Mydlář House, Renaissance house in Chrudim, Czech Republic

Mydlář House is a three-story building whose first and second floors carry five-arch loggias on Tuscan columns. The first floor is decorated with reliefs of standing figures symbolizing piety, justice, prudence and strength, and reclining figures personifying peace, war, love, honesty and power. Above the door is a biblical quote from John 4:16 dated 1573 with the monogram MM.

Matěj Mydlář, a wealthy candle and soap maker, bought the Gothic house in 1571 from Markéta, widow of the townsman Jan Con, and rebuilt it in Renaissance style between 1573 and 1577 after travels in Italy. His eldest son Daniel, who received the house in 1577, added the brick and cut-stone twin minaret towers before the end of the 16th century. The family kept it until 1765; the town acquired it in 1952.

The building served as a private residence for centuries before becoming a museum dedicated to puppet traditions from around the world. Visitors can see how puppets were used in different cultures and regions, each with their own distinct style and purpose.

The museum is open to visitors and features some partially accessible entrances, with research facilities and a library available on site. It is advisable to check opening hours in advance and be aware of stairs due to the building's historic structure.

The museum houses a collection of roughly 50,000 items, including around 11,000 puppets from various countries and cultures, offering a rare perspective on puppet traditions from across the globe. This breadth of collection makes it an exceptional place for anyone curious about how puppet theater varies around the world.