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  One of the world's oldest museums of its kind has been open to the public for 43 years. The brewing-privilege house where the museum is situated is a remarkable historic monument in any terms. A fortunate combination of events has meant that much of the house has been preserved in its original form, which is why visitors are able to look around a Gothic malt plant with a well, a malt kiln for drying the malt, the malt-oar room, the refrigerator and double-level cellars, as well as the rooms of an earlier inn. Hundreds of unique exhibits testify to the history of brewing and the culture of drinking beer, from the earliest times until the present day. The museum describes the production of beer, starting from its beginnings in ancient Mesopotamia and leading up to the 20th century. The development of the culture of drinking beer is reflected in two different types of pubs: a rural one from the 19th century and a burgher's pub from the beginning of the 20th century. As well as the permanent exhibition, the gallery shows the works of well-known artists and photographers in temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Every year, the museum has about 35,000 visitors. The history of the building is quite complex. The first written reference dates from the year 1492, although the house could be even older. The first owner identified by written sources was Matej Kutsky. Further details about the function of the building can be found in a record written on 8th June, 1520 when the house (with the stavewood it contained) was bought by Matus Sladovnik. In 1545 Matus Sladovnik sold the house and it then had a series of owners. The house with its malt plant was in a very poor condition by 1628 and needed extensive re-building. However, the malt plant continued to function. At the end of the 17th century, a smithy apparently operated here, too. The house was owned in the 18th century by the Rayl family. They decided to expand their original profession of rope-makers into the more profitable and respectable malting trade. A great fire broke out in Pilsen in 1742, while it was under French occupation, but did not damage what is now the museum. This was comprehensively re-modelled in 1829 by Martin Kestranek, who had owned it since the beginning of the 19th century. The malt plant, and perhaps also the brewery, prospered under him. The building seems to have been in an ideal position for malt production because, behind the walls on the left bank of the Mlynsky brook, there were a few breweries nearby. During the 1830s and 1840s, the city walls were gradually demolished. Dlouha Street opened into Otakar Park, built to replace ramparts and moats in 1845, which made the transport of malt even easier. In the time of the younger Kestraneks, though, signs began to appear that the heyday of small malt plants was coming to an end and that the future would see the rise of large factory complexes where beer would be brewed through the more modern technology of bottom fermentation. The malt plant was advertised for rent in a newspaper in 1868, since when it has served other purposes than malting. First, it housed a carpentry workshop, then the drying room of a tannery that spread its stench over a wide area. The Tazler alehouse was opened there in the 1930s then sold to a series of owners until the State acquired it after World War II. The idea of opening a brewery museum in Pilsen had been suggested by the burghers with brewing privileges as early as in 1929. A preparation committee was soon appointed and, until interrupted by the war, accumulated historic artefacts and documents related to brewing. The malt plant was threatened with demolition in 1955, when access to the old city walls was being discussed. Fortunately, the notion was vigorously opposed by Pilsen conservationist Professor Jaromir Kovar. He knew well the full significance of the historic building, campaigning for its full restoration and use as a museum. Kovar had the support of the keen historian Jan Hejtmanek and brewery specialist Frantisek Hlavacek. Together, they managed to rescue the exceptional piece of history, the last symbol of old-style brewing. The building was emptied, reconstructed and equipped with exhibits. On 8th May, 1959 the museum was inaugurated on the centenary of the trade mark „Plzenske pivo“ (Pilsen beer). Items and documents collected by members of the museum committee formed the basis of the museum. They had been donated by old burgher families and by the breweries in the Pilsen region. Adding systematically to and, where necessary, performing specialist restoration of the exhibits could easily be carried out in the large space within the museum; its collection contains significant and often rare pieces of evidence of the production of beer and of related professions. The museum was remodelled and modernized in 1991/2, with new displays being created. All of the costs involved were borne by Plzensky Prazdroj, a.s., leading contributor to this unique cultural institution. |
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