European sword

15 April - 15 November 2026
Technical Museum in Brno

The European Sword exhibition presents one of the most iconic weapons of human history - the sword as a symbol of power, honour and courage, but also of fall and destruction. At the same time, it shows it as the pinnacle of technological development, master craftsmanship and an important carrier of Europe's cultural memory.

The exhibition traces more than three thousand years of the development of the long iron sword - from its earliest forms to the peak medieval and early modern types. Visitors can enjoy ten state-of-the-art working replicas created by renowned sword maker and restorer Patrick Barta. These unique reconstructions have been created on the basis of archaeological finds, detailed study of historical sources and close collaboration with experts, especially Petr Žákovský.

The replicas are complemented by approximately fifty original swords on loan from major museum collections, allowing visitors to directly compare the surviving artefacts with their modern reconstructions.

But the exhibition goes even further - it shows the sword as a key to understanding the development of metallurgy, production technologies, combat techniques and social values that shaped European civilisation across the centuries.

The exhibition is intended not only for history and weapon lovers, but for all those who want a glimpse into the fascinating world of European craftsmanship, technology and culture.