A small but cozy Slovenia is one of the main tourist destinations in Central Europe. Despite the rather modest size, this country enjoys great popularity among travelers from all over the world, because the formation of local culture and national traditions was greatly influenced by neighboring powers - Italy, Austria and Hungary. It is Slovenia that owes its unique architecture and some of the best museums on the continent.
Top 8 most popular museums in Slovenia
In the collections of modern Slovenian museums and galleries there are many valuable items that indicate that the current region of the republic has for a long time been involved in major international events. A kind of confirmation of this is the myth of Jason and the golden fleece, which supposedly was placed by the ancient Greek hero. By the way, it is in many legends that he is the founder of the most important city and the official capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana .
Different museums in Slovenia, of course, are interesting in their own way, however it is simply impossible to visit everything at once. Therefore, we offer you a list of the most fascinating of them, where you can see the main national treasures and learn more about the history of this unique state:
1. The National Museum of Slovenia (Narodni muzej Slovenije) is the central art gallery of the country, located in the heart of Ljubljana, not far from the largest park of the capital, Tivoli . The famous museum institution is divided into 6 thematic departments, including: archaeological, numismatic, graphic, department of history and applied art, storage and restoration department and a large library. Regularly on the territory of the National Gallery professional guides conduct fascinating lectures for adults, as well as entertaining and educational excursions for children.
Contact details:
- Address: Muzejska ulica 1, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Phone: +386 1 241 44 00;
- Website: http://www.narmuz-lj.si/;
- Working hours: daily from 10.00 to 18.00, Thursday - from 10.00 to 20.00.
2. Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkovo (MG + MSUM) - the best place for true connoisseurs of contemporary Slovenian artists and architects. The collection of the museum presents works of art by authors of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Augustus Chernigoy, Jože Chiuha, Riko Debenjak, Bozidar Djakach, Gabriel Stupitsa and many others. etc. The concept of MG + MSUM is dynamic: besides permanent exhibits presented in the show The Present and Presence, temporary exhibitions, interactive art projects and installations, curatorial videos and solo shows of young Slovene creators are also held. There is also a huge library, an archival room and a restoration room.
Contact details:
- address: Maistrova ulica 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- phone: +386 1 241 68 00;
- site: http://www.mg-lj.si/;
- working time: daily from 10.00 to 18.00, Monday - closed.
3. The Ljubljana City Museum (Mestni muzej Ljubljana - MGML) is another important museum in Slovenia, whose goal is to preserve and study the historical heritage of Ljubljana. It is located in the building of the Turjak Palace on the Square of the French Revolution. The unique collection of the City Museum has more than 200,000 items found over the past several thousand years. Among them there are such interesting exhibits as the world's oldest wheel with a wooden axis and a 40,000-year-old arrow, also made of wood.
Contact details:
- address: Gosposka ulica 15, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- phone: +386 1 241 25 00;
- site: http://www.mgml.si/mestni-muzej-ljubljana/;
- working time: daily from 10.00 to 18.00, Thursday - 10.00-21.00, Monday - closed.
4. The Slovenian Museum of Natural History (Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije) is the oldest cultural and scientific institution of the state, located in the center of the capital, close to the Opera and the National Museum. It presents Slovenian, European and international collections demonstrating changes in the world's biodiversity. The symbol of the Museum of Natural History is the almost complete skeleton of a mammoth, found in 1938 in the settlement of Neuwe.
Contact details:
- address: Prešernova cesta 20, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- phone: +386 1 241 09 40;
- website: http://www.pms-lj.si/si/;
- working time: daily from 10.00 to 18.00, Thursday from 10.00 to 20.00.
5. Museum of mountaineering (Planinski Muzej) - one of the main sights of the republic, telling about different stages of development of mining activity on its territory. The museum is located in the north-west of Slovenia, in the village of Mojstrana, near the Triglav National Park . Its rich collection includes valuable items, documents and photographs, allowing you to learn many interesting facts about the terrain and the highest peaks of the country. By the way, the excursion begins often with viewing the introductory film "The Light of the Mountain", which represents the beauty of the Slovenian landscape and increases the awareness of the diversity and richness of the natural, cultural and historical heritage of our sublime world.
Contact details:
- address: Triglavska cesta 49, 4281 Mojstrana, Slovenia;
- telephone: +386 (0) 8 380 67 30;
- fax: +386 (0) 4 589 10 35;
- e-mail: info@planinskimuzej.si;
- working hours: from June 1 to September 14 - 9.00-19.00, from September 15 to May 31 - 9.00-17.00.
6. The Military Museum "Pivka" (Park vojaške zgodovine Pivka) - in fact, it is a whole park dedicated to preserving and presenting the rich historical heritage of Slovenia with an emphasis on military equipment. The complex is located in the area of the former Italian and later Yugoslav barracks and includes the nearby fortress "Alpine Val". The exhibition features different tanks and armored vehicles from the Second World War and the Slovenian Ten-Day War, but the main attraction of the museum is the Yugoslav submarine P-913 Zeta, which was delivered to the republic and rebuilt at the request of former admiral Marian Pogachnik.
Contact details:
- address: Kolodvorska cesta 51, 6257 Pivka, Slovenia;
- telephone: +386 31 775 002;
- e-mail: tic.pivka@pivka.si;
- working time: daily from 10.00 to 16.00, Saturday to Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00.
7. Museum of Illusions (Muzej iluzij) - the best place in the capital for a fun family vacation with children. The museum presents more than 40 exhibits and holograms aimed at complete change of consciousness due to optical illusions. During the tour you will visit the antigravity room, visit the hall turned upside down at 90 ° reality and pass through the vortex tunnel.
Contact details:
- address: Kongresni trg 13, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- phone: +386 1 320 54 66;
- site: http://muzejiluzij.si;
- working time: daily from 9.00 to 22.00.
8. The House of Experiments (Hiša eksperimentov) is the first Slovenian scientific center in the style of DIY, intended for both adults and children. It is here that museum workers popularize science and prove that learning can be fun. Permanent exhibition consists of 60 almost completely interactive exhibits, which you can freely touch and test. The collection covers various areas: from optical illusions, perception and art (imaging or animation) to medicine.
Contact details:
- address: Trubarjeva cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- phone: +386 (0) 1 300 68 88;
- fax: +386 (0) 1 300 6880;
- e-mail: info@he.si;
- website: http://www.he.si/;
- Opening hours: Wednesday 16.00-20.00, Saturday-Sunday 11.00-19.00 (for individual visits), Tuesday-Thursday - 9.00-15.00 (for groups).