The National Museum in Prague is the largest and oldest museum institute in the Czech Republic with collection, scientific, educational and methodological functions. It was founded in 1818 as the Patriotic Museum.
The most important historical building of the National Museum is Neo-Renaissance and forms a dominant feature of the entire Wenceslas Square. It was built according to the project of the architect Josef Schulz with a central pantheon space. The project was chosen from 27 entrants in the competition because it emphasised monumentality above all. The building was opened in 1891.
