One thousand years old Kraków, former Capital City of Poland and the Museum presenting its history
A hundred years old museum... Headquarter is located in the Krzysztofory Palace, one of the biggest modern palaces in the nearby of the historical centre of the city – at the 35 Main Square. This is the place where in 1979 a permanent exhibition titled “The History and Culture of Kraków” was opened. The exhibition presented the most precious collections, showing ancient greatness and most important events of the city. Currently this is the time of great Krzysztofory Palace’s renovation. Paintings are going to be taken from the Fontana’s Room, authentic room of the ancient times which windows, towers of the St. Marys Church are looking in... Please, excuse us, but for a couple of years exhibition will be unavailable, but afterwards we welcome you to the new, even more beautiful exhibition. We’re working on this at the moment. Because of the renovation you will unfortunately have to postpone your visit in the Cross House, at the 21 Szpitalna Street too. This is the place where we used to present an exhibition titles “The History of Kraków’s Theatre”. Because of these facts we even more invite you to the exhibitions in the Hipolit House, the Celestat, the Old Synagogue, the Eagle Pharmacy, the Pomorska Street, the Nowa Huta Quarter, the Town Hall Tower, the City Defence Walls and the Barbican branches.
The Historical Museum established in 1899 collects works of art, antiquities of material culture, documents and iconographic testimonies related to the history of the city. Exhibitions show only parts of the museum’s collections being great historical and artistic repository, as well for people of science as for all charmed by the magnetism of the past.
Chronologically, the oldest objects, coming from the middle Ages, are excavations found under the Main Square in last few years. It is important that in the future the Historical Museum is going to open a permanent exhibition in the Main Square’s basements dedicated to its history. On the exhibition, for sure we will present a great collection of military accessories of ancient times: medieval swords, axes, lances, the oldest samples of fire weapons, modern armours and armament of the city guards.
Very special place in the museum’s collections have relics related to the former political system of Kraków and its government. The most precious are little sceptre and the ring of Kraków’s mayors, from the 16th century, moreover, the silver chest and crucifix of the city council, from the 18th century. It is memorable that the museum looks after the Town Hall Tower in the Main Square, remains of the medieval Town Hall.
Kraków used to be a trade power and centre of craftsmanship. These topics are raised in the museums collections as well. The most interesting are fraternities’ attributes: insignia, fraternities’ notices, chests, votes, fraternity’s inns equipment and beautiful makings of artistic craftsmanship, e.g. gold-plated plaque of St. Eligius.
We have great collection of paintings, graphics, drawings and maps showing Kraków. A pride of the collection is first, partially fantasy sight of Kraków from the World Chronicle published in 1493 by Hartmann Schedel and beautiful panoramas of Kraków from the 17th century. Very important moments of the city’s history in the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, like episodes from the Kosciuszko Insurrection, we can see thanks to paintings of Michał Stachowicz, and priceless drawings of Józef Brodowski made us able to reconstruct shape of ancient city defence walls destroyed at the beginning of the 19th century. Galician Kraków from the end of the 19th century, experiencing material and spiritual prosperity can be seen on paintings of Jacek Malczewski, Stanisław Tondos, Erazm Fabijański, Juliusz and Wojciech Kossak.
Very important place in the iconographic collection have old photographs. The Historical Museum takes pride in the priceless collection of glass negatives from the workshop of Ignacy Krieger, photographer, who with his camera was taking pictures in the 2nd half of the 19th century.
In our collection of paintings we own many pictures of former city dwellers, as well those playing important part in life of politics or economy, religious life, science or art, as ordinary Kraków’s inhabitants, sometimes anonymous, husbands, wives and children… so important for the history of the city as well.
Although the branch of the museum related to the theatre is temporarily closed because of the renovation, it is memorable that the theatre collection is one of the richest. It shows great history of the Kraków’s theatres from the end of the 18th century until now. The collection includes portraits of great actors, producers and art directors, pictures from performances, stage designs and costumes.
