CITY MUSEUM “KONKORDIJA” – Vršac

CITY MUSEUM “KONKORDIJA” – Vršac

The City Museum “Konkordija” in Vršac was first proposed in 1882 by Julius Friš, when the City Council decided to establish a museum following the discovery of a large hoard of 4th-century Roman coins of Emperor Constantine at Veliki Rit near Vršac. The coins were purchased and kept in the Magistrate building until a museum space could be secured. In the same year, Eduard Ritinger, a renowned collector of archaeological and numismatic artifacts, was authorized to conduct excavations at the site.

The period from 1882 to 1894, when the museum acquired a dedicated space in the “Konkordija” building, a curator, and a statute, can be called the “founding phase.” Feliks Mileker (1858–1942) was appointed as the first curator and played a key role in enriching the museum’s collections through field excavations, purchases from collectors, and donations.

The City Museum of Vršac is a local history museum of a complex type, with departments in archaeology, history, numismatics, ethnology, natural sciences, and art, as well as conservation workshops for ceramics and easel painting. It is one of the oldest museums in Serbia and is dedicated to collecting, preserving, presenting, and interpreting the multi-layered, multicultural heritage of the Banat region.

The museum’s impressive collection, with more than 250,000 artifacts, reflects Vršac’s dynamic past, from the first human settlements in the Paleolithic to the present day. Its exhibitions and activities aim to highlight Vršac as a multicultural hub influenced by many nations.

Today, the museum is headquartered in the “Konkordija” building, a culturally significant monument originally built as a hotel in 1847 by architect Franc Brandajs, on the site of the old Štencer Inn. It was modified and expanded in 1884 into a monumental multi-story structure with a street-facing front, side wings, and courtyard wings. The museum also has branch locations: the “Pharmacy on the Steps” and the “Vršac Castle.”

Permanent exhibitions at the City Museum Vršac:

“Banat Collage” – An ethnological display spanning from the 18th century, featuring tools and equipment for viticulture and winemaking, household items, girl’s chests, lighting objects, kitchen utensils, jewelry, pipes, and diverse traditional costumes including scarves, embroidered youth caps, and men’s shirts.

“Chronicle of Vršac” – Covers the 18th century to the early 20th century, highlighting the liberation of Banat from the Ottoman Empire, urban planning, industrialization, culture, daily life, and sports. Key exhibits include the 1804 “Market Charter.”

“From Neolithic to Eternity” – Archaeological display of baked clay artifacts, including the “Vršački Idol” and “Dupljajska Kolica,” the museum’s most significant and valuable pieces.

“Remembering Paja Jovanović” – Showcases paintings and drawings by the renowned Serbian academic realist Paja Jovanović, including works from the museum’s collection and two pieces from the Banat Eparchy, as well as a 1930 oil-on-canvas portrait of King Aleksandar Karađorđević. Notable works include the “Vršac Triptych,” a portrait of merchant and landowner Lazar Dunđerski, and composer Uroš Džimić.

The museum operates across four buildings. The main center is the “Konkordija” building. The “Pharmacy on the Steps” building, a protected cultural monument, hosts permanent exhibitions “History of Healthcare Culture in Southeastern Banat” and “Remembering Paja Jovanović.” The restored Vršac Castle, reopened in 2015 with support from the Municipality of Vršac and the Provincial Government, is another exhibition site. The fourth location is the Robert Hamerštil Museum in the village of Gudurica near Vršac.

Opening hours:

Tuesday – Friday: 10:00–17:00

Saturday: 10:00–15:00

Sunday: 10:00–14:00

Monday: closed

Ticket prices for individual visits:

Adults: 150 RSD

Students & pensioners: 100 RSD

Ticket prices for group visits:

One building: 100 RSD

Two buildings: 200 RSD

Three buildings: 300 RSD

Free admission:

Members of the Serbian Museum Society, ICOM members, people with developmental disabilities or impairments, and children under 12 years old.

Bulevar Žarka Zrenjanina 20, Vršac
+381 (0)13 838 053 +381 (0)13 832 902
[email protected]
www.muzejvrsac.org.rs
facebook.com/MuzejVrsac
instagram.com/gradskimuzejvrsac/

Attractions

All attractions