Central Slovak Gallery - Bethlen House

Bethlen's house was originally a tower town building from the end of the 14th century, to which another storey house was later added. The biggest changes took place around 1610, when they vaulted the mázhaus and the first floor with cross-comb vaults. The entrance portal to the house bears the Latin inscription preserved to this day: BENEDICTIO DOMINI DIVITES FACIT 1610 (The blessing of the Lord brings wealth). In the second half of the 18th century, major Baroque reconstructions were carried out here, and the house was expanded with new premises. The building bears the name of Prince Gabriel Bethlen of Transylvania, who in the first half of the 17th century rose up against the Austro-Hungarian emperor and occupied the territory of Slovakia. It is said that it was in this house that he had himself crowned as the Hungarian king, for whom he was elected at the Diet in 1620, when he was staying in Banská Bystrica. However, the anti-Habsburg rebellion he led was suppressed, and Bethlen had to give up the royal crown. In the course of time, several leading citizens lived in the house, for example the doctor Ján Reull, Ján Roth or Ján Radvanský.

Today, the building houses an administrative office, exhibition spaces, and a depository of works from the collection of the Central Slovak Gallery. Short-term exhibitions are held here not only from the gallery collection, but also works on loan from other renowned art collections and studios. We specialise in autumn educational exhibitions for the general public. Currently, the entrance foyer and the exhibition space on the ground floor are also used for various cultural events and presentations, or for drawing courses. The exhibition spaces on the first floor covered by historical vaults have preserved a specific period genius loci. The underground is adapted to art workshops for groups of visitors