Zemplín Museum, Michalovce
Zemplín Museum in Michalovce was founded in 1957 as Zemplín Homeland Museum, and it has been operatrating under the current name since 1965. Since its inception the museum has been focusing on research and documentation of nature, ancient and medieval history, history and culture and arts of Zemplín region. It specializes in the field of vertebrate zoology, ancient history, ecclesiastical history, agrarian ethnography, fine arts and arts and crafts from 19th until 21st century. The seat of the museum is a Baroque - Classicist mansion of Sztaray aristocratic family. Today's shape of the mansion is the result of several building construction phases conducted from 17th century by gradual rebuilding of the earlier medieval castle. Mansion together with adjacent complex of buildings is a natural cultural monument.
Expositions:
The main mansion: archaeological, ethnographic, historical, exhibition premises
Horse barn: natural sciences
Old Mansion / Gallery: artistic-historical
Historical exposition ‘Housing Culture of Nobility and the Burghers’ is mainly represented by exhibits documenting the atmosphere of noble or more sumptuous burgher interiors from the end of 18th until beginning of 20th century (period writing, historical furniture, weapons, portraits, minor interior accessories, etc.).
Archaeological exposition ‘Prehistory and Early Medieval History of Zemplín’ is represented by heritage from the prehistoric and early-medieval development of Zemplín. The most significant exhibits include a rich collection of Neolithic pottery and anthropomorphic and zoomorphic Neolithic plastic art. From the Eneolit Period, the most precious items, besides copper hatchets, include golden disk-shaped pendants from burial ground of Tisza-Polgar Group (the earliest evidence of gold processing in Slovakia). Particularly valuable and unique exhibit is represented by amphora from Bronze Age with the oldest depiction of a two-wheel chariot pulled by horses in Central Europe (Sucius de Sus culture, 14th century BC).
Ethnographic exposition ‘Extinct Crafts and Crafts Becoming Extinct’ documents folk crafts and working activities of country people that are already extinct or gradually cease to exist. The exposition consists of separate sections - smithery, viticulture, fishery, pottery, timber processing, and textile production. The valuable exhibits include exhibits documenting the evolution of weaving techniques in Zemplín. Especially remarkable is a collection of ceramic craftwork from Pozdišovce potery, particularly craftwork by a renowned master potter Michael Parikrupa. A unique collection of shepherd’s horn and skin products by Tibor Galgóczy is also part of Ethnographic collection.
Natural Sciences exposition ‘Birds and Mammals of Zemplín’ represents individual groups of birds and mammals of Zemplin. Representatives of particular groups are arranged in the exposition according to respective biotopes they inhabit - forest, human settlements, cultivated agricultural land, quarries, rivers and streams, ponds and water reservoirs etc. The most remarkable specimens are: Horned Grebe or Slavonian Grebe, Great White Pelican or Eastern White Pelican, Glossy Ibis, Black-winged Stilt, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Lapland Longspur, Gray Wolf, European Otter, plovers, Common Crane and Eastern Red Deer.
Artistic-historical exposition ‘Fine Arts Culture in Zemplín’ is installed in the premises of a late-gothic mansion in the so-called Old Mansion. It documents and presents fine arts’ works of art and handicraft from the Romanesque period up to the present.
The most significant of the collections are a Gothic pieta from Strážske, Renaissance and Baroque sculptures of saints, a collection of icons, liturgical objects and most complete collection of oil paintings by T. J. Mousson in Slovakia.
