Prague
Permanent collection

The Letná Carousel: Discover Prague's Historical Attraction and Unique 1894 Exhibition

Explore a marvel of engineering and craftsmanship with authentically preserved horsehide figures from noble entertainment eras.

The Letná Carousel stands as a captivating permanent exhibition, showcasing one of Europe's oldest preserved floor carousels. Dating back to 1894, this unique historical attraction features intricately crafted horse figures covered in real horsehide and papier-mâché knights. Visitors can delve into the fascinating design elements that evoke 17th and 18th-century aristocratic entertainment, exploring its carefully renovated original equipment and ingenious drive mechanism.

About Letná Carousel at National Technical Museum in Prague

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Letná Carousel at National Technical Museum in Prague

Exhibition summary

The Letná Carousel is a preserved historical attraction in Letná Park, dating back to 1894. This unique European floor carousel features intricately crafted horse figures covered in real horsehide and papier-mâché knight figures, offering a glimpse into noble entertainment from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Curatorial context

The Letná Carousel, a permanent exhibition located in Letná Park, stands as one of Europe's oldest preserved floor carousels, with its origins tracing back to 1894. The exhibition's interior and its distinctive horse figures are designed to evoke the aristocratic entertainment known as the carrousel from the 17th and 18th centuries. The carousel boasts original equipment that has been carefully renovated. Its horse figures are a notable feature, being covered with real horsehide, while their internal structure consists of wooden frames, heads, and hooves, complemented by glass eyes. Three knight figures, positioned on the central column, are constructed from papier-mâché and adorned with metal leaf. The platform and its attractions are mounted on a rotating column, with the drive mechanism ingeniously housed beneath the floor in a brick structure. Originally powered by human effort, the carousel later adopted an engine, replacing its lost orchestrion with an Atlantic orchestrion from 1910. The cars themselves are new creations, drawing inspiration from the design of Aero 30 vehicles.

Letná Carousel key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Letná Carousel at National Technical Museum in Prague

Venue
National Technical Museum
Current status
Permanent collection
Exhibition schedule
Permanent display (no announced closing date)
Artist line / attribution
Information not currently available
More from National Technical Museum
Explore additional exhibitions from the same institution
Review other exhibitions from National Technical Museum in Prague to compare themes, timelines, and program direction while planning your museum visit.
Watercolor illustration of a sugar factory with beets, cocoa pods, and chocolate bars, representing the history of sugar and chocolate production in the Czech Republic.
Permanent exhibition

Discover the 'Sugar and Chocolate' Exhibition at National Technical Museum Prague

Uncover the strategic 'White Gold' history of Czech sugar production.

Delve into the history of the Czech sugar production industry and its profound national importance. Learn about sugar's nickname as 'White Gold' and its crucial role in the National Technical Museum's establishment.

Sugar and Chocolate
A purple watercolor illustration of a medieval construction workshop featuring functional replicas of cranes, winches, and other machinery, demonstrating historical craftsmanship and mechanical principles.
Permanent exhibition

Medieval Construction Machinery: Explore Historical Engineering at National Technical Museum Prague

See functional replicas of ingenious machines from the Middle Ages.

This permanent exhibition showcases full-scale functional replicas of medieval construction machines. Discover how historical engineering utilized simple mechanical principles to achieve complex building tasks.

Medieval Machinery Exhibition
Watercolor illustration of the Construction permanent exhibition at the National Technical Museum in Prague, featuring architectural models, building materials, and structural elements like foundations and trusses.
Permanent exhibition

National Technical Museum Prague: The "Construction" Exhibition on Building Heritage

A permanent exhibition detailing the evolution of architectural elements and engineering.

Delve into the fascinating history of construction at the National Technical Museum in Prague. This exhibition showcases the development of building materials like wood, stone, and clay, alongside various structures from foundations to roofs. Explore the legacy of building heritage.

Construction Exhibition
A purple watercolor illustration depicting the evolution of time measurement, featuring a pocket watch, sundial, hourglass, gears, and an atom model, with text labels 'Astronomical Measurement', 'Flow of Time', and 'The Atomic Age'.
Permanent exhibition

Measurement of Time Exhibition in Prague: Evolution of Horology and Timekeeping

Discover the history of timekeeping from ancient to modern eras.

This permanent exhibition in Prague chronologically displays timekeeping devices. Journey through the evolution of horology, from ancient sundials and water clocks to intricate mechanical and modern atomic timepieces. Learn about significant Czech watchmaking contributions.

Measurement of Time
A watercolor illustration of a museum exhibit showcasing the evolution of household appliances, including a sewing machine, washing machine, kitchen appliances, and robotic cleaners, arranged in labeled sections.
Permanent exhibition

Discover Household Appliances Exhibition at National Technical Museum Prague

Tracing domestic technology and industrial design evolution in Czech history.

This permanent exhibition explores domestic technologies like cleaning, washing, and cooking. See the development of household appliances and their industrial design from the mid-19th century to the present.

Household Appliances Exhibition
Watercolor illustration of a museum exhibition hall featuring display cases with historical metallurgical artifacts, including a 9th-century Slavic smelter and industrial furnace models, under purple lighting.
Permanent exhibition

Discover the Metallurgy Exhibition at the National Technical Museum Prague

Trace iron's role in civilization and technological advancement.

Explore the "Metallurgy – The Path of Civilization" exhibition, detailing the development of ironworking. See historical equipment like a 9th-century Slavic Smelter and models of industrial furnaces. Understand its impact on society, technology, and art.

Metallurgy Exhibition
Prague

Find Current Exhibitions in Prague: Your Guide to Museum Shows

Explore Prague's vibrant art and history through diverse museum exhibitions.

Easily discover what's on display in Prague's museums and cultural institutions. Explore compelling temporary exhibitions covering a wide array of fascinating topics, from historical periods to modern artistic movements.