If you’re looking to escape the Christmas rush and soak in a more meditative atmosphere than the bustling Prague Christmas markets, I highly recommend a visit to an underrated gem of a gallery located in the town of Louny, about 60 kilometers north of Prague. Louny itself is surrounded by an intriguing volcanic landscape and offers more than just the Benedikt Rejt Gallery, which I’d like to entice you to explore today. The town also boasts the Gothic Church of St. Nicholas, home to a magnificent Baroque wooden altar — a breathtaking masterpiece of religious art.
The gallery itself is a marvel of architecture. Its transformation from an old brewery into a modern art space was designed by architect Emil Přikryl and completed in the late 1990s, creating a poised dialogue between historic structure and minimalist modern lines. The building’s thoughtful design beautifully blends space and art, giving each artwork generous room to breathe.
This winter, the gallery hosts two remarkable exhibitions. On the ground floor, you’ll find the work of the well-known (and personally one of my favorites) Czech photographer Ivan Pinkava, whose career I have followed with great interest since the 1990s. The exhibition features both large-format and more intimate works.
Pinkava’s photography focuses on people and the fascinating objects they interact with — and in his contemporary pieces, you’ll also find delicately captured flowers. Since this gallery is usually almost empty, you can often enjoy the artworks in complete solitude, with the friendly curators nearby, giving you the perfect space to quietly admire and reflect on each piece.
Downstairs, you can explore the impressive exhibition called NOIRS of black geometric objects by Michal Škoda, a talented Czech sculptor whose work engages in subtle dialogue with the gallery’s striking architectural space. These black geometric pieces are defined as much by the empty space around and within them as by their physical form, creating a sense of serene tension and harmony.
For those learning Czech as a foreign language, trips like this are a wonderful way to learn Czech outside the classroom. Venturing outside of Prague not only offers fresh perspectives on Czech culture and art, but also encourages learners to interact with locals, read signage, and absorb the language in real-life contexts. Visiting a small town like Louny provides a richer, more immersive Czech learning experience, making your language-learning journey both practical and inspiring.
