Museum of Cultural History in Požarevac | Museums of Serbia

The Museum of Cultural History is located in Požarevac and preserves the memory of the architecture of affluent merchant families' houses in this region.

In the late 19th century, the construction of the first solid material houses began in Požarevac, and the museum building dates back to that period. Stylish furniture, embellished interior, craftsmanship, and artistic objects showcased the wealth, prestige, and power of the family.

The Museum of Cultural History is one of the few preserved buildings of such artistic, architectural, and cultural value in Serbia. It consists of the blue and red salons.

In the blue, or central salon, guests were received, and it represented the largest room in the house. Decorated with wooden floors, ornamental painted walls, and paintings on the walls, this part of the house is adorned.

The ceiling stands out as the most precious part of the interior, as it was painted by an unknown Viennese master. It depicts the four seasons with three-dimensional decorations and still life in the corners of the ceiling.

A fresco from 1860, believed to be painted by Neapolitan masters, adorns the ceiling of the central salon, representing a true artistic gem.

The red salon reflects the spirit of the time in which it was created, and the original furniture from the late 19th and early 20th century recalls bygone eras. Authentic showcases, chairs, corner armchairs, smoking table, small table, wardrobe, stove, and mirror are among the items accessible to the public.

During that time, affluent families would purchase furniture in Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade, often commissioning portraits of their family members as well.

Family heirlooms are preserved in display cases, allowing visitors to see silverware, a part of a glassware set adorned with a gilded coat of arms, and colored glass dishes. Small photographs from family albums are also available to the audience. The glassware set with the gilded coat of arms was a gift from Miloš Obrenović to Stojan Ribarac, eventually finding its way into the museum in Požarevac.

Valuable paintings, books, and other archival materials are preserved in this cultural institution, giving them special value.

The museum's exhibits have been donated by distinguished residents of Požarevac or acquired through purchases. In 1895, a set of furniture was acquired at the furniture fair in Budapest and is now located in the bedroom.

The marital bed, bedside table, mirrored bedside table, and two wardrobes are part of the furniture found in the bedroom.

The founder of the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade, Nikola Nestorović, lived in the house that now houses the Museum of Cultural History in Požarevac. He is also the author of numerous buildings in the capital, with the National Museum being particularly notable.

The Požarevac Museum depicts the life of a bourgeois family that lived in this region in the 19th century.

The museum is currently under reconstruction and closed to the public, but it is expected to reopen in July.