Muzej na prostem Rogatec

About the museum

The open-air museum in Rogatec grew out of local efforts to preserve the birthplace of the poet and translator Jože Šmit. The residential house of the Šmit family from the hamlet of Tlake was moved to its present site in 1981 and is still the central building of the museum. Within a state project, the idea gradually developed into the largest open-air museum in Slovenia.

Further original buildings of a Middle Styrian farm of the sub-Pannonian type were gradually moved to the site: a farm building with a stable and wine cellar, a double kozolec toplar (hay barn) from 1892, a pigsty and more. Reconstructions were also added, such as a well with a pole (vodnjak na čapljo), a beehouse, the winegrower's house with vine arbours, a smithy, a former village shop and the stonemason's hut (kamnarska bajta) with a permanent exhibition on the stonemasonry of the region.

The museum shows the lives of farmers and craftsmen from Obsotelje and from the slopes of Boč, Donačka gora and Macelj from the 19th to the mid-20th century. In 1997 it was nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award, and in 1999 it was declared a cultural monument of national importance. It offers visitors experiential and learning workshops and ethnographic demonstrations of local crafts, customs and work; it is run by the Javni zavod za kulturo, turizem in razvoj Občine Rogatec (public institute for culture, tourism and development of the Municipality of Rogatec).

Highlights

• Birthplace of poet Jože Šmit, the museum's central building
• Double kozolec toplar from 1892
• Reconstructed smithy and winegrower's house with vine arbours
• Stonemason's hut with permanent exhibition on stonemasonry
• Workshops and ethnographic demonstrations of old crafts

Permanent exhibition

• Stalna razstava o kamnoseški obrti – A permanent exhibition on stonemasonry in the Rogatec area is housed in the stonemason's hut.

Founded

1981

Operated by

Javni zavod za kulturo, turizem in razvoj Občine Rogatec

Admission & discounts

The price list is valid from 1 March 2026. Prices are quoted per person. For individual or family visits, a printed guide or audio guide is included in the admission price. Ethnological workshops are not included in the admission.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Visitors can take part in experiential and learning workshops and ethnographic demonstrations of local crafts, customs and work; the programme Okusimo dediščino (Let's Taste the Heritage) is also aimed at school groups.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

The museums.si portal lists Wi-Fi and free parking among the museum's services. Catering and tourism activities take place in the winegrower's house with the wine cellar.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit