The Museum of Apiculture occupies a baroque mansion on Linhartov trg and holds the largest collection of painted beehive panels in Slovenia. Beekeeping has been a central part of Slovenian rural life for centuries, and the museum traces the history and craft of it in thorough, well-presented detail — from traditional wooden hives to modern equipment, with extensive explanation in English.
The painted panels are the highlight. These small wooden boards, placed at the entrance of each hive compartment, were decorated by folk artists with religious motifs, hunting scenes, weddings, and sometimes sharply funny social commentary. The quality varies from rough-and-ready to surprisingly accomplished. The museum also has a section on the Carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica), a subspecies prized by beekeepers worldwide for its gentleness and productivity, which was selectively bred in this region.