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Zabrdí, the Czech Republic, is home to Zabrdské Betlémy, Svatava Vizinová's marvelous Museum devoted to paper nativities.	Â

"Crèches knock on all hearts," Svatava says, "but to open, it is necessary to do so from the inside…"

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Svatava Vizinová, when not cutting out and assembling nativities at Záberdske Betlémy, she's painting podmalby on glass.	Â

In the heart of the small village of Zabrdí, in Bohemia, stands the Zabrdské Betlémy Museum of Svatava Vizinová.

Bands of light yellow provide the only touch of color to this two-story, off-white stucco building. Who could guess, without the small Zabrdské Betlémy sign outside, that it houses a colorful world of hundreds—probably thousands—of paper nativities?

I entered that world even before my trip to Zabrdí, through the eloquent letters of Svatava Vizinová. "I have been living here for four years," she writes. "From morning to night I am working cutting out cribs, little figures, cut polysterene, glue on carton boxes, scissors, pins. And I am very happy."

Have carton boxes ever been put to better use? They house Svatava's nativity dioramas that stretch—in neat rows seven-high—the length and breadth of Zabradské Betlémy's second floor.

Ever since my wonderful trip to Svatava's world and Museum I have been wanting to share it with you. I have begun doing so by creating a video so you can feel that you are paying Svatava a visit yourself…

So click "play," above, or the Zabrdské Betlémy links in the navigation column at left—and enter Svatava's world yourself…