Museum Fotoatelier Seidel
About This Museum
Tucked away on a quiet, cobbled street in Český Krumlov, just a stone's throw from the bustling castle district, the Museum Fotoatelier Seidel feels like stepping into a perfectly preserved time capsule. This isn't a sterile gallery but the actual home and workplace of the renowned Seidel family, photographers who chronicled life in this Bohemian town for decades. You can almost smell the old chemicals and hear the ghost of a shutter click as you wander through rooms frozen in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The heart of the place is the stunningly intact studio itself, where grand, ornate cameras still stand ready and vast north-facing windows flood the space with that perfect, soft light essential for the portraits of another era.
Collection Highlights
The real treasures are the thousands of glass plate negatives and original prints that capture a vanished world—solemn-faced burghers, local families in their Sunday best, and sweeping panoramas of a younger Český Krumlov. Don't miss Josef Seidel's personal darkroom, complete with its original enameled trays and red safelight, or the poignant collection of cameras and travel gear he used on his expeditions into the nearby Šumava forests.
Visitor Information
It's a good idea to check their website for current opening hours before you go, as they can vary by season. The museum is a short, pleasant walk from the main town square, and because it's in a residential area, it offers a wonderfully quiet respite from the more crowded tourist paths.
Architecture & Building
Housed in a beautifully restored burgher's house, its unassuming facade gives way to an interior brimming with Art Nouveau flourishes, rich woodwork, and those characteristically high ceilings.
Contact & Location
Address: Museum Fotoateliér Seidel, 272, Linecká, Plešivec, Český Krumlov, okres Český Krumlov, Jihočeský kraj, Jihozápad, 381 01, Česko
Phone: +420 736 503 871
Website: Visit Website
