Mestské múzeum Ilava

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1970 from a local-history exhibition, Ilava a okolie (Ilava and Surroundings), prepared by enthusiasts from the local branch of Matica slovenská around the physician Rastislav Řeháček. After a period of stagnation, the town of Ilava reopened it on 26 June 1993, and a natural-history exhibition, Fauna stredného Považia (Fauna of the Central Váh Valley), was later added. The building of the former burgher house, which belonged to Jewish families, is owned by the town; since 2020 it has been undergoing restoration and renewal of the exhibitions, and the museum was closed for two years. In the premises of the former goldsmith's shop, the Infocentrum Ilava opened on 24 June 2022; it is also the entrance to the museum.

The renewed historical exhibition on the ground floor traces the origins and development of the town, the history of Ilava Castle from its earliest form through the noble seat and monastery to the penal institution, life in the small town, guilds and crafts, the Ilava brewery, the Jewish religious community, Gábor Baross and the Klobušice manor (kaštieľ). The centrepiece is a model of the castle-prison (model hradu – väznice); there is also an authentic prison cell and a memorial for the 80th anniversary of the first deportation. The ethnographic and natural-history exhibition on the upper floor is being reconstructed and is not accessible.

Highlights

• Model of the castle-prison
• Authentic prison cell
• History of Ilava Castle and the penal institution
• Jewish religious community and memorial for the 80th anniversary of the first deportation
• Gábor Baross and the Klobušice manor

Permanent exhibition

• Historická expozícia – The origins and development of the town of Ilava, the history of the castle from its earliest form through the noble seat and monastery to the penal institution, life in the small town, guilds and crafts, the Ilava brewery, the Jewish religious community, Gábor Baross and the Klobušice manor; model of the castle-prison and a prison cell.

Founded

1970

Operated by

Mesto Ilava

Admission & discounts

Tickets are bought at the Infocentrum Ilava, which is the entrance to the museum.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

At the Infocentrum Ilava, postcards, magnets, tourist maps, books and calendars can be bought.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit