Museums and Cultural Institutions

Exterior of the Museum of Warsaw. Photo by Alicia Baca.

As you can imagine, Poland’s rich cultures and history means that it has a lot to share with not only its own people, but visitors to the country as well. Home to several cultural institutions Poland has many museums, concert halls, churches, art galleries, science centers, and more. In this section we will look at some of the many that you can explore to learn more about the history and culture of Poland and its people.

Museums

Poland has over 130 museums that are registered under the country’s Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. These museums cover a wide range of topics including art, architecture, important moments in Polish history, notable figures, and more. While we cannot highlight every museum in the country, here are just a handful of culturally significant ones as well as some of our personal favorites.

Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich (POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw)

Exterior of POLIN. Photo by Alicia Baca.

One of Poland’s most famous museums, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews POLIN is the first and only museum dedicated to preserving and presenting the long history and heritage of Polish Jews. Opened in 2016, POLIN is one of the country’s most recently constructed museums and won the prestigious European Museum of the Year during the same year. POLIN provides visitors with a complete history of the origins of the Jewish people within Poland dating back from the early medieval times to World War II to the modern day. This museum encourages visitors to engage with the museum through multimedia displays, interactive exhibits, and immersive installations which creates an innovative and interactive way to learn about the complexity of the history of Polish Jews. The structure of the museum itself also serves to help visitors think critically about these moments in Poland’s history. Designed by Finnish architect Rainer Mahlamäki and his Polish partner Ilmari Lahdelma, the glass exterior of the building represents the splitting of the Red Sea in the biblical story of the Exodus. Many sections of the museum also emphasize the moments in history that they are covering whether that be the feeling of overcrowding and claustrophobia in the ghettos, or the awe felt when looking at the bimah that stands under the ornately decorated replica ceiling of the Gwoździec synagogue.

POLIN is Diana’s favorite museum because it is informative, comprehensive, and interactive, without being at all overwhelming. They are also so much more than exhibits in a building—organizing and hosting conferences, book launches, lectures, workshops, film screenings, talks with authors, and a host of other kinds of events, POLIN is engaged in a massive and hugely important educational and memorial project.

Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego (The Warsaw Rising Museum in Warsaw)

Exterior of the Warsaw Rising Museum. Photo by Alicia Baca.

The Warsaw Rising Museum was Poland’s first multimedia museum and opened on the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of fighting in Warsaw. The Museum pays tribute to Warsaw’s residents to those who fought and died for independent Poland and its free capital from German occupation in 1944. The museum is in an old tram power station in Warsaw’s Wola district. This space was selected because of the good condition of the facilities as well as its history as the building was the scene of ferocious fighting and accommodated civilian and military hospitals, as well as, initially, the Uprising’s Headquarters. The museum consists of three floors and much like POLIN, the Warsaw Rising Museum also has several interactive exhibits that encourage visitors to engage with and examine the history that they are learning about. The exhibition follows the timeline of this 63-day historic event. Replicas of official notices announcing the commencement of the fight cover the walls while the museum’s sound system plays the sounds of gunfire, explosions, and radio messages. Additionally, throughout the museum, one can find and take tear-away calendar dates that share the experiences of those who participated in the Uprising and offer a glimpse into this crucial moment in Poland’s history.

Muzeum Narodowe Warszawy (The National Museum of Warsaw)

Exterior of the National Museum in Warsaw. Photo by Alicia Baca.

Opened in 1862, the National Museum of Warsaw is one of Poland’s largest museums as well as the largest one in the capital. The museum is one of Poland’s most significant cultural institutions, highlighting an extensive collection of artworks from various time periods, styles, and mediums.  Today, the National Museum in Warsaw boasts a collection of around 830,000 works of art from Poland and across the globe, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, coins, as well as decorative objects from medieval religious paintings to Renaissance masterpieces and works by renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, and Bernini. The museum’s collections also encompass Polish artworks from the 19th and 20th centuries, featuring prominent Polish painters like Józef Chełmoński, Stanisław Wyspiański, and of course Jan Matejko whose world famous “Stańczyk” and “Battle of Tannenberg” can be seen here. The museum also regularly hosts temporary exhibitions that display specific artists or art movements throughout history.

Muzeum Fryderyka Chopina (Museum of Frederic Chopin in Warsaw)

Exterior of the Museum of Fryderyk Chopin. Photo by Alicia Baca.

