Damascus, July 2 (SANA) Syria’s first private folk heritage museum officially opened on Wednesday in the city of Jayroud in the Damascus countryside, offering visitors a glimpse into the social life, customs and traditions of more than a century ago.
The opening ceremony was attended by Syrian Minister of Culture Mohammad Yassin Saleh, Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh, Qatari Minister of Culture Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as ambassadors, government officials and cultural figures. The event included a tour of the museum’s galleries, presentations on the history of Jayroud and the importance of preserving folk heritage, and meetings with the project’s founders.
Government support for cultural heritage
Minister of Culture Mohammad Yassin Saleh told SANA that the ministry had provided all necessary support to facilitate the project as part of its efforts to encourage cultural initiatives.
He said the museum reflects the authentic heritage of the Qalamoun region and offers a comprehensive picture of the social life, customs and traditions that prevailed more than a century ago. He added that the collection’s greatest value lies in its ability to preserve and pass on Syria’s social history to future generations.
Heritage collection documents life in Qalamoun
The museum houses hundreds of artifacts documenting the social and economic life of the Qalamoun region, including agricultural tools, household items, traditional clothing, furniture and everyday objects used by local communities.
It also features reconstructed traditional reception rooms, bridal chambers and children’s rooms, along with exhibits dedicated to historical crafts and professions inside a restored heritage house dating back to the late nineteenth century.
Family project spanning generations
Radwan Na’nous, one of the museum’s founders, said the project began in the 1970s through the efforts of his late father, Mahmoud Na’nous, who collected and preserved heritage objects from the region.
He said the family later continued restoration and documentation work until the museum was ready to open, expressing hope that it would strengthen younger generations’ connection to their history and national identity.
Preserving Jayroud’s cultural memory
Researcher and journalist Al-Baraa Hilal said the museum preserves the cultural memory of Jayroud and the eastern Qalamoun region by documenting everyday life, the social environment, traditional occupations and the tools used by local communities across different historical periods.
He described the project as a pioneering example of private-sector participation in preserving Syria’s cultural heritage.
The Jayroud Private Folk Heritage Museum will open to visitors on Thursday July 2. It was established under a Ministry of Culture decision issued on July 22, 2025, regulating the establishment and management of private heritage, art and folk museums, making it the first private heritage museum to open in Syria under the new regulations.
F.J./ABD
