Banícke múzeum Gelnica

About the museum

The idea of collecting documents on mining in Gelnica first appeared as early as 1766, but it was carried out only in 1932 by the head of the civic school, Leopold Gruss. He was followed by the teacher Samuel Fabriczy, who obtained a building for the museum; in 1938 the museum was opened to the public for the first time. After the war it reopened in 1948, and in 1963, after repairs to the building, new exhibitions were installed.

From 1965 to 31 March 2005 the museum was a branch of the museum in Spišská Nová Ves; from 1 April 2005 it has been run by the town of Gelnica. It is housed in a building from 1802, which grew out of a Renaissance core in the spirit of Theresian Baroque and once served as the town hall; material from the castle walls was used in its construction.

The collections document mining, ethnography, the history of the town, geology and guilds. Visitors can see mining tools and lamps, old mining maps, models, mining clothing and a model of a mine entrance, an exhibition on smithing with nails and chains, guild objects, a torture chamber and, since 2024, a memorial room of Leopold Gruss. The outlying exhibition consists of the Štôlňa Jozef adit, opened to the public in 2016, and a mining open-air museum (banský skanzen).

Highlights

• Mining tools, lamps and maps
• Smithing exhibition and Gelnica nails
• Guild symbols and the torture chamber
• Madonna with Child from the 15th century
• Štôlňa Jozef adit and mining open-air museum

Permanent exhibitions

• Expozícia baníctva, kováčstva a cechov – The exhibitions present mining tools, lamps, maps and models, the production of nails and chains, and guild symbols.
• Štôlňa Jozef a banský skanzen – Outlying exhibition of the museum; the Štôlňa Jozef adit has been accessible to the public since 2016.

Founded

1938

Operated by

Mesto Gelnica

Admission & discounts

The price list applies from 1 April 2023. The museum sets the prices of exhibitions according to their character. Wanderbook and Wandercards can be bought in the museum.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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