Vlastivedné múzeum v Považskej Bystrici

About the museum

The Vlastivedné múzeum v Považskej Bystrici (Local History Museum in Považská Bystrica) is one of the regional museums of the local history type under the authority of the Trenčín Self-Governing Region. It was established in 1984, with a collecting area covering the districts of Považská Bystrica, Púchov and Ilava. The depositories hold natural science objects from geology, botany and zoology; the social science field is represented by collections on archaeology, history and ethnology.

Recently the museum's staff have also focused on documenting local history in the 20th century, especially the history of engineering in Považská Bystrica, where the company Zbrojovka was founded in 1928 and from 1947 single-track motor vehicles were produced. The jewels of the collection include a collection of historical motorcycles from the Považské strojárne (Považské Engineering Works), paintings by Imro Weiner-Kráľ, a collection of printing blocks from the workshop of Stanislav Trnka in Púchov, folk costume, taxidermied animal specimens, entomological collections and historical herbaria.

The museum is housed on the second floor of the building of the Stredná priemyselná škola (Secondary Industrial School). According to its own information it currently has no exhibition space for the historical motorcycles, but it presents part of the collections in the Župný dom (County House) in Púchov, in the kaštieľ (manor house) in Ladce and in the skanzen (open-air museum) in Horná Mariková.

Highlights

• Natural history exhibition Prechádzka našou prírodou (A Walk Through Our Nature): forest fauna, water corner, preserved freshwater fish
• Small exhibition of folk costume Otvorené truhlice (Open Chests)
• Collection of historical motorcycles from the Považské strojárne
• Paintings by Imro Weiner-Kráľ
• Branch exhibitions in Púchov, Ladce and Horná Mariková

Permanent exhibitions

• Prechádzka našou prírodou – Natural history exhibition on the fauna of the forest, with a water corner and preserved specimens of freshwater fish.
• Otvorené truhlice – Small exhibition with examples of traditional folk costume from the museum's collecting area.

Founded

1984

Operated by

Trenčiansky samosprávny kraj

Admission & discounts

Free admission for children under 3, military veterans (card of the Ministry of Defence of the SR), holders of a ZMS card, blood donors (confirmation from the Slovak Red Cross – 30 or more donations) and holders of a collection donor card. The prices apply to admission to the exhibition (price list valid from 1 January 2026).

Accessibility

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Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum prepares educational and creative programmes for pre-school and school children (Múzeum v škole, Museum in School).

Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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