The Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Mongolia, Jan Vytopil, met with the Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth of Mongolia, Undram Chinbat, to discuss issues of bilateral cultural and sports cooperation.
During the meeting, Minister Undram proposed to develop hockey in Mongolia within the framework of a memorandum of cooperation in sports signed between the two countries in 2025. Ambassador Vytopil agreed to cooperate, adding that he is ready to assist in improving archery skills.
Considering the success of the "Genghis Khan" exhibition held at the Czech National Museum in honor of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the Czech Republic, both sides agreed to hold an exhibition dedicated to dinosaurs found in Mongolia in 2027.
Minister Undram also shared plans to create a documentary film about the dinosaur exhibition, which is scheduled to open in June 2027, and expressed hope that this event will attract many viewers and contribute to promoting Mongolia on the international stage.
The National Museum (Národní muzeum) is the largest state museum in Prague, founded in the early 19th century.
The Neo-Renaissance building of the National Museum, which exceeds 70 meters in height and has a facade length of about 100 meters, was constructed from 1885 to 1890. It was designed by architect Josef Schulz. The building is located on Wenceslas Square and is its architectural dominant.
The building, which features an expressive dome and was built on the site of the Horse Gate, holds symbolic significance for the Czech people. The main facade draws attention with a ramp adorned with sculptures: next to the seated figure representing Bohemia are figures of a young girl, representing the Vltava River, and an old man, embodying the Elbe River. These sculptures are complemented by allegories of Moravia and Silesia, while the tympanum depicts Bohemia as the patroness of science and art.
Inside the building, under the dome, is the Pantheon with busts and statues of prominent figures in Czech culture. Above the museum's windows, the names of seventy-two outstanding personalities from Czech history are inscribed in gold letters.
In front of the museum, a monument to Saint Wenceslas, created by Josef Václav Myslbek, was erected in 1912.
The museum was founded in 1818 during the Czech National Revival with the aim of preserving cultural heritage.
Count Kaspar of Sternberg became the museum's patron. Under the leadership of historian and politician František Palacký, who headed the historical department, the museum began publishing scientific publications in Czech starting in 1827. The first librarian was the philologist and poet Václav Hanka, known as a forger, whose works became a significant part of Czech romantic literature. The museum building was designed by Josef Schulz, who also worked on the National Theatre in the 1880s and 1890s. The artist Bohuslav Dvořák participated in the decoration of the museum in the early 20th century.
In the 20th century, the museum significantly expanded, acquiring numerous collections, including the Museum of Czech Music and the Naprstek Museum of Asian and African Cultures. The museum's facade was damaged during the invasion of Warsaw Pact troops into Czechoslovakia in 1968.
In the summer of 2011, the central building of the museum closed for reconstruction, which was completed at the end of 2018.
