Museum of Fantastic Illusions

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The museum is situated inside the Lucerna Palace, a functionalist complex built by the grandfather of former Czech President Václav Havel.

2. 2

   The collection includes traditional illusions such as the Ames room and various trick-perspective paintings that rely on specific camera angles.

3. 3

   Many exhibits are designed specifically for social media engagement, requiring a second person to act as the photographer from a marked 'optimal view' point.

4. 4

   The display floor space exceeds 1,000 square meters, making it one of the largest interactive illusion museums in the Czech Republic.

Overview

The Museum of Fantastic Illusions is an interactive gallery located in the heart of Prague, dedicated to large-scale optical illusions and trick art. It features over 150 exhibits designed to manipulate visual perception for photography, including rooms that appear to invert gravity or alter human scale. Visitors are encouraged to walk through, touch, and pose within the installations to complete the visual effect. The museum is housed in the Lucerna Palace complex, a historical building known for its distinctive architecture. The exhibits are distributed across two floors, focusing on trick-eye perspectives, mirrors, and distorted room designs. It serves as an indoor alternative for visitors seeking interactive entertainment near Wenceslas Square.

Insider tips

• Bring a fully charged phone or camera as the entire experience is photo-centric.

• Visit with at least one other person, as most illusions require one individual to pose and the other to frame the shot correctly.

• Check the floor markers in each room, which indicate exactly where the photographer should stand to trigger the optical illusion.