Banské múzeum Hnúšťa

About the museum

Mining of mineral raw materials around Hnúšťa dates back to the time of the Kingdom of Hungary. The northern part of the Rimava valley was rich in minerals, but little is said about this today, so the town decided to preserve the legacy of mining history in a new museum in the Mútnik district. The Banské múzeum (Mining Museum) was solemnly opened at the Mútnik site and added another attraction to the town's tourist offer, alongside the industrial sites of Likier and Maša.

The museum was created through cooperation between the town of Hnúšťa, the business sector represented by the Gemerská nerudná spoločnosť (Gemer Non-Metallic Minerals Company, GENES) and SMZ Jelšava, and the civic association Horná Rimava. The town contributed its building to the project; the reconstruction was supported by the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatisation of the SR, and part of the exhibitions was supported by the Banskobystrický samosprávny kraj (Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region).

The museum stands beside the mining site in Mútnik and focuses on the history of mining in the Gemer-Malohont region, especially the extraction and processing of iron ores and later of talc and magnesite. It presents pyrite separately, popularly called mačacie zlato (cat's gold), whose largest specimens in Slovakia were found precisely around Hnúšťa. The exhibition includes mining objects, minerals, a diorama of the entrance to a mine adit with a vein of pyrite, and a documentary film with footage of underground adits. A visit also includes a short entry into the deep parts of the mine, where visitors walk 600 metres.

Highlights

• History of mining in the Gemer-Malohont region
• Largest pyrite specimens in Slovakia (“mačacie zlato” – cat's gold)
• Diorama of the entrance to an adit with a vein of pyrite
• Documentary film with footage of underground adits
• Entry into an unused part of the active mine (600 m)

Permanent exhibition

• Expozícia Banského múzea Hnúšťa – History of mining in the Gemer-Malohont region, mining objects, minerals, an exhibition on pyrite and a short entry into a part of the active mine.

Operated by

Mesto Hnúšťa

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

According to the Town of Hnúšťa, the Banské múzeum is accessible free of charge.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The museum stands in the Mútnik district beside the mining site of the Gemerská nerudná spoločnosť (GENES).

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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