Dornyay Béla Múzeum

About the museum

The Dornyay Béla Múzeum is the urban museum of Salgótarján with county reach. Its collecting area is Nógrád County. It is named after Dornyay Béla, grammar-school teacher, local historian and museologist, who had been collecting the town’s memorabilia since the 1920s. It was officially founded in 1959 as the Nógrád Megyei Munkásmozgalmi Múzeum (Nógrád County Labour Movement Museum) in the former Szluha–Jankovich manor house. Later it was called the Nógrádi Sándor Múzeum, then the Nógrádi Történeti Múzeum (Nógrád Historical Museum); since 2013 it has operated in its present form.

The museum’s building, designed by Magyar Géza, was completed in 1980 in the centre of the town and has been under listed-monument protection since 2005. The collection holds historical, fine-art and literary-history material, and from 2013 also finds from the county’s archaeological excavations and ethnographic objects. The gallery opened in 2006 is based on the Mihályfi Collection, which contains works of the Hungarian avant-garde between the two world wars and other significant modern artists.

The museum also includes the Bányászati Kiállítóhely (Mining Exhibition Site), which awaits visitors at a separate location on Zemlinszky Rezső út. The two locomotives displayed in front of the railway station in the city centre are also cared for by the museum. The building also houses study storerooms and a teaching room.

Highlights

• “Nógrádi emberek az évszázadok sodrában” (“Nógrád people in the currents of the centuries”) – the history of the Salgótarján industrial region
• Gallery with the Mihályfi Collection (Derkovits, Uitz, Gulácsy, Rippl-Rónai)
• Gaál István memorial room with the oeuvre of the film director
• Ér(in)tsd meg a vároST (“Understand the town”) – interactive wall on the past of Salgótarján
• Building designed by Magyar Géza, under listed-monument protection

Permanent exhibitions

• Nógrádi emberek az évszázadok sodrában – A salgótarjáni iparvidék története – The new permanent historical exhibition presents the formation and transformation of the industrial region of the Salgótarján and Bátonyterenye districts, from the late 19th century to the late 20th century.
• Dornyay Béla Múzeum Képtára – The gallery, based on the Mihályfi Collection, presents the works of the Hungarian avant-garde between the two world wars (Uitz Béla, Derkovits Gyula, Mattis Teutsch János) and other significant artists.
• Gaál István emlékszoba – A memorial room presenting the oeuvre of the Kossuth Prize–winning film director born in Salgótarján, with posters, photographs and personal objects.

Founded

1959

Operated by

Salgótarján Megyei Jogú Város Önkormányzata

Director

Shah Gabriella

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On Hungary’s national holidays (15 March, 20 August, 23 October) admission is free for all visitors; on the last Saturday of every month, the permanent exhibitions are free for holders of a student card under 26 and for up to two adults accompanying a child under 18.

Admission is free for children under 6, visitors over 70, teachers with a teacher’s card, journalists with a valid card and members of ICOM. Ticket prices are valid from 1 March 2026.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The interactive wall Ér(in)tsd meg a vároST is for children and adults; the museum education offer includes craft workshops, summer camps and museum lessons.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The council chamber, the small gallery and the upper-floor hall can be rented; the fee covers events of 2–5 hours and includes cleaning and the use of the cloakroom and toilets. Enquiries at titkarsag@dornyaymuzeum.hu.

Plan your visit