New Delhi, Nov 7 (IANS): The splendour and magnificence of the castles and chateaux of the Czech Republic have come to the capital in the form of an exhibition, inaugurated Thursday.

The exhibition "Czech Castles" is a selection of 37 castles and chateaux of Bohemia and Moravia, two of the historic areas that make up the Czech state.

India's Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch along with Czech Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Kohout and Minister of Culture Jiri Balvin inaugurated the exhibition. It will be open for public till January 2014.

This is also the first time that the Archaeological Survey of India has collaborated with the National Museum of the Czech Republic.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the two sides to further promote cultural exchanges and bilateral cooperation.

"The bond that was established in 1959 when a cultural agreement was signed between the two countries has been further strengthened today (Thursday)," Katoch said in a statement.

"Like Czech Republic, India has a culture of forts and castles. So, it is extremely delightful that the Czech Republic has presented an important and attractive part of its national cultural heritage through large images, photographs of castles and stately homes via this exhibition," she added.