Valjevo's National Museum

Municipality of Valjevo initiated the Museum in 1951.

Muselim’s house, oldest building in the town was the location of first museum setting. Its basement holds the memory of imprisoned dukes Aleksa Nenadovic and Ilija Bircanin, prior to decapitation on the bank of Kolubara river.

Structure of museum setting at that time glorified the fight against Germans in WW II and socialism. In time, Museum of Valjevo overgrew the space of this object, eventually accommodating it self in the building of old Gimnasium, built in 1870.

New space marked a period of development and modernisation, followed by new museum settings at other locations.

This early period of Museum’s activities is reccognisible by its educational and culture oriented role, fundating all of todays collections. Field research, trade, purchase and guifts were closely followed by documentation and treasuring of various collections.

At the same time, scientific approach contributed to publishing activities.

This fast development positioned Museum of Valjevo among the most promising institutions of this kind in old Yugoslavia, but unfortunate events in the last decade of 20th century brought it to a very difficult situation. Neglected by superior authorities, Museum suffered additional damage in 1998 earthquake, Valjevo was exposed to.

From 2001, Museum of Valjevo is under the flow of new energy, facing reconstruction of old and providing new facilities for museum deposits, doccu centre, conservatory workshop and offices.

New exhibition named Decapitation of dukes was opened for public in 2004, while Third dimension of the past –a view from the future exhibition crowned the process of renewal.

Reccognising such need, Museum of Valjevo devotes its self to another activity – tourism offer.

At the moment, Museum of Valjevo is the most visited museum facility in Serbia.