The Podjavorinské Museum

The Podjavorinské Museum in Nové Mesto nad Váhom (New Town-on-Váh) has its seat in a former Renaissance building, rebuilt in Baroque style in the 17th century, also called the Giláni´s House or the "Gilánovec" (named after one of the owners). The Museum was established in 1950. Since 1970s it has been a specialized branch of the Museum of Trenčín with the historical and homeland-scientific research, but first of all it is specialized in the research of the history of literature. In the rooms of the Museum, there is an exposition dedicated to the history of Nové Mesto, its surroundings, culture and traditions. It is divided into several parts: archeology, history, ethnography and the history of craft guilds in Nové Mesto and surroundings. Visitors can learn about the rich religious history of this region.

An example of the rich folk culture of Nové Mesto region can be seen in the Peasant Room. The decor and ceramics morphology are inspired by Hutterite traditions and they represent a unique regional phenomenon. Until the 1st half of the 20th century a folk house interior was decorated with popular glass-paintings with sacral themes.

One of the most precious Gothic examples of wooden sculpture, the so-called Beautiful Madonnas, is "Koryčanská" (Beckovská) Madonna. In the 14th century she was placed inside the Beckov castle´s chapel, until Ctibor II. of Ctiborice had replaced her into a renovated church in Nové Mesto nad Váhom. During the raids of Hussites she was, however, returned back to Beckov. In the times of Reformation, Madonna was transferred to Koryčany where she has remained till now. Her authentical copy can be seen in the Museum of Nové Mesto.