Are you ready for an immersive journey into the history and culture of the Liptov region? With the Liptov Region Card, you can unlock benefits and receive a 30% discount on admission to Liptov Museum.

Join us as we delve into the new interactive John Corvinus exhibition and find treasure once hidden beneath Likava Castle. And if you read carefully, you’ll discover what the museum has to offer and the exciting experiences that await. If you’re in Ružomberok with family and seeking shelter from the weather, Liptov Museum is the perfect destination for quality time with your children. The Liptov Region Card lets you and all your family explore the region’s historical secrets all year round.

Where to find Liptov Museum

Navigating Ružomberok is a breeze thanks to its straightforward layout – just “two” streets and “two” squares. Located in the heart of the town on Š. N. Hýroša Square, Liptov Museum is very easy to find.

The museum was established in 1912 by a group of dedicated individuals headed by Artúr and Július Kűrthi. It has been housed in its current grand building – the architecture alone is a marvel worth seeing – since 1937. If you need help finding it, the friendly locals will gladly point you in the right direction. But today I’m playing the role of tourist, Liptov Region Card in hand.

The museum’s exhibits span several floors, each offering a unique glimpse into Liptov’s history – from natural history and archaeological finds to a detailed chronicle of the region from ancient times to today. Highlights include the history of papermaking in Slovakia and the legacy of Andrej Hlinka.

Save 30% on your museum visit!

To start your museum adventure, scan the QR code at the ticket counter, select your discount, and get a 30% reduction on your admission fee!

You can begin on the ground floor, where the main exhibition hall currently hosts Art Nouveau in Liptov, an exhibition running from February to July 2024.

However, we’re heading straight to the first floor, where the museum offers more than just permanent exhibits. Here, you’ll find a gallery featuring works by local photographers from Fotoklub RK 1924, an association celebrating its centenary this year. Throughout 2024, you can look forward to numerous exhibitions by members of one of the oldest and most esteemed photography clubs in Slovakia and, indeed, Europe.

This floor also houses several other exhibitions: the Natural History, Medieval and Early Modern History of Liptov, Guilds and Crafts, and Liptov in Prehistory and Early History. Let’s take a deeper dive into that last one with archaeologist Simona Sliacka.

Liptov in Prehistory and Early History    

“This archaeology exhibition traces the earliest human settlements in Liptov back to the Upper Paleolithic period,” says archaeologist Simona Sliacka, as she begins her quick lecture.

“In Lower Liptov, the earliest settlement was discovered during excavations at Saint Sophia Mansion in Ružomberok. Liptov Museum now displays small microlithic blades from this find. These people had moved on from large hand axes, making delicate, finely crafted tools using flaking techniques, with materials often imported, indicating vibrant trade networks,” she explains.

 “The exhibition keeps to a chronological path, starting with the Upper Paleolithic, moving through the Neolithic period (the first farmers in Bešeňová), and into the Eneolithic (Late Stone Age and Early Bronze Age),” Simona continues. “To display one of the significant sites, we have digitally reconstructed findings from Lisková Cave. Burial sites are rare in Liptov and northern Slovakia in general. Interestingly, the number of burial sites is not consistent with the population that was here at the time. These are secondary burials in Lisková Cave – bodies were moved from their original graves and ritually reburied here,” Simona’s reveals.

“With the arrival of the first metal, we enter the Bronze Age. The oldest Bronze Age is not covered in Liptov, likely due to the region’s harsh climate at the time. Liptov was either sparsely populated or was a kind of ‘transit zone’. From the Early and Late Bronze Age (people of the Urnfield culture, who buried their dead by cremating them and placing their ashes in urns), the museum has a stunning collection of Liptov-type swords with solid cast handles,” adds the museum’s archaeologist, sharing another interesting detail.

To keep the museum’s other secrets under wraps, it’s best if you explore the exhibits yourself and discover intriguing details such as the three burial mounds near Ivachnová, unearthed during the construction of a new motorway; the treasure from Liptovská Ondrašová; the collection of bronze diadems found in Liptovský Sliač; the fortifications at Demänová Hora; the introduction of trousers by the Celts; and many other interesting finds.

