Múzeum obetí komunizmu
The first multimedia museum of the victims of communism in Slovakia, with video stories of the persecuted, a map of the victims and a samizdat library.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Múzeum obetí komunizmu in Košice opened on 24 June 2021 as a private initiative; it is the first museum of its kind in Slovakia. The idea arose in 2019, and the museum focuses above all on people who became victims of the communist regime in their own country.
It covers two periods: the years 1945 to 1968, a time of harsh persecution, and the years 1969 to 1989, the period of normalisation, when people were persecuted by more sophisticated methods. During the tour visitors listen to video testimonies of survivors and see a map of the victims of communism, on which municipalities are marked with symbols of the types of persecution.
The main exhibition is in the basement of the building on Moyzesova Street. The tour also includes the Knižnica samizdatu a exilovej literatúry Rudolfa Fibyho (Rudolf Fiby Library of Samizdat and Exile Literature), which shows how people secretly distributed banned books and periodicals under censorship. A separate exhibition on the former regional prison of the ŠtB (State Security) is in the building of the Štátna vedecká knižnica (State Scientific Library) on Pribinova Street.
Key themes
- Video stories of survivors in the multimedia exhibition
- Map of the victims of communism in Slovakia
- Knižnica samizdatu a exilovej literatúry Rudolfa Fibyho (Rudolf Fiby Library of Samizdat and Exile Literature)
- Exhibition on the former regional ŠtB prison with a 3D model and a preserved solitary cell
- Guided commentary or audio guide in Slovak and English
Permanent exhibitions
- Expozícia Múzea obetí komunizmu – Multimedia exhibition with video stories of persecuted people, a map of the victims of communism and the Rudolf Fiby Library of Samizdat and Exile Literature.
- Bývalá krajská väznica ŠtB v Košiciach – Exhibition on interrogation practices and unlawful treatment of political prisoners, with a 3D model of the prison building and a preserved solitary cell.
- Founded
- 2021
- Operated by
- APEX, a. s.
- Director
- Pavol Hric
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3pensioners, students, holders of a ZŤP card |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 9 · Children under 10 enter free. |
| Seniors | €3Pensioners. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3Holders of a ZŤP card pay reduced admission. |
| Students & apprentices | €3Students. |
| Workshop (1 hour) – for visitors who have completed the tour | €3 |
| Tour and workshop (2.5 hours) | €5 |
| Tour and two workshops (4 hours) | €8 |
All prices include VAT. Accompanying teachers of school groups enter free.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kids
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 9 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The museum's themes are aimed mainly at pupils of the second stage of primary school (2. stupeň ZŠ), secondary-school students and adults; it offers workshops for schools.
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
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (SK, EN) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The main tour lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes; the group capacity is up to 30 people (larger groups must be arranged in advance). The exhibition on the ŠtB prison takes about 1 hour (up to 25 people, in Slovak). For schools the workshops and tours are intended for pupils of the second stage of primary school (2. stupeň ZŠ), secondary-school and university students. |
