Kovaški muzej Kropa
Technical museum in the Klinar House in Kropa showing centuries of blacksmith tradition from iron ore to nail, with models, forged products and an ethnological collection.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The centuries-old tradition of forging in Kropa and the neighbouring Kamna Gorica is gathered in the Klinar House in the middle of the Kropa square. The museum is considered the first technical museum in Slovenia. Besides a technical and historical presentation of hand forging, it also shows the way of life in Kropa and its surroundings; part of the exhibition is devoted to artistically forged works by the Kropa blacksmith master Jože Bertoncelj.
The Klinar House is a typical ironworkers’ building from the end of the 18th century. In the former salon a wooden coffered Baroque ceiling with three oil paintings has been preserved. On the ground floor there is a souvenir shop and a projection room; the exhibition is on the first and second floors.
The collection includes models showing Kropa in the 19th century, the operation of the ironworks and water-powered forge bellows, and a typical nail forge for making nails, called vigenjc. Kropa’s main product was nails; a special room displays 94 nails of different sizes and shapes. The ethnological collection presents the everyday and festive life of blacksmith families. The museum is run by the Radovljica Municipality Museums (Muzeji radovljiške občine).
Highlights
- The first technical museum in Slovenia
- Models of 19th-century Kropa, the ironworks and forge bellows
- Room with 94 nails of different sizes and shapes
- Ethnological collection on the life of blacksmith families
- Artistically forged works by Jože Bertoncelj
- Documentary films “Koledniki” (Carol Singers) and “Kroparski kovači” (Kropa Blacksmiths)
Permanent exhibition
- Stalna razstava Kovaškega muzeja – The processing of iron from ore to nail shown with models, an exhibition of artistically forged works and an ethnological collection on blacksmith families.
- Operated by
- Muzeji radovljiške občine
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4pensioners and students |
| Children & teens | €3 |
| Seniors | €4Pensioners. |
| Students & apprentices | €4 |
| Families | €10 |
| Museum + Vigenjc Vice, adults (announced groups only) | €8Children €5, families €15, pensioners and students €6. |
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | €10 |
|---|
A family ticket is available.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
On the ground floor of the Klinar House there is a souvenir shop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | For organised groups a guided tour in Slovenian, German or English is available by prior booking; by arrangement it is also possible to visit the Vigenjc Vice forge with a demonstration of hand-forging nails. The documentary films “Koledniki” and “Kroparski kovači” can be seen in the projection room. |
