Park vojaške zgodovine

About the museum

The Park vojaške zgodovine Pivka is a museum and tourism centre in the buildings of former barracks. The idea for it arose in 2004. The Municipality of Pivka, with money from EU funds and more than €10 million invested, gradually developed the complex, which is today the largest museum complex in Slovenia. The Park is run by the public institute Park vojaške zgodovine Pivka, whose founder is the Municipality of Pivka.

The Park's operation has been co-financed by the state since 2020, and in September 2021 the government granted the institute the authority to perform the state museum public service in the field of military movable and intangible cultural heritage. Besides its own collections, the buildings also house depots of the Muzej novejše zgodovine Slovenije (Museum of Recent History of Slovenia), the Narodni muzej Slovenije (National Museum of Slovenia) and the Tehniški muzej Slovenije (Technical Museum of Slovenia).

The collections range from exhibits from a Stone Age bow to a jet aircraft: tanks and other armoured vehicles, artillery, aircraft, a German military steam locomotive from the Second World War, a police boat and the submarine P-913, which can also be visited from the inside. The main exhibition Pot v samostojnost (The Path to Independence) presents Slovenia's independence and the war of 1991. The Park also manages the underground fortress of the Alpine Wall on Primož hill.

Highlights

• Exhibition Pot v samostojnost on Slovenia's independence
• Submarine P-913 and police boat P-111, visits inside
• Collection of tanks, armoured vehicles and aircraft
• Exhibition Enigma on cryptology in the Second World War
• MiG-21 flight simulator and the Alpine Wall fortress on Primož

Permanent exhibitions

• Pot v samostojnost – The main exhibition shows Slovenia's independence and the 1991 war for the defence of independence.
• Enigma – skrivnostno zakulisje vojne – The exhibition shows the clash of German and Allied cryptological services in the Second World War.
• Zbirka tankov, oklepnih vozil, topništva in letal – Tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery, aircraft, a German military steam locomotive, a police boat and a submarine are displayed in the pavilions and on the square.

Operated by

Javni zavod Park vojaške zgodovine Pivka

Admission & discounts

Price list valid from 1 January 2023 until further notice. Reduced prices are possible only on presentation of proof. Visits to the submarine, the police boat and the flight simulator are possible by prior booking, confirmed at least 5 working days in advance. Visits to the state museums' depots in pavilion D are charged extra (€2 per person). With the purchase of a ticket, visitors are covered by basic accident insurance.

Accessibility

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

According to the operator, the museum is adapted for visitors with disabilities: the multi-storey buildings have a lift, the pavilions are linked by ramps, and there is an adapted toilet. People with reduced mobility can view the inside of the submarine via a QR code with a 360-degree tour. For films there are QR codes with Slovenian subtitles for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

Kids & families

A family ticket is available; the youngest can try out the online game Viteški izziv (Knightly Challenge).

Getting there & parking

The museum stands just behind the bend by the tunnel, above which the railway line runs. From Ljubljana (60 km) and Koper (66 km) take the Postojna/Pivka exit from the motorway.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Museum restaurant Kantina Pivka and the museum shop. Free wireless internet; the password is at the shop door or at the counter.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit