Západoslovenské múzeum

About the museum

The West Slovak Museum is seated in the grounds of the former Poor Clares' monastery, which is mentioned in Trnava as early as 1239. After the dissolution of the order by Emperor Joseph II in 1782, the army used the building as a hospital and later as warehouses. In 1954 it was given to the newly founded museum, which continued the town's museum tradition of more than a century.

The collections consist of natural science, historical and ethnological holdings and a historical library; together they comprise more than 149,000 objects. The permanent exhibitions in the main building include the history of Trnava from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century, the ethnography of the Trnava countryside, the nature of the Little Carpathians, sacred monuments, bells and an exhibition on the Poor Clares of Trnava.

The museum also includes the Museum of Book Culture in the Olláh Seminary and the House of Music of Mikuláš Schneider Trnavský, where the Slovak composer lived and worked. The founder is the Trnava Self-Governing Region.

Highlights

• New exhibition on the history of Trnava from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century
• Ethnographic exhibition for children, with illustrations and replicas of pottery
• Campanological exhibition with a collection of bells
• Exhibition on the Poor Clares of Trnava and a 17th-century oratory
• Collection of Štefan Cyril Parrák, the “king of collectors”
• Museum of Book Culture and the House of Music M. Schneider Trnavský

Permanent exhibitions

• Dejiny Trnavy – The exhibition presents the history of the town from the pre-urban horizon (predmestský horizont) to the end of the 18th century, using objects on town administration, guilds and learning, a model of the town with projection, and digital media.
• Etnografia – materiálna kultúra trnavského vidieka – The exhibition shows the housing, food, clothing and crafts of the countryside around Trnava and is designed mainly for child visitors.
• Klarisky v Trnave – The exhibition in the former inner parlour documents the history of the Trnava Poor Clares, the development of the monastery and church, and the everyday life of the sisters.

Founded

1954

Operated by

Trnavský samosprávny kraj

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On the first Sunday of every month, families with children enter free.

The basic admission applies to the main building and all its exhibitions and displays; photography in the spaces is included in the price. Free admission also for the supervising teacher and for holders of cards of the Association of Museums of Slovakia and ICOM, of a press card and of the Slovak Fine Art Union (for fine art exhibitions). Members of the Ethnographic Society of Slovakia receive a 50% discount.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• 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 main building is partly step-free: visitors with reduced mobility have access to the exhibitions on the 1st and 2nd floors (ethnography, folk textiles, nature of the Little Carpathians, history of Trnava, archaeology, the concert hall and others), but not to the exhibitions Sacred Monuments, the campanological exhibition and the Poor Clares of Trnava, nor to the atrium. The House of Music has a step-free entrance and toilet; the Museum of Book Culture is not step-free.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The ethnographic exhibition is aimed especially at children: it has illustrations, a magnetic board and replicas of ceramic vessels to touch, and at the start visitors can dress in folk costume. The museum offers creative workshops; on the first Sunday of every month, families with children enter free.

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

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

The concert room, the large and small courtyards and the garden can be rented; weddings are possible in the oratory and the atrium outside visiting hours with the director's consent.

Plan your visit