The Slovak National Museum – The Museum of Puppetry and Toys at the Modrý Kameň Castle is located in the south of central Slovakia in the district of Veľký Krtíš. The museum is housed in a Baroque manor house dating back to the 18th century, which also comprises the ruin of the original Gothic-Renaissance castle that was destroyed during anti-Turkish fights and anti-Habsburg uprisings. It is a unique national heritage sight perched on top of a hill. The museum has been using its current title – The Museum of Puppetry and Toys since 1994. In 2002, thanks to the ministerial decree, the museum became part of the Slovak National Museum and one of its specialized members. It focuses mainly on mapping of history and the current development of the puppet theatre, as well as the history and development of toys while documenting the history of the region where it is located. The Museum of Puppetry and Toys has an important role to play- to preserve artefacts of rare dramatic art, which puppetry undoubtedly is, for posterity. The museum boasts about 3,000 puppets, props and hardback editions of historic plays of travelling puppeteers. Without doubt, one of the most precious specimens of the museum collection is the caravan of the House of Dubský from Piešťany in the courtyard of the castle, the only one of its kind in Europe. Inside the caravan, the original interior with a collection of unique historic marionettes has been preserved. As for the collection of toys, there are 4,000 pieces, the most notable being the products of well-documented the 20th century Slovak manufacturing facilities from both in-between and post war periods, including Kyjatice toys – a collection of prototypes of wooden toys from the then Guild of Wooden Toys Manufactures in Slovakia. A treasure trove of the exposition is a collection of original historic toys of urban children population – porcelain, celluloid, composite and wooden dolls, historic traffic toys, sets of blocks, etc. The museum constantly focuses on the current Slovak manufacturers of toys, studies them and searches for new pieces in order to extend the existing museum collections. Our museum prepares and realizes a large number of events: Holiday puppet workshop, Valentine's castle, Easter creation, Medieval Children's Day, Night of museums and galleries, Summer night walks (theater performances), Forest pedagogy – Hunting days, Modrokamenská musical celebration, Chestnut festivities workshops, Ghosts and lights, Christmas at the castle – traditions, carols, concerts, production of Christmas decorations, art exhibitions, openings, School in the museum – specialized thematic programs for school groups. All year round, on the basis of an order, we organize puppet and toy creative workshops for groups. Also, the museum aims to educate and inform the general public.
