The collection contains over 140,000 glass negatives, making it one of the largest photographic archives of the region.
The studio was so well-preserved that researchers found darkroom chemicals still in their original bottles decades later.
Josef Seidel was a pioneer in using early color photography techniques like the autochrome process in the early 1900s.
The museum preserves the personal correspondence and business ledgers of the Seidel family, providing a rare look at daily life in pre-war Czechoslovakia.
The building features a specialized glass-roofed studio designed specifically for controlling natural light exposure.
Museum Fotoatelier Seidel is a perfectly preserved Art Nouveau photography studio and residence that functioned from 1905 until 1949. Josef Seidel and his son František captured the social history of the Bohemian Forest and the Austro-Hungarian Empire through thousands of glass plate negatives. The museum maintains the original equipment, darkroom chemicals, and living quarters of the Seidel family as they were left in the mid-20th century. Visitors can see the extensive archive of over 140,000 photographic documents, including early color autochrome plates. The building remains in its original location in the Plešivec district of Český Krumlov. It serves as a time capsule documenting the transition from early portrait photography to industrial-scale production. The studio retains its original glass roof and lighting equipment used to manipulate natural light.
The main studio area, with its original antique backdrop and the unique overhead glass natural lighting system.
Book a guided tour in advance to gain access to the restricted darkroom and private living areas.
Listen to the provided audio guide, which includes historical insights from original family recordings.
Combine your visit with a walk through the surrounding Plešivec neighborhood to see the historical urban layout.
Do not mistake the studio for a standard art gallery; it is a historical site where touching exhibits is strictly prohibited.
Closed on Mondays during the off-season; check for potential limited access during winter months.
Maintain silence in the living quarters; do not touch the fragile glass plate negatives or original camera equipment.
