Specialty Museums (including history museums and art galleries in the renovated annex of the former stables of Ravne Castle)

Ravne na Koroškem is an industrial town in the Meža valley in northern Slovenia, close to the Austrian border, and its cultural life has always been shaped by iron and steel. The ironworks that grew here made the town, and the old manor of Ravne Castle at its centre is a reminder of the owners who once ran the works. The castle's former stables have been renovated and now house a branch of the Carinthian Regional Museum, in Slovene the Koroški Pokrajinski Muzej, which is the main reason for a cultural visit.

The displays tell the story of the town and its surroundings through its dominant industry. The permanent exhibition on the Ravne Ironworks explains the history of iron-making in Carinthia, the technology of the forge and the foundry, and the lives of the workers and families who depended on them. For readers, there is an important literary connection too. Prežihov Voranc, one of the most admired Slovenian prose writers of the twentieth century, came from the nearby area, and the museum includes a memorial devoted to his life and work. His stories and novels, many of them about the poor farmers and labourers of Carinthia, are closely tied to the landscape you see from the town.

The annex also hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural events, and its renovated rooms make a good setting for art as well as history. Together the museum and its programme give a more detailed picture of the Koroška region that many travellers pass through quickly on the way to the Austrian border or the slopes of Peca. Allow an hour or two for the museum, and check opening hours first because it is a regional institution with set times.

Around the museum the town offers more to explore. Sculptures and Open Spaces refers to the public art around the town, Bike Park Poseka draws mountain bikers to the hills, the Fotonatur Phototourism Experiences cater to wildlife photographers, and the Game and Entertainment Centers with Motion Simulators offer lighter fun for families. The surrounding mountains offer walking and cycling.

The museum suits readers of Slovenian literature, people interested in industrial heritage and anyone curious about Carinthia, one of the least visited parts of Slovenia. It is best seen as a half-day stop, combined with a walk through the town and a look at the castle exterior.