Tomáš Krýza began building the creche in the 1880s and continued the work until his death in 1940.
The materials used for the figures include wood, wire, glue, flour, and sawdust, which Krýza molded and painted by hand.
The mechanical system was modernized over the decades, moving from manual hand-cranks to a centralized electric motor system.
The figures represent diverse professions including blacksmiths, bakers, tailors, and woodcutters, illustrating rural Bohemian life.
The creche was restored in the 1990s to ensure the longevity of the delicate mechanical components and figurines.
The Christmas Creche, known as the Krýza Creche, is housed within the Museum of the Jindřichův Hradec Region and holds the Guinness World Record as the largest mechanical folk nativity scene in the world. Created by the local stocking maker Tomáš Krýza over more than 60 years, the scene contains 1,398 figures made of wood, sawdust, flour, and glue. The display measures 8.5 meters in length, 2 meters in depth, and 2 meters in height. It features a sophisticated mechanical system that originally utilized a complex network of pulleys and gears to animate the figures. The scene depicts not only biblical characters but also scenes from the daily life of 19th-century Czech artisans and laborers. Visitors can observe the transition from nativity scenes to secular craft activities within the massive diorama. The museum building itself is a historic structure located in the town center of Jindřichův Hradec.
From the front center viewing area where the entire scale of the mechanical landscape is visible.
Combine your visit with a tour of the rest of the District Museum, which includes exhibitions on local history and folk art.
Look closely at the individual figures to see the expressive faces and period-appropriate clothing crafted by Krýza.
Ask the museum staff for the history of the specific mechanical movements, as some figures perform complex multi-step actions.
Do not attempt to touch or lean over the protective glass barriers surrounding the mechanical display.
Closed on Mondays throughout the year.
