Exhibition Hall of Kežmarok (Baroness)

The facade is decorated in the style of Louis XVI. On the balcony are the initials MB (Mathias Badányi - lived in 1825 - 1899). In the Badányi family, a frequent guest was the young Baroness Babetta von Wieland from the nearby village of Farkašovce (today Vlková), whom he fell in love with in 1818 - 1824 professor and rector of the Kežmarok lyceum Ján Chalupka (1791 - 1871), later a Slovak writer and playwright. This unhappy love also entered literature. After a long overhaul of the building under the direction of the city, in 1993 city gallery opened on the first floor. Since 1996 The Kežmarok Information Agency (KIA) is in the building.

THE BAROQUE REALLY LIVES

House on the Main Square no. 46 are called "Baroness" by the Kežmaroks. In fact, the baroness really lived there. The old Kežmaroks still remember Hedwig Mária Szirmay (January 17, 1895 Nyiregyháza - February 8, 1973 Kežmarok), a dressed older lady, perhaps a little more painted and powdered, with a cap with a large brooch. She walked with dignity on the streets of the city, had extensive knowledge mainly in the field of fine arts and history, spoke languages (German, Hungarian, French, Slovak, possibly others) and did not allow a visit other than Tuesday at 11 o'clock (reception day). Her apartment was a picture of the life of a noble society - the rooms were filled with beautiful furniture, paintings and a rich library.

The Badányi family was united with the leading aristocratic Spiš families Görgey, Mariássy, Doleviczény, etc. It branched into Slovenská Ves, Podhorian and Holumnice. The Badányi family has lived in Kežmarok since 1669 - the house in the town was donated by the castle lord Štefan Thököly II. Later, this family also owned house no. 48 - both houses were and again are interconnected. In the 19th century, the Spiš intelligentsia met in this house - here the rector of the lyceum, Ján Chalupka, later the founder of Slovak drama, met Baroness Babetta von Wieland, with his lifelong but unrealized love. The initials MB - Mathias Badányi (old father of the baroness) have been preserved on the balcony to this day.

We don't know much about the Baroness's life - she was known to have traveled a lot in Europe (since she didn't have a lot of money, apparently someone paid for her travels), she had a circle of her people - also from the so-called higher society, but also the old Spišiaks, who spoke foreign languages. She also befriended Baroness Czóbelová of Strážky and the descendants of the Bornemisza family. Many thought that the Baroness of Kežmarok led the life of a single woman because they had never seen her with any man. This is where the secret of her life begins. She married (?) Baron Stipsith of Prešov. According to one version, she canceled the marriage with him allegedly because he did not have a car, which is unlikely. According to the second version, she left him an hour after the wedding act, allegedly because her lifelong love was Ernest Bethlenfalvy, a landowner from Huncoviec, a naturalist and a lover of the High Tatras. It is not known what is true, but the fact is that the baroness was laid for eternal rest in the family tomb of Goldberger - Bethlenfalvy, and in her estate a photo of this gentleman was printed with printed letters.

The Baroness experienced the most difficult period after World War II. World War II - she was of aristocratic family, not Slovak, had to go to the so-called forced and menial work, which she hated easily because she never worked - but strangely, her house and property were never nationalized. There were attempts to turn her house into a furniture museum, but the Kežmarok National Committee did not agree with this proposal of the director of the local museum. When the baroness was short of money, she sold some of her possessions - but not her family.

The baroness was found dead at least a week after her death. She died of untreated pneumonia. Sadly, after her death, they "got their feet" several valuables, e.g. large decorative hanging silver plates, jewelry (not a single piece was found), parts of smaller furniture, correspondence (it was known that the baroness wrote with many - basically everything disappeared), even a very valuable numismatic collection, which was pointed out by museum staff former inhabitants of Kežmarok, living in Germany (eg Peter Wagner). It is not known who got rich with these things. All that is known is that the employees of the district and city office, who even made inventories of objects, got into the apartment first. The museum staff, who had something to say about the evaluation of the objects, were called after everything ... But they still got something. Since the baroness had no heirs, the museum acquired several furniture and home accessories with part of the library. Things are exhibited in the Exhibition of burgher housing culture in the house on the Main Square No. 55.

Art salon of the Poprad artists' club

The club of Poprad artists in this new composition and concept was established in April 2008. It brings together people who are interested in developing their artistic skills and ideas. They create 1-2 times a week in a joint studio led by the artist František Žoldák. The club focuses on various art genres, techniques and styles. This is the fourth joint exhibition in a row and the artists present decorative, stylized and abstract works from the last two years.