Following Simona’s fascinating lecture, we’re headed to Liptov Museum’s latest highlights.

Interactive portrait of Prince John Corvinus of Liptov

“Liptov held special significance during the reign of King Matthias Corvinus, who bestowed it upon his illegitimate son, John Corvinus, and in doing so made him the richest nobleman in the kingdom. In 1479, Liptov was elevated to a principality, which also included the Orava region. John Corvinus owned numerous castles and estates in and around Liptov, including Likava, Orava, and Sklabiňa,” reads the information on the panel next to an interactive portrait of John Corvinus. This digitalised portrait not only tells his life story, but also serves as an audiovisual guide to the whole exhibition, narrated by Slovak actor Ivo Gogál.

The interactive portrait, added in 2023, is now a centrepiece of the museum’s medieval and early modern history exhibition. Become a part of the story of John Corvinus, who left an indelible mark on local history. Liptov Museum’s interactive portrait allows you to immerse yourself in his time and experience the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. And the best part is that with the Liptov Region Card, you get 30% off! 😊

Another innovative feature of this exhibition is technology that projects information onto the transparent glass of the display cases, allowing you to learn about the exhibit items – in this example an arquebus – while comparing the virtual presentation with the real artefact.

As our time at the museum is drawing to a close, let’s make our way to the third floor. On our way up, we pass several exhibitions: Papermaking; the Life and Works of Andrej Hlinka; the Ethnographic Exhibition; and the History of Ružomberok. As we are already familiar with these displays, we head directly to our next highlight: the treasure from beneath Likava Castle.

The treasure from beneath Likava Castle

In 2022, the museum unveiled a new exhibition: Treasures from Beneath Likava. Archaeologist Simona Sliacka again provided the backstory to this treasure: “Treasures from Beneath Likava is an exhibition that essentially documents the deposition of special coin caches. The fact that we discovered these coins means that no one ever came back to retrieve them. We have two distinct hoards: one was left by ‘some Celt’, and the other by ‘some warrior’ from the period following the Battle of Mohács in 1526. At that time, the Liptov region was a hostile transit zone, as two contenders for the Hungarian throne were fighting in the area. One of them – or rather one of his men (we can surmise it was likely a supporter of John Zápolya, given the higher number of his coins compared to only three coins of Ferdinand Habsburg) – fled with a considerable sum of money and, to protect it from being taken, simply buried it.”

This treasure was discovered in 2019 by a couple exploring the forest near Likava Castle. It is now one of Liptov Museum’s main attractions. If you use your Liptov Region Card to visit this Slovak historical gem, you’ll be rewarded with a valuable experience that transports you to a bygone era.

As our museum visit concludes, I must admit, I arrived with a touch of scepticism. As a Ružomberok resident, I had long associated the museum with its traditional animal exhibits, which I must have seen countless times. However, the new interactive smart features, the treasure from Likava, and the insightful commentary from archaeologist Simona Sliacka significantly enhanced my experience and have made the museum much more appealing. Our blog offers only a glimpse of what awaits you at Liptov Museum. Embark on a historical adventure and take full advantage of the benefits offered by the Liptov Region Card. Ružomberok and Liptov Museum’s exhibitions are ready to reveal their treasures that are truly a #MustSee. Don’t forget to tag us with @visitliptov in your social media posts about your museum visit.

A few Liptov Region Card tips:

• Use your Liptov Region Card to enjoy a 30% discount on admission to Liptov Museum. This means you get to explore fascinating exhibits at a reduced price. The discount applies not only to the exhibitions of the museum in Ružomberok, but also to its other locations across the Liptov region.
• Discover more regional attractions with fantastic discounts on our Liptov Region Card subsite.
• You can be sure to keep your Liptov Region Card on you at all times by downloading the  Liptov – Low Tatras app, entering your card number, and enjoying discounts wherever you go!

Make the most of all #MustSee places with your Liptov Region Card – and don’t forget to tag us @visitliptov when you visit.

author: Ing. Jaroslav Moravčík