Hiša mineralov

About the museum

The Hiša mineralov (House of Minerals) presents a geological collection of minerals from around the world and an extensive collection of minerals from Slovenia. On display are over 12,000 different minerals from the private collection of Jože Rihtar, a collector and expert and former miner at the Premogovnik Velenje (Velenje Coal Mine). The collection grew from an initial 2,000 specimens on display; Rihtar keeps adding to it in the field, in quarries and abandoned mines, at fairs, and through cooperation with other collectors at home and abroad.

Alongside the minerals, a geological collection of precious, semi-precious and ornamental stones is also on display.

The building at Stari trg 19 is a listed monument. It dates from the second half of the 19th century and has a richly decorated historicist facade and a staircase with an ornamental cast-iron balustrade. According to oral tradition, a chaplain's house stood on the same site in the 16th century, where the first school in Velenje was founded in 1574. The building served as a residential and commercial property and housed municipal offices, the gendarmerie and the police. Today, alongside the Hiša mineralov, it is also home to the seat of the Krajevna skupnost Staro Velenje (local community of Staro Velenje).

Highlights

• Over 12,000 minerals from the Jože Rihtar collection
• Collection of precious, semi-precious and ornamental stones
• Listed building from the second half of the 19th century
• Fully accessible to people with reduced mobility

Permanent exhibition

• Zbirka mineralov Jožeta Rihtarja – Over 12,000 minerals from around the world and from Slovenia, plus a collection of ornamental stones.

Operated by

Muzej Velenje

Admission & discounts

Prices for guided tours are published on the website; individual admission prices are not separately listed. Free admission applies to pre-school children accompanied by adults, group escorts, all groups of disabled persons (except people with work-related disability) and their companions, holders of ICOM, SMD, SED and PRESS cards, and unemployed persons with a certificate from the Zavod za zaposlovanje (Employment Service). When visiting several units of the Velenje Museum, an extra €2 is charged for each additional unit (children, young people, students and pensioners €1). A favourable joint ticket is available with the other Velenje Museum units and with the Slovenian Mining Museum (Muzej premogovništva Slovenije).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Hiša mineralov is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users. Parking is available in the car park directly in front of the entrance to Old Velenje, which is closed to traffic.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

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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