Exhibition Máchův Máj in Many Forms at Bezděz

Description

You are invited to the exhibition "MÁCHŮV MÁJ V MNOHA PODOBÁCH 1836-1972" at Bezděz Castle from May 1 to October 11, 2026. Open Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Closed on Mondays! MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 WILL BE OPEN - PUBLIC HOLIDAY. The passions and melancholy of Karel Hynek Mácha are known to everyone: as the author of the famous Máj, a poet, a traveler, a painter, and a tumultuous figure of Czech romanticism. His passions and melancholy reached profound depths, from which they surged back to the surface in the form of immortal works. Experience Mácha in light and shadow at Bezděz Castle, which enchanted him so much that he repeatedly returned here to draw inspiration for his work. A lecture on the occasion of the 190th anniversary of the first publication of Máj and Mácha's premature death has been prepared for you by Petra Luňáková from the Semily Municipal Library, the author of the exhibition 90 Májů by Karel Hynek Mácha. The lecture will open the mentioned exhibition of a unique collection of Májů loaned from the Jilemnice Municipal Library. The exhibition will be on display at Bezděz from May 1 to October 31, 2026. 190 years since the death of Karel Hynek Mácha The romantic poet Karel Hynek Mácha died on November 6, 1836, in Litoměřice. He left behind the timeless poem Máj. It was a late evening — the first of May — the evening of May — was the time of love. The dove called to love, where the pine forest wafted. The quiet moss whispered of love; the blooming tree lied about love's sorrow, the nightingale sang love to the rose, the rose emitted a fragrant sigh. And also other works related to Bezděz and Mácha's region, e.g., Evening at Bezděz. I felt lonely and mournful here. Once again, I walked through the ruins of the famous, once again I looked into the ruined chapel, and then I walked to the innermost gate along the smooth, large stones, about a hundred steps long. The great round tower swayed in the clear glow of the new moon; the windows of the ruined monastery... in the twilight moved beneath it; and it always seemed to me as if the gray heads of deceased monks were peering from the ruined cell in the quiet night. – Below stood the former prison of young King Václav, distinguishable from the monastery by its old, black building, and closest to the gate was a smaller tower. 190 years since the first publication of Máj Mácha published the poem Máj at his own expense on April 23, 1836, at the printing house of Jan Spurný in a number of 100 priority copies. The print run was modest, and the contemporary literary criticism misunderstood the work. Mácha's Máj is still the most published Czech literary work; it continues to be reissued, and by 2019 it had seen 329 printed Czech editions (the second place is held by Babička with approximately half the number of reissues). The first edition of Máj saw the light of day on April 23, 1836. Mácha published the poem at his own expense in a number of 600 copies. Only a few dozen copies of the first edition of Máj have survived to this day and are found in some libraries and private collections. One copy can also be seen on display here – it is a loan from the Jilemnice Municipal Library, which received it as a gift from an estate. The exhibition will be open in the Manský Palace at Bezděz Castle until September 30, 2026.

Highlights

• Exhibition runs from May 1 to October 11, 2026
• Features works inspired by Karel Hynek Mácha
• Includes a special lecture on Mácha's legacy

General Information

The exhibition "MÁCHŮV MÁJ V MNOHA PODOBÁCH 1836-1972" will be held at Bezděz Castle, showcasing the influence of Karel Hynek Mácha. Open Tuesday to Sunday, visitors can explore a unique collection of Májů and attend a lecture commemorating the poet's contributions.

Location

Bezděz 144, 472 01 Doksy, Czech Republic

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