Grad Khislstein

About the museum

The Gorenjski muzej was founded in 1963 and has its seat in Kranj. It runs several locations, among them Grad Khislstein, the Mestna hiša (Town House) and the Prešernova hiša (Prešeren House), as well as museums in Bohinj. The museum's administration is in the Ulrihova hiša beside Khislstein Castle.

Khislstein Castle on Tomšičeva ulica is today the central exhibition location of the museum. In the renovated castle the new permanent exhibition Prelepa Gorenjska is on show; it is designed as a walk through time in twelve episodes on the first floor and in the attic. More than 1,300 museum objects tell the stories of the landscape and its people, and the content of the rooms is summarised by verses from Prešeren's poems and folk songs. The narrative is brought to life by sound spaces, photographs, and documentary and feature films.

The castle also houses the exhibition V blesku kovinske opreme (In the Gleam of Metal Equipment) on an exceptional archaeological find from Kranj: in 2005, late antique military equipment from the second half of the 6th century was excavated in the garden of Tomšičeva 38, among it two lamellar armours and a Frankish spear called an ango. The two lamellar armours are among only seven almost completely preserved from the 6th and 7th centuries.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition Prelepa Gorenjska in 12 episodes with more than 1,300 museum objects
• Late antique lamellar armours from Kranj, among the seven preserved in the world
• Interactive model of Gorenjska and sound spaces
• Castle with a lift and an exhibition on two floors
• Museum route through the locations of the Gorenjski muzej

Permanent exhibitions

• Prelepa Gorenjska – The permanent exhibition in twelve episodes on the history and people of Gorenjska, with more than 1,300 museum objects, sound spaces and films.
• V blesku kovinske oprave – poznoantična lamelna oklepa iz Kranja – Exhibition on the exceptional find of high-elite military equipment from the 6th century, excavated in Kranj in 2005.

Founded

1963

Operated by

Gorenjski muzej

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 8 February (Slovenian Cultural Holiday), 18 May (International Museum Day), the summer museum night (third Saturday in June), 3 December (Ta veseli dan kulture) and other important events.

Free admission also for members of SMD, PRESS, ICOM and ICOMOS, and for group escorts. The price list applies from 11 September 2026.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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 castle courtyard is paved with stone, so a visitor in a wheelchair needs a companion. Access to the castle is arranged, and there is a lift in the castle. The first floor of the exhibition Prelepa Gorenjska is accessible to persons with reduced mobility; on the second floor the extremely high edges are a difficulty.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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.

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