Gold Exhibition at the Regional Museum in Jílové u Prahy

The Regional Museum in Jílové u Prahy opened a new permanent exhibition dedicated to gold on 7 September 2024, titled "Step by Step Through Gold History". The exhibition spans five rooms of the historic Mince building – a former royal mining office on Jílové's town square. Visitors are greeted at the entrance by the figure of alchemist Edward Kelley and his interactive alchemical workshop. Using augmented reality on a mobile device, visitors can bring mining machines to life, meet Kelley, or view a virtual St. Wenceslas Crown. The exhibition guides visitors through a simulated mine shaft, where display cases showcase gold samples from the Jílové region and from mining sites around the world. The exhibition includes a model of the Chapel of the Holy Cross at Karlštejn Castle with a sculptural figure of Charles IV and a presentation of the St. Wenceslas Crown. Visitors can handle a replica of a gold brick or admire a replica of the world's largest gold nugget. The "Gold for the Crown" exhibition focuses on the connection between local gold and coronation jewels. The museum traces the history of gold from the Celtic period through medieval deep mining to modern processing. Thematic educational programmes are available for schools and groups. The museum is open from September to May daily except Mondays from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 16:00.