Museums and Galleries

The rich and unique historic, ethnologic, cultural and artistic heritage of the Škofja Loka area ensures that a visit to the area's museums and galleries is an interesting experience.

Škofja Loka Firefighters' Museum

The Škofja Loka Firefighters' Museum was established in 1995 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Škofja Loka Firefighters' Association. The museum is located in the Škofja Loka Firefighters' Association building. In the museum you can see an exhibition of historic firefighting equipment, pictures, founding charters, firefighter association records and numerous other exhibits.

Kidričeva cesta 51, 4220, Škofja Loka+386 (0)4 513 17 13info@gzveza-skofjaloka.siwww.gzveza-skofjaloka.si/muzej.htm

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Železniki Museum

The museum collections are housed in a foundry house, Plavčeva hiša, which dates from the first half of the 17th century. The following collections are exhibited:

- The iron industry (mining, iron works, blacksmiths' trade)
- The timber industry (cooper's trade, charcoal burning, sawing)
- Other collections (slate roof coverings, societies, lace-making, Professor Dr. Franc Koblar Memorial Room, the National Liberation Front in the Selca Valley).

A smelting furnace, which represents an important Slovenian technical momument, stands in the square in front of the museum.

Na plavžu 58, 4228, Železniki+386 (0)4 514 73 56muzej.zelezniki@siol.nethttp://www.jzr.si

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Kržišnik Garden and Gallery

This splendid botanic garden, located between the house of the artist Tomaž Kržišnik, the Sora river and the Žirk hill, was created by the landscape architect Juta Krulc.

Guided tours are available upon prior arrangement.

Starožirovska cesta 2, 4226, Žiri+386 (0)4 51 92 525vrt.krzisnik@gmail.com

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Žiri Museum

The Žiri Museum is located in the renovated old school in a rural manor from the 17th century. The following collections are on view:

- Welcome Lovers of Fortifications! (2007) - an exhibition about the Rapallo Border
- Žiri's Painters (2009) - a selection of works of the most prominent local artists
- Žiri Shoemaking Through Time (2010-2012) – a two-part exhibition; one part dedicated to the period up to World War II, the other to Alpina
- Žiri and its Residents Through Time (2012) – a basic exhibition of 16 'stations' along the path of Žiri's history. After viewing the Žiri Museum Society's exhibition you can set off, alone or with a guide (upon prior arrangement), to discover the town's other sights of interest. The main themes are the legacy of the Rapallo Border and the Rupnik Line, lace-making and other movable and immovable heritage (memorials, churches, lace gallery).

Tabor 2, 4226, Žiri+386 (0)40 841 490ivanka.zakelj1@gmail.comhttp://www.muzej-ziri.si

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Ivan Grohar Gallery

The Ivan Grohar Gallery is one of the main art exhibitions in the Gorenjska region. The gallery's basic activity is the presentation of quality modern visual art and popularising the local, very active, artistic production.

Mestni trg 37, 4220, Škofja Loka+386 (0)4 517 04 00info@loski-muzej.sihttp://www.loski-muzej.si

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Davča Ethnographic Museum

Housed in the Jemc homestead in the largest village in Slovenia, the Davča Ethnographic Museum exhibits objects from the past life of farmers. Great attention is dedicated to the production of linen which, in the past, represented an important activity and source of income in the village.

Davča 22, 4228, Železniki+386 (0)41 350 240mjelenc1@gmail.comwww.davca.si

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Loka Museum Škofja Loka

The Loka Museum, housed in the mighty Loka Castle, is among the most visited of Slovenia's museums. The museum preserves the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Škofja Loka area. It exhibits the following collections; archeological, historical, cultural-historical, artistic, ethnologic and natural science, as well as the Škopar House Outdoor Museum (Škoparjeva hisa).

Grajska pot 13, 4220, Škofja Loka+386 (0)4 517 04 00info@loski-muzej.siwww.loski-muzej.si

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Visoko Manor Permanent Collection

The Visoko Manor exhibition shows how the manor has changed through the centuries, not only spacially but also in its purpose, which has been dictated by its residents of the time. The Kalan family was directly connected with the Visoko homestead, which they managed for two centuries. The fate of the Kalans ended with the last of the generation, Ana Kalan, whose son sold the Visoko estate to Dr. Ivan Tavčar. In addition to being a writer, Ivan Tavčar was also a politican and businessman, and not least Lord of Visoko. Tavčar, together with his wife Franja, spent his final years in Visoko.

The kitchen, which is the heart of every home, plays an important role in the story about Visoko. The ambient 19th century kitchen has a still-functional fireplace, which is one of the rarest of its kind of the few still preserved in Slovenia.

Visoko pri Poljanah, 4220, Škofja Loka+386 (0)31 720573zavod@poljanskadolina.comwww.poljanskadolina.com

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Franc Mihelič Gallery

The Franc Mihelič gallery is located in the buidling of the former granary in Lower Square (Spodnji trg). It houses a permanent collection of graphics, drawings and paintings of Franc Mihelič, the most distinctive and original Slovene master of fiction. Viewing is available upon prior arrangement.

Spodnji trg 1, 4220, Škofja Loka+386 (0)4 517 04 00info@loski-muzej.sihttp://www.loski-muzej.si

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