Splavarski muzej Javnik

About the museum

In the tourist village of Javnik, on the road Dravograd–Maribor, the tradition of raft transport on the Drava has been revived in a former raftsmen's harbour known as “lenštat”. The Splavarski muzej is housed in the farmstead of a raftsman called the king of the Drava raftsmen, Franc Šarman. Eleven raftsmen from the Šarman family earned their living on the Drava and the Danube.

The Municipality of Podvelka and the Koroški pokrajinski muzej set up the museum in May 2001; the owner of the museum, a grandson of Franc Šarman, and experts also took part. The exhibition presents the history of raft transport on the Drava, from the former provincial border between Koroška (Carinthia) and Štajerska (Styria) at Dravograd to the destinations of the raftsmen in Belgrade, Hungary and Romania.

Raftsmen's work was hard and dangerous but well paid; many raftsmen used their earnings to buy a house and land. Today the young Šarman raftsmen keep the tradition alive, offering raft trips at the museum and a traditional raftsmen's inn.

Highlights

• Farmstead of Franc Šarman, king of the Drava raftsmen
• History of raft transport on the Drava to Belgrade, Hungary and Romania
• Raft trips and the Šarman inn in the same village

Permanent exhibition

• Splavarski muzej – Exhibition on the history of raft transport on the Drava, in the Šarman family farmstead.

Founded

2001

Operated by

Koroški pokrajinski muzej in Občina Podvelka

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

Javnik lies on the main road Maribor–Dravograd, 25 km from Maribor.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant

The traditional raftsmen's inn Šarman is in the same village (closed on Mondays).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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