Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije

About the museum

The Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije originates from the Kranjski deželni muzej (Carniolan Provincial Museum), which the provincial estates founded on 15 October 1821; the government confirmed it in 1826. The founding collections were Zois's mineral collection and the shell collection of Count Franc Hohenwart. After the First World War the institution was renamed Narodni muzej in Ljubljana, and in 1944 it was split into two independent houses: the Kulturnozgodovinski muzej and the Prirodoslovni muzej. It has borne its present name since 1963.

Since 1888 the museum has been housed in the museum building on Prešernova cesta, which it shares with the Narodni muzej Slovenije. It is the national treasury of biodiversity and geological heritage, called the Archive of Nature, and at the same time a research institution that publishes the scientific journals Scopolia and Acta Entomologica Slovenica.

On display are collections of birds, reptiles, freshwater fish and vertebrate skeletons. Among the largest exhibits are the skeleton of a mammoth found by the Nevljica river below the Kamnik Alps, and the skeleton of a rorqual whale found in the Bay of Piran in 2003. The museum also runs educational programmes, workshops and temporary exhibitions.

Highlights

• Mammoth skeleton from the Nevljica valley, one of the most complete in Europe
• Skeleton of the rorqual whale Leonora from the Bay of Piran
• Bird collection arranged by systematics and habitat
• Freshwater fish collection with specimens more than a hundred years old
• Handling rooms where fossils, bones and furs can be touched

Permanent exhibition

• Zbirka ptičev, plazilcev, rib in okostij vretenčarjev – The permanent exhibition shows birds arranged by systematics and habitat, reptiles including all Slovenian snakes, 39 specimens of freshwater fish, and skeletons of birds and mammals.

Founded

1821

Admission & discounts

Tickets can be bought at the museum ticket office or in the online shop.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

Access for visitors in wheelchairs is arranged from Prešernova cesta; the entrance for other visitors is from Muzejska ulica 1. For information, call the museum ticket office. In the handling rooms you may touch fossils, minerals, bones, furs, horns and feathers.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The museum offers thematic guided tours for families, workshops for children and on Saturdays, holiday workshops, and handling sessions where the museum's materials can be touched.

Getting there & parking

The visitor entrance is from Muzejska ulica 1.

Amenities & dining

The museum has an online shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit