Museums in Belgrade

National Museum

address: Trg Republike 1a;
phone: +381 (0)11 62 43 22
It is the oldest museum institutions in Serbia - it was founded in 1844. Its funds consist of 290,000 catalogued items. It contains a number of prehistoric and classical archaeological collections, collections related to mediaeval culture and art, collections of the VIII and XX-century painters, a splendid collection of foreign artistic works, rich numismatic section (domestic and foreign), as well as graphic section. This museum is also famous for its technical library and activities of its highly developed conservation and restoration center, which is among the largest of its kind in the world. The greatest treasure kept in the National Museum is the Miroslavljevo Jevanđelje (Miroslav's Gospel) - the oldest and most precious Cyrillic manuscript, made about 1190.

Museum of Applied Arts

address: Vuka Karadžića Street 18;
phone: +381 (0)11 26 26 494
The Museum of Applied Art was founded in 1950. It belongs to the category of specialized museums. The main activity of The Museum of Applied Art is systematic collecting, protecting, studying, exhibiting and publishing works of applied art. Apart from the works of art referring to applied arts of Serbian people, related material from other European countries and the world, which came to our country through cultural and economic relations, is also collected in the Museum. During the very first year of its existence, the Museum purchased an exceptionally valuable collection of various artistically treated objects, collected over thirty years by artist Ljuba Ivanovic. The collection comprises of more than 3,000 artifacts, among which jewellery, old manuscripts and printed books, objects carved in wood, horn and mother-of-pearl, woodcut and painted icons, etc., stand out for their historic and artistic value. The oldest artifacts in The Museum of Applied Art date from IV century BC, and belong to the coin collection (coins from ancient Greece) in the Metalwork Department, while the collections in the Department for contemporary applied arts contain objects of the most recent artistic production. Thus, the Museum's collections reflect the development of objects of applied art in a 2,400 years' span. Nowadays, the Museum disposes of more than 32,000 expertly treated objects of applied art, among them works of art of outstanding artistic and cultural value.

Residence of Princess Ljubica - Konak Kneginje Ljubice

address: Kneza Sime Markovića Street 8;
phone: +381 (0)11 26 38 264
The Residence of Princess Ljubica was erected by order of Miloš Obrenović in 1831. The edifice used to be a private residence of Princess Ljubica, Prince Miloš's wife. Contractor Hadži Nikola Živković did the construction. By its architectural composition and arrangement, the palace belongs to the Balkan style, with some western Baroque elements.  Since then up to 1980, the purpose of the edifice has been changed. At present, the Palace displays interiors of the Belgrade rural homes of the 19th century, from the Oriental (Turkish), through the influences of the Mid- (Biedermeier) and the Western Europe (neo-baroque, neo-rococo, Napoleon III and alt-Deutsche style). The Palace basement, "Vault Hall", is a remarkable ambient area, where The Belgrade City Museum organizes exhibitions, lectures, music evenings, promotions, and other happenings.

Residence of Prince Miloš - Konak Kneza Miloša

address: Rakovički put 2 - Topčider;
phone: +381 (0)11 66 04 22
After having built the residence for his wife and children in the town of Belgrade, Knez Miloš Obrenović raised this lodging for himself in Topčider, in 1831-1834. The building was constructed by the builders Janja Mihailović and Nikola Đorđević, and works were conducted by Hadži-Nikola Živković, the supervisor and builder of almost all construction enterprises of Knez Miloš. The rich interior decoration of ceilings, walls and niches, is partially preserved until today. For some time there were the Museums of Knez Miloš and Mihailo Obrenović, and later the Museum of Forestry and Hunting, established in 1929.
At the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the First Serbian Insurrection (1954), the Museum of the First Serbian Insurrection was opened in the Konak, and it was thematically dedicated to the whole period of Serbian liberation wars against the Turks (from 1804 until the second hatišerif (charter) of 1839). The Museum's exhibits represented the starting point for making of the Historical Museum of Serbia in 1963. In front of this building grows one of the oldest and most beautiful plane-trees in Europe, protected by law as a natural rarity (it is more than 160 years old).

Nikola Tesla Museum

address: Krunska Street 51;
phone: +381 (0)11 24 33 886
Nikola Tesla Museum is located in the central area of Belgrade, in a residential villa built in 1927 according to the project of Dragiša Brašovan, a distinguished Serbian architect. The material for the Museum arrived in Belgrade according to the decision of the American court, which declared Mr. Sava Kosanovic, Tesla's nephew, for the only rightful heir. In 1949, in accordance with Tesla's last wish, Mr. Kosanovic transferred all the documents and Tesla's personal things in Belgrade in 1949. Nikola Tesla Museum is a unique institution of science and culture in Serbia and in the world. It is the only museum in the world which preserves the original and personal inheritance of Nikola Tesla. It possesses several exceptionally valuable collections: : above 160 000 original documents, above 2000 books and journals, above 1200 historical technical exhibits, above 1500 photographs and photo plates of original, technical objects, instruments and apparatus, above 1000 plans and drawings.

Military Museum

address: Kalemegdanska tvrđava (Belgrade Fortress);
phone: +381 (0)11 33 43 442
The Military Museum was established in 1878. Its stock includes 26,047 items and the following collections: pre-history, classic period and western weaponry; oriental weaponry; national banners until 1918; factory-made weaponry; XVII to XX century paintings; flags from 1918 to 1945; medals and other decorations from 1918 to date; photographs from the XIX century to date; archives and uniforms. Among the items kept in this museum, many are very interesting. They include everything from two Turkish lances and a suit of armor of a Turkish vizier dating back to the Battle of Kosovo, to old weapons, uniforms and war flags (including the uniform King Aleksandar Karađorđević was wearing when assassinated in Marseilles in 1934), to the collection of medals of national hero awarded to all fallen Partisans.

Museum of African Art

address: Andre Nikolića Street 14;
phone: +381 (0)11 26 51 654
Situated in one of the most beautiful residential areas of Belgrade, the Museum of African Art is the only museum in the country dedicated entirely to the culture and arts of the African continent. After many years of accumulating pieces of art throughout West Africa, Veda and dr Zdravko Pecar formed an extraordinary collection, which they donated to the City of Belgrade. Under patronage of the local authorities, the Museum of African Art was established in 1977. The museum building was specially constructed to host the Pecar collection, and is designed so as to blend into the surrounding environment. The museum exhibits are sorted into subcoIlections by material and geographic criteria. They belong to artistic traditions of the Bamana, Dogon, Kissi, Baga, Marka, Malinka, Bobo, Dan, Gere, Gouro, Senufo, Ashanti, Ewe, Baule, Fon, Yoruba, Bamileke. Aside from numerous masks and wooden sculptures, considered as classic examples of west African art, the permanent display comprises other objects for cult and everyday use, magical or decorative purpose in wood, bronze, ceramics, soapstone, textile etc.