Bedřich Smetana Memorial at Lamberk

The Bedřich Smetana Memorial is located in the small village of Obříství, halfway between Neratovice and Mělník. Among family houses and tall trees, lies the rural estate where Smetana experienced love, peace, and his creative peak.

A visit to the memorial takes you nearly 200 years back in time. The estate and its furnishings have been preserved almost exactly as they were, making it feel as though Smetana himself could walk in at any moment. Personal items like his glasses, notebook, and the piano where he composed The Bartered Bride offer a personal connection to the composer. Upstairs, you can see the original carved bed of the Smetana couple. If you look closely, you’ll notice a cane on a table—though it’s not Smetana’s, but the cane of writer Svatopluk Čech, who lived nearby and often visited the composer.

• Interesting fact: After the death of his first wife, Kateřina, a heartbroken Smetana stayed with his brother, who then took him to Lamberk, to the Ferdinand family. The very next day, Smetana fell in love with Betty, 16 years his junior. Although she didn’t initially return his feelings, they soon married. At the time, Smetana was already 36 and still largely unknown.

Where to next?

Just a few kilometers down the river is Mělník, a lovely town at the confluence of the Elbe and Vltava rivers, known for its château and wine tradition. To explore Bedřich Smetana’s later years, visit the Smetana Memorial in Jabkenice, where he spent his final years. And for another dose of musical history, head to Nelahozeves, the birthplace of Antonín Dvořák. After a thorough renovation, the Dvořák Birthouse has recently reopened to the public.