Preface to the selection of cultural-historical studies by univ. prof. Josef Válka (born 1929). He can be considered among the most influential and the most versatile historians in the Czech Republic. The study recapitulates his significance for the methodological programme of the history of culture. His cultural-historical studies were published in the early 1980s, but only in local journals. However in their whole, you can find Válkas unique research program of the cultural history of the early modern period. He was inspired to it in particular by the concept of a French new historiography with notion of the mentalités (R. Mandrou) and by conception of Baroque civilization (V-L.Tapié). At the same time he sought a dialogue with traditional notions of history of art (style, maniera) and his aim was a comprehensive understanding of a particular historical epoch.