Múzeum Betliar

About the museum

The manor house in Betliar was built in 1881–1886 on the site of an older Renaissance manor house, as the residence of Count Emanuel I. Andrássy. He used it mainly as a hunting seat and as a museum for his rich collections. In its design he drew inspiration from English country houses, but elements of French architecture can also be found here. His son Gejza I. Andrássy had the manor modernised around 1905, so that it received electric lighting, central heating, bathrooms and a library.

The manor house is one of the few noble residences in Slovakia that survived after 1945 with their original furnishings and collections. The entire collection fund of the museum consists of the estate of the Andrássy family. The Múzeum v Betliari was founded in 1952, and in 1953 the manor house was opened to the public; since 1996 it has been part of the Slovenské národné múzeum. The management of the museum also includes Krásna Hôrka Castle and the Andrássy Mausoleum in Krásnohorské Podhradie.

The complex includes a natural park of more than 80 hectares, founded at the end of the 18th century by Count Leopold Andrássy. In it are a fountain with a statue of Psyche, a menagerie in the form of a medieval castle, a Freemason pavilion and a Chinese pavilion, a Japanese bridge, and a Classicist rotunda by the entrance gate.

Highlights

• Count's apartments with the original furnishings of the Andrássy family
• Egyptology exhibition with mummies
• Exhibition of exotic trophies in the winter garden
• English park with pavilions, menagerie and the Psyché fountain
• The only manor house in Slovakia with its original furnishings and collections preserved

Permanent exhibitions

• Grófske apartmány – Múzeum Andrássyovcov – Originally furnished apartments of the Andrássy family on the 1st and 2nd floors of the manor house, with furniture and collections from the 19th century.
• Expozícia egyptológie – Collection of Egyptian monuments from the Andrássy estate, including a mummified priest of the god Amun and a mummified child.
• Expozícia exotických trofejí – Taxidermy specimens from Africa and Asia displayed in the manor's winter garden, linked to the family's travels and hunting interests.

Founded

1952

Operated by

Slovenské národné múzeum

Admission & discounts

The basic admission applies to the Count's apartments (1st and 2nd floors) and the Egyptology and Exotic Trophies exhibition. Admission is free for children under 6, holders of the ICOM card, employees of museums and galleries, employees of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, collaborators of the SNM – Múzeum Betliar, and supervising teachers (1 person per 15 pupils).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The manor park is accessible to persons with a ZŤP card.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

From the bus stop a road leads along the Krivý potok (Krivý stream) to the manor grounds; it takes about 15–20 minutes on foot.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Buffet at the ticket office on the manor grounds.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit