Are you familiar with the folk customs and their meaning, with the traditional Slovenian Shrovetide carnival masks – the “korant” or “kurent,” “pustni orači” (plowmen), “ruse” (horse masks); “medvedi” (bears), and “piceki” (chicks)? Masks are more than just objects, they are used by people to hide their own identities and take on new ones, which enable them to act out of the ordinary, to pull pranks and tricks, and have fun. Throughout history, masks have played an important role that they have managed to preserve until today, and are still perceived as highly interesting items of great cultural and historical value. The new Ptuj-Ormož Regional Museum collection of Shrovetide masks and similar objects at the former castle horse stables focuses on the history of masks in the area of Ptujsko and Dravsko Polje, and the hilly regions of Slovenske Gorice and Haloze, and draws attention mainly because of the number and diversity of the traditional Shrovetide masks displayed. Numerous circumstances have contributed to the area of Ptujsko Polje, especially Markovci and other neighboring villages, obtaining the status of the region with the greatest diversity of masks present: those based on animals, humans, plants, or fantasy.
Opening Hours:
October 15 – May 1 9.00 - 17.00
May 1 - October 15 9.00 - 18.00
Saturdays and Sundays in July and August 9.00 - 20.00
(Closed January 1, November 1, December 25)