What´s on
VESELÝ KOPEC
Shrovetide (Saturday 31 January)
The traditional Shrovetide door-to-door procession, which is a UNESCO world cultural heritage event, as performed by the village group from Vortová near Hlinsko.
Easter at Veselý Kopec (Friday – Monday 3 –4 April)
The opening of the visitor season, with a programme of events presenting Easter customs, product sales and demonstrations. Various items associated with ancient customs will be on display. The braiding of Easter whips and sales of Easter eggs and other products.
Potter’s Saturday (Saturday 2 May)
A pottery market with product sales and demonstrations.
Open mills day (Saturday 9 May)
The Veselý Kopec mill and other works of engineering are again to come to life in full swing. Discover with us how our ancestors skilfully used the power of water and other natural resources. An accompanying programme throughout the day.
Museum Day (Monday 18 May)
Free admission to all area. A guide cannot be booked for this event.
Children’s Day with puppets in Veselý Kopec (Saturday 30 May)
A day full of puppets, games and workshops with an interesting accompanying programme prepared in co-operation with Chrudim Puppetry Museum. Free entry for children and young people up to the age of 18.
Traditional and unusual customs or beneath the maypole (Saturdy 13 June)
Felling and erecting maypoles as performed by village groups. During the day, you will get the chance to try out the preparation of the maypole, including stripping the bark from the trunk and decorating the wreath. The programme is to include lessons in the Czech dance known as the Beseda, a scene depicting the felling of the maypole, and lectures giving an introduction to May traditions and other spring customs.
Veselý Kopec for Children and Their Parents (July – August)
Interesting workshops are prepared every Wednesday and Thursday that will enliven your tour of Veselý Kopec and are sure to prove exciting for young and old visitors alike. Parents with children and other visitors can also play an interesting game at the individual exhibitions..
Music in the early evenings in Veselý Kopec - Veselý Kopec plays for childen and their parents (Saturday 4 July)
A pleasant gathering for visitors young and old on the occasion of the start of the summer season.
The Music in the Early Evening concerts in Veselý Kopec are prepared in co-operation with Pardubice Conservatory, whose students and teachers will be presenting their art in chamber ensembles and larger formations.
Veselý Kopec Fair (Saturday 18 July)
Sales of products from selected and invited folk craftsmen, an accompanying cultural programme. A unique opportunity to meet people engaged in handcrafts.
How it used to be done, or the way to the harvest wreath (Saturday 15 August)
Demonstrations of the processing of agricultural crops and traditional farming in the village, along with a presentation of harvest customs.
Craft Day (Saturday 5 September)
Presentations of folk crafts and handicraft techniques, the operation of works of engineering, and workshops led by experienced craftsmen. The preparation and tasting of sweet and savoury pastries made according to traditional recipes throughout the day. An accompanying cultural programme.
Potato Saturday (Saturday 3 October)
Tastings of traditional potato dishes and the opportunity of finding out everything about the cultivation, storage and use of potatoes, with an accompanying cultural programme.
Music in the early evenings in Veselý Kopec - the echoes of tradition (Saturday 17 October)
A concert held to celebrate International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Music in the Early Evening concerts in Veselý Kopec are prepared in co-operation with Pardubice Conservatory, whose students and teachers will be presenting their art in chamber ensembles and larger formations.
Christmas in Veselý Kopec (Saturday 28 November – Sunday 6 December)
A programme of traditional customs, demonstrations of the production of goods accompanying Christmastime in the past, and an extensive accompanying cultural programme.
Music in the early evenings in Veselý Kopec - advent concert (Saturday 28 November)
A performance given on the occasion of the start of the Christmas programme in Veselý Kopec. The Music in the Early Evening concerts in Veselý Kopec are prepared in co-operation with Pardubice Conservatory, whose students and teachers will be presenting their art in chamber ensembles and larger formations.
Christmas Fair (Sunday 6 December)
Sales of folk craft products and an accompanying cultural programme.
