Step Into the Time Machine: Inside Máj’s ‘Back in Time’ – Where 1,200 Years of Prague Comes Alive
Much like the Starship Enterprise, the time machine room that starts the Back in Time exhibition at Máj Národní House of Fun fills with projections, animations, and bleeps. The entrance closes behind you and the time machine comes to life, as your digital docents, “T” and “B,” introduce themselves and crack wise. Then, a portal opens to your right and leads you through a fantastic journey through 1,200 years of Prague history.
“Less museum, more experience.” That was the mission which inspired Infinite Experience Prague (IXP), the team who developed Back in Time, to create an audio-visual exhibition unlike anything else in Prague. They delivered by breaking out of the dry, static, traditional museum format, creating an entertaining, immersive, epic tale of Prague more suitable to modern audiences used to screens, sound, and interactive storytelling.
“We wanted to prove that history doesn’t have to be boring,” explains Judit Le Světlíková, brand marketing manager at IXP. “It can be an adventure that draws you into centuries long gone.”
Since its opening in March 2025, more than 30,000 time travelers have discovered the history that shaped Czechia’s capital into what it is today.
How Do You Fit 1,200 Years Into 50 Minutes?
The vision, design, and technology came together in partnership with Kraftwerk Living Technologies, an Austrian company specializing in audiovisual installations, LED screens, holographic projections, and 4D/5D cinema.
They had to answer two huge questions:
- How could they compress the rich history of Prague into a single immersive experience lasting under an hour?
- How could they fit that experience within the technical and space limitations of the Máj Národní building?
Thanks to talents like Jakub Prantl, designer and concept artist at Kraftwerk, answers were found. He helped create the 50-minute whirlwind tour across eight rooms.
“My artistic vision was never to create a single unified aesthetic, but rather to guide visitors through a series of emotional contrasts,” he emphasizes. “You should feel something different in every space, and never quite know what awaits you around the corner.”
It all came together through cutting-edge tech: more than 200 square meters of video surfaces, including 18 OLED and LCD displays, 4K holographic projection film, and 12 laser projectors. 128 speakers and 112 amplifiers put you in the center of a spatial soundscape, making every step, shot, and gust of wind seem to come from around you.
Meet the Emperor Himself
A standout is found in the Charles IV room, where holograms provide an audience with the Emperor himself. Also in the room is a curtain showing what Prague looked like during his reign, one of several original works of art made for Back in Time.
The Golem Will Give You Goosebumps
The immersion goes next level in the Golem room, where the legendary clay creature of the 16th century lies amid billowing mist, deep shadows, and glowing symbols of the four elements.
The journey ends in the mirrored “Hall of Fame” that showcases digital portraits of Czech heroes, including former president Václav Havel, Romantic-era composer Antonín Dvořák, and legendary pop singer Karel Gott.
It’s no wonder Back in Time has been a hit for schools, welcoming 307 groups and 6,802 students since opening.
As Le Světlíková emphasized, “Every scene blends filmmaking craft, modern technology, and thoughtful storytelling to ensure visitors feel part of the story. At Back in Time, it feels like you’re standing inside the past.”
Book your experience here – in the iconic Máj Národní on the corner of Národní and Spálená. Less museum, more time travel.
