Museum of the Senses

The Museum of Senses in Prague is a fascinating and intriguing place, where art and science come together to explore the boundaries of human perception. Located in the heart of the city, this interactive museum offers visitors an immersive journey through a series of installations designed to stimulate and challenge the senses. With over 50 exhibition experiences, the museum is a place where wonder, curiosity, and discovery are the order of the day. The museum is divided into different thematic sections, each dedicated to a specific aspect of sensory perception. The first area that visitors encounter is that of optical illusions. Here, artworks and installations play with visual perception, creating effects that deceive the eye and mind. One of the main attractions is the Ames room, a distorted room that creates the optical illusion of drastic changes in the sizes of people inside it. This installation, invented by American ophthalmologist Adelbert Ames, demonstrates how our brain misinterprets dimensions and perspectives. Another popular installation is the vortex tunnel, a rotating corridor that disorients visitors, giving the sensation of loss of balance. This effect is achieved through a clever play of lights and movements that deceive the vestibular system of the ear, responsible for our sense of balance. Walking through the vortex tunnel is an experience that tests the stability and spatial perception of visitors. In addition to optical illusions, the museum offers a series of tactile sensory experiences. One of the most engaging is the soft walls room, where surfaces are covered with different materials, each with a unique texture. Visitors can touch, feel, and compare sensations, exploring how touch influences our perception of the world. This section of the museum is particularly popular with children, who can freely experiment and learn through play. The Museum of Senses also includes a section dedicated to sound and auditory perception. One of the most evocative installations is the “Sound Lab,” where visitors can experience different types of sounds and understand how frequencies and vibrations influence our hearing. Part of this section is dedicated to synesthesia, a neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sense causes automatic and involuntary experiences in another sense, such as seeing colors when listening to music. The museum not only presents visual and auditory experiences, but also explores the sense of smell. In a scented room, visitors can smell a variety of essences and learn how odors influence emotions and memories. This installation highlights the importance of smell in our daily life and its role in evoking deep and personal memories. Another fascinating feature of the Museum of Senses is the room of reverse perspective. Here, objects appear to change size and shape depending on the viewing angle. This effect is achieved through the clever use of perspective and geometry, demonstrating how our brain interprets visual information contextually. The museum also offers experiences that involve the sense of taste. In collaboration with food experts, the museum organizes events and workshops where participants can explore how different flavors interact with each other and how taste perception is influenced by visual and olfactory factors.