Lovers of classical music will certainly be familiar with who Fryderyk Chopin is and his history, but did you know that he was Polish? If you did not, now you do! In Warsaw, you can visit the Museum of Fryderyk Chopin where you can learn more about his life, legacy, and the impact of his music on polish culture as well as music across the globe. The museum displays several original concert posters, sheet music, and interactive sections where you can listen to several of his compositions in individual pods or learn more about the types of music Chopin wrote while listening to it! The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions about Chopin, with the most recent showing a series of busts and sculptures of the composer created worldwide.

As a lifelong lover of music, this museum was easily Alicia’s favorite. In particular, she enjoyed the solo listening pods as well as an interactive piano where visitors can place copies of Chopin’s sheet music on the piano’s music desk and the instrument will play that specific composition. Additionally, she enjoyed the interactive stations that allows visitors to learn about the history of folk music, like mazurkas and Polonaises, and how they influenced Chopin’s work while listening to while listening to different versions of them so that you can hear how the changed over time.

The exterior of a 19th century cottage. Photo by Julia Keblinska.

The Dobrzyn and Kujawy Regional Ethnographic Park in Kłóbka, also known as the Skansen in Kłóbka, is an open air museum that presents the region’s village life from the 18th to 20th centuries. A visit to Kłóbka begins with a tour of cottages and village buildings that shows how villagers lived in each of the three represented centuries. In addition to peasant residences, the museum also includes a church, 1930s schoolroom, a Jewish inn, and the 19th century Orpiszewski family manor which visitors can examine at the end of the tour. The village structures were all moved to the museum grounds from nearby areas. The manor is original to the property and was owned by the Orpiszewskis before WW2.  

The interior of a 19th century cottage. Photo by Julia Keblinska.

This is Julia’s favorite Polish museum because her maternal grandmother’s parents worked at the manor before the war. Julia recently took her 85-year-old grandmother Elżbieta to visit the museum and the manor that she still remembers playing in as a young girl. 

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Have you heard of the Taj Mahal in India or the Great Wall in China? If you have, then congratulations, you are familiar with some of the more widely known World Heritage Sites! World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas that can be found across the globe and have legal protection by an international convention administered by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. 17 sites can be found in Poland, and each are judged to contain “cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.”

Pawilon Czterech Kopuł (Four Domes Pavilion in Wrocław)

Pawilon Czterech Kopuł / The Four Domes Pavilion. Photo by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, via Flickr.

The Four Domes Pavilion, is home to a new branch of the National Museum – the Museum of Contemporary Art. The Polish contemporary art collection of the National Museum in Wrocław is one of the most interesting and most valuable in Poland. It has over 20,000 artifacts spanning such artistic disciplines as painting, print, drawing, sculpture, glass, ceramics, and photography, as well as the environment and conceptual works, documentation of happenings and video art. Initially serving as an exhibition center, it hosted a special exhibition in 1913 commemorating the victory over Napoleon. Recognized for its cultural significance, the pavilion was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006. The pavilion now highlights a remarkable collection of Polish contemporary art from distinguished artists of the late 20th and 21st centuries including works by renowned artists such as Magdalena Abakanowicz, Paweł Althamer, Mirosław Bałka, and many more.

Hala Stulecia (Centennial Hall in Wrocław)

The Centennial Hall, a significant work in the history of reinforced concrete architecture, was built between 1911 and 1913 by architect Max Berg. It stands as a multi-use recreational structure located in Wrocław. Shaped like a symmetrical quatrefoil, it features a spacious circular main area that can accommodate approximately 6,000 people. The dome stands at 23 meters and is crowned with a steel and glass lantern, showing modern engineering, and was designed to highlight Silesia’s historical and economic prowess to the world. Inspired by the World Exhibitions, particularly the Eiffel Tower’s construction in 1889, a spectacular exposition was planned in Breslau (the German name for Wrocław). The challenge was to create a space that could accommodate numerous exhibitors and visitors, blending trade fairs, exhibitions, and recreational functions while fostering further industrial, cultural, and sports events. Following a call for proposals, Max Berg’s innovative design was chosen from 43 submissions, albeit at the high cost of 1.9 million Deutsche Marks. Even today, the Centennial Hall remains a hub for concerts, sports events, and other large-scale gatherings in Wrocław.

Interior of Centennial Hall. Photo by Alicia Baca.

Cathedrals and Churches

Based on what you learned in the history sections of this module, you now know that Roman Catholicism has long been the prominent religion since the Piast Dynasty. As such, Poland is home to many basilicas, cathedrals, and churches. Some of these churches date back to medieval times and come in a wide variety of architectural styles. When religious services are not being offered, many of these churches are open to the public so that visitors can explore the buildings and take in the art and architecture. Some of these buildings even have high towers that visitors can climb or take an elevator to get to the top for an extraordinary aerial view of the city below. Here are just a few of these stunning places of worship.

Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island in Worcław)

Entrance to Ostrów Tumski at nighttime. Photo by Alicia Baca.

In Worcław, one can take public transit from the city center to Cathedral Island which is nestled on the banks of the Oder River. Here you can find five different basilicas, churches and cathedrals that cover this small island in the heart of Wroclaw. The most easily recognizable structure on this charming isle is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. This architectural masterpiece boasts a rich history dating back to the 10th century and highlights a blend of Gothic, Baroque, and Neo-Gothic styles. Visitors to Cathedral Isle can explore the awe-inspiring interior of the cathedral, adorned with intricate stained-glass windows, ornate altars, and majestic vaulted ceilings. As visitors wander through the cobblestone streets of Cathedral Island, they can see the beautiful architecture of the surrounding buildings and churches and enjoy panoramic views of the Oder. Whether for religious pilgrimage or historical exploration, Cathedral Island offers a memorable experience for all who visit. Also, if you are visiting at the right time in the evening, you can catch the lamplighter who goes around the whole island and lights every gas lamp found on the island!

Archikatedra św. Jana w Warszawie (Archcathedral of St. John the Baptist in Warsaw)

Exterior of the Archcathedral of St. John the Baptist. Photo by Alicia Baca.

The Archcathedral of St. John the Baptist in Warsaw’s Old Town is one of the most distinctive churches in the Polish capital. Originally built in the 14th century in Masovian brick Gothic style, the cathedral served as a site for coronations and other major events such as when King Stanisław August Poniatowski went to the cathedral to repeat the newly created Oath of the Constitution from the May 3rd Constitution in front of the altar. During the Warsaw Uprising was also a site between the members of the Uprising and German army. Regretfully, the Germans managed to place a tank full of explosives into the cathedral. The resulting explosion decimated most of the building. The cathedral was eventually rebuilt after the war and was reconstructed to resemble what it would have looked like in the 14th century.

Kościół Mariacki (St. Mary’s Basilica in Kraków)

St. Mary’s Basilica in Old Town Kraków. Photo by michelangeloop (Adobe Stock #77697314).

Saint Mary’s Basilica is easily one of the most recognizable places in Kraków. Located next to the Old Town Market Square in Kraków, Poland, this brick church has a rich history. Dating back to the early 13th century, its construction began in the 14th century, highlighting outstanding Polish Gothic architecture. Standing at 80 meters (262 feet) tall, it is renowned for its impressive wooden altarpiece crafted by Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz) and monumental polychrome murals by Jan Matejko (1838–1893), a prominent Polish history painter. Saint Mary’s Basilica was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, along with the surrounding Old Town. Every hour, around the clock, 365 days a year, the Hejnał mariacki (St. Mary’s Trumpet Call), a trumpet signal, is played from the tallest tower of the basilica. The haunting melody intentionally stops mid-song to honor a legendary 13th-century trumpeter who was tragically shot while warning the city of an impending Mongol attack.

Live Music Venues

And what would a list of cultural institutions be without places where you can listen to live music? With composers and musicians like Chopin you can certainly expect that Poland would be home to many operas, music festivals, concert halls, and music venues. Both local and international acts perform here regularly, and you can hear anything and everything from classical music, jazz, metal, contemporary rock, and much more.

Teatr Wielki-Opera Narodowa (The Grand Theatre and Polish National Opera in Warsaw)

The Grand Theatre in Warsaw is a significant music venue and opera complex located in the heart of Poland’s capital. It serves as the base for the Polish National Ballet and has a seating capacity exceeding 2,000 people. The theater first opened in 1833 with a performance of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. The Grand Theatre suffered incredible damage during World War II. Following extensive bombing and destruction, it was reconstructed and reopened in 1965 after more than twenty years of closure. The architectural design of the original neoclassical building was Antonio Corazzi and Chrystian Piotr Aigner, with restoration later done by Bohdan Pniewski.

Opera Krakowska (The Kraków Opera)

The Kraków Opera was established in 1954 after World War II. However, the history of opera in Kraków can be traced back to 1628 with the first Polish libretto release, followed by its first opera performance in March 1782. The company presents 200 shows annually, encompassing ballet, operettas, and musicals for younger audiences. The opera features a blend of international and Polish classics and is a premier opera institution in Poland. They have also hosted esteemed artists such as conductors Kazimierz Kord, Robert Satanowski, and Aurelio Canonici and a range of opera singers such as Teresa Żylis-Gara, Wiesław Ochman, and Mariusz Kwiecień who began their careers there.