Communist era "piggy" banks, Museum of Modern History.

Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia

Ljubljana


This museum, housed in the 18th-century Cekin Mansion (Grad Cekinov), traces the history of Slovenia in the 20th century through multimedia and artefacts. Note the contrast between the sober earnestness of the communist-era rooms and the exuberant, logo-mad commercialism of the industrial exhibits. The sections focusing on Ljubljana under occupation during WWII are very effective. The gloriously baroque Ceremonial Hall (Viteška Dvorana) on the 1st floor is how the whole mansion once looked. Cutting-edge special exhibits too.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ljubljana attractions

1. Union Experience

0.21 MILES

This museum at the Union Brewery offers various displays of brewing, a film and a tasting. Walk here from Center.

2. International Centre of Graphic Arts

0.33 MILES

This museum and gallery dedicated to the graphic arts regularly hosts rotating exhibitions and is home to the International Biennial of Graphic Arts every…

3. Serbian Orthodox Church

0.41 MILES

The interior of the Serbian Orthodox Church, built in 1936 and dedicated to Sts Cyril and Methodius, is covered from floor to ceiling with colourful…

4. National Gallery of Slovenia

0.43 MILES

Slovenia's foremost assembly of fine art is housed over two floors in an old building (1896) and a modern wing. It exhibits copies of medieval frescoes…

5. Museum of Modern Art

0.44 MILES

This gallery houses the very best in modern Slovenian art. Keep an eye out for works by painters Tone Kralj (Family), the expressionist France Mihelič …

6. Railway Museum

0.48 MILES

A trainspotter's dreamland, there's a boiler room here with 10 locomotives (one going back to 1861 and one you can climb all over) and carriages. In the…

7. National Museum of Slovenia

0.52 MILES

Housed in a grand building from 1888 – the same building as the Slovenian Museum of Natural History – highlights include the highly embossed Vače situla –…

8. Slovenian Museum of Natural History

0.53 MILES

This museum shares the same building as the National Museum of Slovenia, and contains reassembled mammoth and whale skeletons, stuffed birds, reptiles and…