Muzej talcev
Memorial museum in the former cells of the Gestapo prison in Katzenstein Castle in Begunje.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Muzej talcev (Hostage Museum) stands in the centre of the village of Begunje na Gorenjskem, in the north-western wing of Katzenstein Castle. From 1941 to 1945 it housed the notorious Gestapo prison. 11,477 people were imprisoned there, mostly members of the Gorenjska resistance movement, but also people from other parts of Slovenia and foreigners. Many were taken to concentration camps, mainly Mauthausen and Dachau, and 849 prisoners were shot as hostages.
The Kokrski odred (Kokra Detachment) took over the prison on 4 May 1945 and freed 632 prisoners; every year this day is marked with a memorial ceremony. In the park beside the castle and in the nearby Draga valley there are 667 graves of hostages and partisans. The memorial area was laid out according to the plans of the architect Edvard Ravnikar, with artistic sculptures by the academic sculptor Boris Kalin.
In the memorial museum visitors can see the cells of the former prisoners. The walls preserve moving written messages from the prisoners and the occupier’s proclamations. The museum is run by the Muzeji radovljiške občine (Radovljica Municipal Museums).
Key themes
- Preserved cells of the former Gestapo prison
- Prisoners’ written messages on the walls and the occupier’s proclamations
- Memorial area with 667 graves of hostages and partisans
- Park of Katzenstein Castle with sculptures by Boris Kalin
- Plan of the memorial area by the architect Edvard Ravnikar
Permanent exhibition
- Spominski muzej v celicah gestapovskega zapora – The permanent display shows the preserved prison cells with written traces left by the prisoners and the occupier’s proclamations.
- Operated by
- Muzeji radovljiške občine
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3pensioners and students |
| Children & teens | €3 |
| Seniors | €3 |
| Students & apprentices | €3 |
| Families | €10 |
The admission prices are taken from the tourist offer of the Radovljica Municipality.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
The museum is in the centre of Begunje, in the north-western wing of Katzenstein Castle.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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