BETLÉM IN HLINSKO
A Farewell to Shrovetide (Tuesday 17 February)
The traditional Shrovetide procession at the conservation area demonstrated by the people of Blatno in Hlinsko. Shrovetide ends with the traditional “Killing of the Mare” custom. Prepared in co-operation with the Town of Hlinsko and the Hlinsko Tourist Information Centre. Free admission to the site.
Easter in Betlém (Saturday 14 March – Sunday 12 April)
How did people prepare for Easter in the past? What did the preparations of the household entail and what was involved in the personal preparations of believers for the most important holidays of the year? Our guided tours of craftsmen’s dwellings will shed a light on this and much more besides. Traditional Easter creative activities are to be prepared for Holy Saturday.
Museum Day (Sunday 18 May)
Free admission to all area.
Betlém Summer (July - August)
Workshops of various kinds for visitors of all ages. Every Thursday, as has become traditional, you can look forward to the Puppet Play Workshop in Betlém, which is to be held by Chrudim Puppetry Museum.
A farewell to the summer holidays in Betlém (Saturday 29 August)
Come and bid farewell to the holidays. A day and evening full of puppets, theatre, folklore and folk culture. The programme is prepared in co-operation with Chrudim Puppetry Museum, the Association of the Physically Handicapped in Vysočany and Hlinečany Club of Culture. Free admission to the site.
International day of the intangible cultural heritage (Satuday 17 October)
Admission free.
Christmas Time in Betlém (Wednesday 9 December 2025 – Thursday 31 December 2025)
Decorated houses in Betlém provide the authentic atmosphere of the Christmas holidays in the past, with an exhibition of folk nativity scenes.
EXHIBITIONS - VESELÝ KOPEC
A knot here, a knot there, or netting in Horácko ( 3 April - 1 November)
An exhibition presenting the history and present day of this almost-forgotten textile technique. As part of the exhibition, a series of workshops will be held in which visitors will learn the basics of this technique under the guidance of Iva Jaklová. For more information, visit www.nmvp.cz/vysocina.
When customs blossom (2 May - 1 November)
An exhibition presenting an annual spring ceremony in the countryside. It presents the customs of Walpurgis Night, the erecting and felling of maypoles, expressions of folk piety, and the dancing parties known as “Věnečky”.
EXHIBITIONS - BETLÉM HLINSKO
The story of the bladdernut (27 June - 4 April 2027)
The exhibition presents botanical curiosities and historical and artistic uses of this almost forgotten but unique material. A series of workshops is to be held on the occasion of the exhibition, at which visitors will get the chance to try working with the bladdernut and get the opportunity of making a small souvenir. More information at www.nmvp.cz/vysocina.
PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS - BETLÉM HLINSKO
Village Shrovetide Door-to-door Processions and Masks from the Hlinsko Area (all-year-round)
An exhibition devoted to the traditional Shrovetide door-to-door processions in the Hlinsko area, which are part of the cultural heritage of humanity, with demonstrations of traditional masks and the history of this folk custom.
Flax in Veselý Kopec (7 April - 1 November)
An exhibition devoted to the history and present day of flax processing in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands commemorating the long and complex journey taken by flax from the sowing of the seed to the weaving of linen fabric.
The sightseeing tour Flax in Veselý Kopec
A new sightseeing tour called Flax in Veselý Kopec has been prepared for those interested in the cultivation and processing of textile flax. The tour is only possible on request with a guide.
Weaver Josef Fidler, holder of the title Bearer of the Tradition of Folk Craft, will conduct a guided tour during selected days from 1 May to 30 September.
THE WATER - DRIVEN TILT-HAMMER IN SVOBODNÉ HAMRY
The water-driven tilt-hammer in Svobodné Hamry will be open during Museum´s Day (18 Mai), in July and August 10.00–12.00 and 13.30–16.00 on every Saturday 2026.
