One of the two brands that Pilsen made famous all over the world is undoubtedly Škoda. The Museum of the Škoda Family is a smaller museum, not only dedicated to the founder of the Škoda Works, Emil Škoda, but also to the history of his large family. Here you can learn about the Škoda family tree as well as more than 150 years of Škoda history.
Monday – Friday
10:00–13:00, 14:00–18:00
Admission (without guide):
Adults CZK 150
Guided Tour:
Adults CZK 200
Children, students and seniors CZK 150
What can I expect from the museum?
You will find the museum located near the Mill Race (Mlýnská strouha) in Pilsen’s historic city centre. You’ll have no trouble getting here, as it is located in a home that is part of the so-called Black Tower. The museum offers regular commentated tours, however, you can also check out the exposition on your own. The expansive Škoda family tree is part of the exposition, and you can also examine the portraits of the individual family members. Additionally, there are several rooms furnished with period furniture for visitors to view. And, of course, you’ll find information here about Škoda Works, along with examples of historic tools and functioning models of electric railways.
The Škoda family and Škoda Works
Josef (*1805–1881) and František (*1801–1888) Škoda were instrumental in the development of modern medicine. František received the reputation as the physician in Cheb and as Reichstag Parliament Member. In 1869, the emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria granted him his knighthood for his lifelong work and medical treatment of families. Emil Škoda (1839–1900) was František’s son. He decided he wouldn’t follow in his father’s medical footsteps, rather he became a student of the field of technology.
After his studies, Emil became an engineer in the Countess of Waldstein’s machine plants. He began to modernize the plants and later purchased them in 1869 for 167,642 Czech Korunas. Emil started off with a mere forty labourers. However, by the time of his death in 1900, Škoda Works already had over 400 employees. This is where history began for Škoda Works in Pilsen, and their history continues today, over 150 years later.
