Exhibition "There and Back by Train from Borovany"

Borovany lies on the railway line connecting České Budějovice and České Velenice (Gmünd). This line was part of the famous Emperor Franz Joseph Railway and was of crucial importance for the town of Borovany. Its convenient location by this significant railway prompted the founding of the Calofrig industrial plant, and Borovany began to grow rapidly. The first train arrived in Borovany on May 21, 1869. In 2019, 150 years passed since this milestone. To mark the anniversary, the Town of Borovany is preparing a permanent interactive exhibition titled "There and Back by Train from Borovany", located in the attic of the farm building of the former Augustinian monastery.

The exhibition presents the history of the KFJB railway in the České Velenice–České Budějovice section within the context of global and South Bohemian railway history. It explores everyday life on the railway, including passenger and freight transport. The exhibition includes two full-scale historical wagons – one for cargo, one for passengers – where visitors can experience what travel used to be like. Train lovers will enjoy a working railway model, model train sets and locomotives, and a dispatcher’s office from the First Republic era. Children can enjoy an interactive area with a play carpet and art corner.

Visitors will also learn about activities that were once inseparable from the railway but have since disappeared (ticket issuing, railway workers, signalmen, station dispatchers), get familiar with railway jargon, and experience traditional railway sounds. The exhibition emphasizes playfulness, interactivity, and clarity.

The exhibition is co-organized by institutions such as the National Technical Museum in Prague, the South Bohemian Museum in České Budějovice, the Regional Museum in Český Krumlov, Czech Railways, the Railway Infrastructure Administration, collectors, model makers, and train enthusiasts. Part of the exhibition is funded by the Interreg project.