Andrea Frydlová, Director of the ŠKODA Museum, emphasises, “Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to continue to invite guests to the ŠKODA Museum. To all those unable to come along in person, we offer the opportunity to view our exhibition virtually. Visit the ŠKODA Museum website where we are releasing a new series of narrated video tours of our historic premises.”
Experts from the ŠKODA Museum accompany viewers on their tour through various exhibitions, focusing on the following topics:
As part of the EVOLUTION video tour, three videos offer insights into ŠKODA AUTO’s eventful history. The first video is dedicated to the first 30 years after the company Laurin & Klement was founded, followed by a second film that looks at the beginning of the ‘ŠKODA AUTO’ era in 1925 and the company’s growth up to the end of the 1980s. A third video presents the company’s dynamic development as an integral part of the Volkswagen Group since 1991.
The video tour PRECISION takes viewers behind the scenes of the museum workshop. This is where they can watch the restoration of historic vehicles, see the various stages of work and get involved in the research carried out by the ŠKODA archive.
Ever since the company was founded, ŠKODA AUTO has represented inventiveness and technical innovation. The TECHNOLOGY GALLERY in the permanent exhibition shows how the car plant has changed over time – and with it the processes in production. The video focuses on individual vehicle components, especially engines and headlights.
The video tour IN THE SPIRIT OF ELECTROMOBILITY tells the story of electric vehicle models from Laurin & Klement and ŠKODA AUTO. Examples include the ŠKODA PUCK children’s roadster from the 1940s, the ŠKODA ELTRA from 1991 and one of the ŠKODA OCTAVIA GREEN E LINE prototypes. The latest chapter of electric mobility created by ŠKODA AUTO is represented by the CITIGOe iV and the ŠKODA ENYAQ iV. In addition, visitors taking the virtual tour will learn how modern electric motors and batteries work. In the second half of the year, fans will be able to discover other exhibition areas of the ŠKODA Museum virtually.
Another part of the exhibition is dedicated to the brand’s TRADITION and presents exciting details about the company’s history, such as the development of the company logo and the significance of selected models in the company’s development. The video tour also tells the story of the ŠKODA OCTAVIA COMBI and ŠKODA 1202 models, which are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.
One of the videos presents the PROTOTYPE & SPORT CAR COLLECTION, which is located in the former foundry. Among the impressive exhibits is the ‘Ferat’ coupé, which was featured in the horror film ‘Ferat Vampire’ (original title ‘Upír z Feratu’) 40 years ago. This vehicle is a unique example of the ŠKODA 110 SUPER SPORT, which made its debut in its original form 50 years ago.
In the second half of the year, the video tour 120 YEARS OF ŠKODA MOTORSPORT will be dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the brand’s successful motorsport history.
About the ŠKODA Museum
The ŠKODA Museum was opened in the centre of Mladá Boleslav in 1995 to mark the company’s 100th anniversary. The original factory building was extensively rebuilt and extended to include its own workshop and a company archive. Later, the Laurin & Klement Forum was added as a multi-function hall. The ŠKODA Museum was fully refurbished in 2012.
In addition to the continuously updated permanent exhibition, the ŠKODA Museum also offers numerous temporary exhibitions and serves as a venue for educational and cultural events; more than 274,000 guests visited the museum in 2019.
The foundation stone for the ŠKODA Museum collection was laid in the second half of the 1960s. It currently houses around 340 exhibits, including Laurin & Klement’s first automobile, the VOITURETTE A, as well as concept cars and prototypes, sports cars and rally cars; the oldest exhibit is a SLAVIA bicycle from 1899.
You can find more information at muzeum.skoda-auto.cz.
