Pohronské múzeum

About the museum

The museum is housed in the building of the former town hall, the architectural landmark of the centre of Nová Baňa. Originally a four-storey Gothic building of fortress character, it was built after 1353. In the first half of the 18th century, after a fire, it was rebuilt, the third floor was removed, and a prismatic tower with a Baroque cupola (baňa) was added. A comprehensive monument restoration took place in 1965–1972; the building is on the list of cultural monuments.

The founder of the museum was Anton Solčiansky, and part of his original collection of antiques still forms the exhibition Meštiansky interiér (Burgher Interior). The founding body is the Banskobystrický samosprávny kraj (Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region). The exhibitions present the history of the town, mining and crafts, glassmaking, historic clocks, the naïve wood carving of Štefan Trnka, an art-historical collection with a late-Gothic Madonna from Hodruša-Hámre, the ethnography of the region, and the only volcanology exhibition in Slovakia.

A special theme is the year 1722, when the English engineer Isaac Potter built here the first atmospheric engine used in mining on the European continent; according to the museum, the exhibition of Potter's fire engine is temporarily unavailable. The ceremonial Radná sieň (Council Hall) has Baroque paintings from the 18th century, which were restored in 2009–2012 after a fire in 2005.

Highlights

• Model of Potter's fire engine from 1722 and diorama of the site at the Althandel shaft
• Council Hall with 18th-century Baroque paintings in secco
• The only volcanology exhibition in Slovakia
• Late-Gothic Madonna with Child wood carving from Hodruša-Hámre
• Historic clocks and folk wood carving of Štefan Trnka

Permanent exhibitions

• Vulkanologická expozícia – The only volcanology exhibition in Slovakia, with digital content on volcanology, geology and seismology, and the collection of RNDr. Ladislav Šimon.
• Radná sieň – Town council hall with 18th-century Baroque paintings in secco, where the richtár (mayor) sat with the town council.
• História mesta, baníctva a remesiel – The founding of the town and of mining, town and mining insignia, moving models of mining technology, and patience bottles (fľaše trpezlivosti) with scenes from the mine.

Operated by

Banskobystrický samosprávny kraj

Admission & discounts

Visitors who use ZSSK and IDS BBSK get a 20% discount on admission. Holders of an INTO membership card get a 20% discount on the adult ticket price. Admission is free for the companion of a person with ZŤP, holders of a journalist's card, and holders of the ZMS, RGS, ICOM and UNESCO cards.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum offers creative workshops and school programmes; adults with pupils can use the family ticket.

Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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