Moreover in the museum collections we have many patriotic keepsakes related to the national insurrections, struggle for independence, citizens activities. Patriotic overtone used to accompany activities of Krakow’s Rifle Society, called Marksmen Guild, during the national captivity. The history of this bourgeois society, until now assembling representatives of trade and craftsmanship, is presented on the exhibition in the Celestat. The most precious object on the exhibition is a Silver Cock, gift from the king from 1565, outstanding work of the gilding art.
Very important place in our collections have antiquities related to the Jewish culture. The exhibition is located in the Old Synagogue. This is the place where we can get familiar with religious and everyday life, customs and culture of Jews who have lived in Kraków since middle Ages. Vey soon we will invite you to the Schindler’s Factory – Emalia in the Podgórze quarter, the new branch of the museum. A purpose of the exhibition is to present tragedy of Jewish people during the Nazi occupation. However it is worthwhile to see small exhibition in the Eagle Pharmacy even today dedicated to the Kraków’s Ghetto liquidation. Moreover cruelty and tragedies experienced in those days by the city dwellers can be seen on the exhibition in the Silesian House.
A great collection of the antiquities related to the material culture let us to arrange an exhibition in the Hipolit House. The exhibition presents history of bourgeois interiors. It is very magical place, which in one moment moves us to the times of our great-great-grandfathers
Kraków’s folklore always associates with unusual, architectural Kraków’s Christmas Cribs. This is a living tradition. Each year the Museum arranges a Christmas Cribs competition. The most beautiful cribs extend the museum’s collection. A collection of Christmas Cribs which is in the lead is one of the distinguishing marks of our museum.
A history not always refers to the ancient times, it’s also yesterday. That is why in our collections you will find contemporary badges too. One of the youngest and very fast expanding assortments is the modern art collection. It presents Kraków’s life from the 2nd half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century. In 2005 the branch of the History of Nowa Huta Quarter has been established. A purpose of this exhibition is to save historical evidence and catch falling into oblivion image of this socialistic city, built after the World War II near to the steelworks, against the culture and sociological sphere.
A hundred years old museum... Headquarter is located in the Krzysztofory Palace, one of the biggest modern palaces in the nearby of the historical centre of the city – at the 35 Main Square. This is the place where in 1979 a permanent exhibition titled “The History and Culture of Kraków” was opened. The exhibition presented the most precious collections, showing ancient greatness and most important events of the city. Currently this is the time of great Krzysztofory Palace’s renovation. Paintings are going to be taken from the Fontana’s Room, authentic room of the ancient times which windows, towers of the St. Marys Church are looking in... Please, excuse us, but for a couple of years exhibition will be unavailable, but afterwards we welcome you to the new, even more beautiful exhibition. We’re working on this at the moment. Because of the renovation you will unfortunately have to postpone your visit in the Cross House, at the 21 Szpitalna Street too. This is the place where we used to present an exhibition titles “The History of Kraków’s Theatre”. Because of these facts we even more invite you to the exhibitions in the Hipolit House, the Celestat, the Old Synagogue, the Eagle Pharmacy, the Pomorska Street, the Nowa Huta Quarter, the Town Hall Tower, the City Defence Walls and the Barbican branches.
The Historical Museum established in 1899 collects works of art, antiquities of material culture, documents and iconographic testimonies related to the history of the city. Exhibitions show only parts of the museum’s collections being great historical and artistic repository, as well for people of science as for all charmed by the magnetism of the past.
Chronologically, the oldest objects, coming from the middle Ages, are excavations found under the Main Square in last few years. It is important that in the future the Historical Museum is going to open a permanent exhibition in the Main Square’s basements dedicated to its history. On the exhibition, for sure we will present a great collection of military accessories of ancient times: medieval swords, axes, lances, the oldest samples of fire weapons, modern armours and armament of the city guards.
Very special place in the museum’s collections have relics related to the former political system of Kraków and its government. The most precious are little sceptre and the ring of Kraków’s mayors, from the 16th century, moreover, the silver chest and crucifix of the city council, from the 18th century. It is memorable that the museum looks after the Town Hall Tower in the Main Square, remains of the medieval Town Hall.
