Žatec and the Landscape of Žatec Hops – Exhibition at the National Agricultural Museum

An exhibition at the National Agricultural Museum in Prague, prepared in collaboration with the city of Žatec, presents the phenomenon of Žatec hops and the landscape that was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023 together with the historic city centre. The exhibition begins with a passage through a hop pole field – a typical feature of the Žatec landscape – evoking entry into a world where hops are not merely a crop but part of the region's identity. The atmosphere is enhanced by an interactive light panel that presents the World Heritage landscape in a playful way and allows visitors to take thematic photographs. The main focal point is an exceptional diorama capturing hand-harvesting of hops in the 1820s: a historical model from the NZM collection was restored and enhanced with lighting and sound effects, resulting in a vivid picture of the era when hop harvesting was a community-wide event involving entire communities. Audiovisual materials document the continuous development of hop cultivation from the Middle Ages to today, when hops are bred, processed, and certified for the world's most prestigious breweries. As part of museum admission, everyone can enjoy a guided tour – they begin at 10:00 and run every full hour, with the last tour at 15:00. The exhibition is part of the museum's permanent collection in the building on Letná (Kostelní 44, Prague 7), open Tuesday–Sunday 9:00–17:00, closed Mondays. Admission: adults 150 CZK, students over 18 and seniors from 65 years 80 CZK, children and youth under 18 free. The museum accepts Prague Visitor Pass. The exhibition is under the patronage of Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný and Minister of Culture Martin Baxa.