Lavičkova zbirka

About the museum

The Lavičkova zbirka is the most extensive pharmaceutical and medical collection in Slovenia. It is named after Bohuslav Lavička (1879–1942), a pharmacist of Czech origin who for almost four decades collected antiques from all over Europe. He came to Slovenia in 1909, and from 1911 he ran the pharmacy in Tržič, where the Nazis shot him in 1942 as a hostage. The occupiers wanted to take the collection to Germany, but it was saved by Professor Josip Žontar; after the war it was returned to Lavička's descendants, from whom Lek bought it in 1978.

The collection joined the Ljubljana museums in 1986, when it was first presented to the public at the then factory of pharmaceutical and chemical products Lek. In 2002 it was declared a cultural monument of national importance. The owner is Lek, a member of the Sandoz group, and the collection is in Ljubljana, in the Lek business complex on Verovškova ulica.

The collection consists roughly of a library of 402 books, among them incunabula and two pages of the Gutenberg Bible, and pharmaceutical-medical equipment with about 500 objects from antiquity to the 20th century. It is known for prehistoric and ancient surgical instruments, ceramic and other pharmacy vessels from two old pharmacies from the 15th to the 19th century, and a small pharmacy cabinet from a Tyrolean monastery pharmacy with medicines preserved from the 16th century.

Highlights

• The most extensive pharmaceutical and medical collection in Slovenia
• Cultural monument of national importance (since 2002)
• Incunabula and two pages of the Gutenberg Bible
• Prehistoric and ancient surgical instruments
• Two historic pharmacies from the 15th to the 19th century

Permanent exhibition

• Lavičkova farmacevtsko-medicinska zbirka – Permanent display of the library and pharmaceutical-medical equipment from the legacy of Bohuslav Lavička; currently not on view because of renovation.

Founded

1986

Operated by

Lek d.d. (Sandoz)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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.