Kraków used to be a trade power and centre of craftsmanship. These topics are raised in the museums collections as well. The most interesting are fraternities’ attributes: insignia, fraternities’ notices, chests, votes, fraternity’s inns equipment and beautiful makings of artistic craftsmanship, e.g. gold-plated plaque of St. Eligius.
We have great collection of paintings, graphics, drawings and maps showing Kraków. A pride of the collection is first, partially fantasy sight of Kraków from the World Chronicle published in 1493 by Hartmann Schedel and beautiful panoramas of Kraków from the 17th century. Very important moments of the city’s history in the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, like episodes from the Kosciuszko Insurrection, we can see thanks to paintings of Michał Stachowicz, and priceless drawings of Józef Brodowski made us able to reconstruct shape of ancient city defence walls destroyed at the beginning of the 19th century. Galician Kraków from the end of the 19th century, experiencing material and spiritual prosperity can be seen on paintings of Jacek Malczewski, Stanisław Tondos, Erazm Fabijański, Juliusz and Wojciech Kossak.
Very important place in the iconographic collection have old photographs. The Historical Museum takes pride in the priceless collection of glass negatives from the workshop of Ignacy Krieger, photographer, who with his camera was taking pictures in the 2nd half of the 19th century.
In our collection of paintings we own many pictures of former city dwellers, as well those playing important part in life of politics or economy, religious life, science or art, as ordinary Kraków’s inhabitants, sometimes anonymous, husbands, wives and children… so important for the history of the city as well.
Although the branch of the museum related to the theatre is temporarily closed because of the renovation, it is memorable that the theatre collection is one of the richest. It shows great history of the Kraków’s theatres from the end of the 18th century until now. The collection includes portraits of great actors, producers and art directors, pictures from performances, stage designs and costumes.
Moreover in the museum collections we have many patriotic keepsakes related to the national insurrections, struggle for independence, citizens activities. Patriotic overtone used to accompany activities of Krakow’s Rifle Society, called Marksmen Guild, during the national captivity. The history of this bourgeois society, until now assembling representatives of trade and craftsmanship, is presented on the exhibition in the Celestat. The most precious object on the exhibition is a Silver Cock, gift from the king from 1565, outstanding work of the gilding art.
Very important place in our collections have antiquities related to the Jewish culture. The exhibition is located in the Old Synagogue. This is the place where we can get familiar with religious and everyday life, customs and culture of Jews who have lived in Kraków since middle Ages. Vey soon we will invite you to the Schindler’s Factory – Emalia in the Podgórze quarter, the new branch of the museum. A purpose of the exhibition is to present tragedy of Jewish people during the Nazi occupation. However it is worthwhile to see small exhibition in the Eagle Pharmacy even today dedicated to the Kraków’s Ghetto liquidation. Moreover cruelty and tragedies experienced in those days by the city dwellers can be seen on the exhibition in the Silesian House.
A great collection of the antiquities related to the material culture let us to arrange an exhibition in the Hipolit House. The exhibition presents history of bourgeois interiors. It is very magical place, which in one moment moves us to the times of our great-great-grandfathers
Kraków’s folklore always associates with unusual, architectural Kraków’s Christmas Cribs. This is a living tradition. Each year the Museum arranges a Christmas Cribs competition. The most beautiful cribs extend the museum’s collection. A collection of Christmas Cribs which is in the lead is one of the distinguishing marks of our museum.
A history not always refers to the ancient times, it’s also yesterday. That is why in our collections you will find contemporary badges too. One of the youngest and very fast expanding assortments is the modern art collection. It presents Kraków’s life from the 2nd half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century. In 2005 the branch of the History of Nowa Huta Quarter has been established. A purpose of this exhibition is to save historical evidence and catch falling into oblivion image of this socialistic city, built after the World War II near to the steelworks, against the culture and sociological sphere.
