Mestni muzej Ljubljana

About the museum

The Mestni muzej Ljubljana is housed in the Turjaška palača on Gosposka ulica. In Roman times this area was the port suburb of Emona, a fact attested by a preserved Roman road in the museum's basement. The Counts of Turjak rebuilt the palace in 1654 from three houses within a few years; in 1824 its façade received a late Baroque appearance with a Classicist portal. In 1927 the Turjaks sold it to the state.

The collection for a future city gallery began to take shape in 1907 at the wish of Mayor Ivan Hribar. In 1935 the palace was bought by the Mestna občina Ljubljana and assigned to the Mestni muzej. The first museum display, a survey of urban residential culture from the late Middle Ages to the first half of the 19th century, opened in 1937. After the Second World War other institutions also occupied the palace.

At the turn of the millennium the palace was comprehensively renovated by the studio Ofis arhitekti. In 2009 the museum merged with the Mestna galerija Ljubljana into the public institution Muzej in galerije mesta Ljubljane. The permanent exhibition Ljubljana. Zgodovina. Mesto. presents the city from prehistory, including the oldest wooden wheel with an axle, Roman Emona and the Middle Ages up to the 20th century. The museum also manages the Spominska soba Ivana Cankarja on Rožnik.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition Ljubljana. Zgodovina. Mesto. (Ljubljana. History. City.)
• The oldest wooden wheel with an axle in the world
• The Roman road of Emona, preserved in the museum basement
• Turjaška palača, renovated by the studio Ofis arhitekti
• Ivan Cankar Memorial Room on Rožnik

Permanent exhibitions

• Ljubljana. Zgodovina. Mesto. – The permanent exhibition presents the history of Ljubljana from prehistory, the lake dwellings on the Ljubljana Marsh and Roman Emona, through the Middle Ages and early modern times to the 20th century.
• Spominska soba pisatelja Ivana Cankarja – The Spominska soba on Rožnik holds Cankar's personal objects and furniture from the early 20th century; it is open in the summer season.

Founded

1935

Operated by

Muzej in galerije mesta Ljubljane

Admission & discounts

Free admission is also granted to holders of ICOM, PRESS and SMD cards, to holders of the URBANA tourist card and to licensed tourist guides. Prices refer to a visit to the Mestni muzej Ljubljana.

Accessibility

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

All exhibition spaces, the conference hall, the café and the shop are accessible to persons with special needs; visits by wheelchair are possible. Wheelchair-accessible toilets are on the 2nd floor and can be reached from all floors by lift. Guided tours in Slovenian Sign Language are possible by prior arrangement (+386 1 241 25 06, prijava@mgml.si).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

The offer includes interactive guided tours with workshops for families (children from age 4), printed family guides for children aged 4 to 11, and thematic birthday celebrations.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The museum has a café and a shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Available for hire are the projection hall, with equipment for simultaneous interpreting, and an educational classroom on the ground floor of the Turjaška palača.

Plan your visit