General Information

The National Museum in Krakow, established in 1879, is the main branch of Poland’s National Museum, which has many permanent collections around the country. The bulk of the diverse collections – consisting of several hundred thousand items – is kept in the Main Building, but the museum also has nine divisions around the city.

History: Highlights

The National Museum in Krakow was first housed at the upper floor of the Renaissance Sukiennice building, now the home of one of its many divisions. The construction of the Museum’s New Main Building at 3 May Street started in 1934, but was interrupted by World War II. The edifice was only completed in 1990.

History: Explained

The National Museum in Krakow was established as Polish first national art collecting institution. At the time the nation was stripped of its country and the statehood by the three partitioning powers. Until the end of the World War I, it was the only large, publicly accessible museum on the Polish land.

The three partitions took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years. The partitions were perpetrated by the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia and the Habsburg Austria, which divided up the Commonwealth lands among themselves progressively in the process of territorial seizures.

When Poland regained its independence in 1918, the Museum turned out to have insufficient space for its holdings, which at that time amounted to about 100,000 pieces.

The design of what is now known as the Main Building was one of the most advanced museum concepts in contemporary Europe. The outbreak of World War II interrupted the construction works and the building remained unfinished until 1970, when the project was resumed, though it was not completed until 1992. However, the Museum was operating during the whole time.

Collection: Highlights

During World War II the collection was looted by Nazi soldiers. After the war the Polish government retrieved many of the works seized by the Germans. However, more than 1,000 artefacts are still missing, including “The Fight Between Carnival and Lent” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

Collection: Explained

The Main Building features the newly renovated upper Gallery of the Twentieth Century Polish Art, one of the largest art galleries in Poland. It contains a collection of paintings and sculptures from the late 19th century on, including canvases by Jacek Malczewski, Leon Wyczółkowski and Włodzimierz Tetmajer; an extensive collection of works by Stanisław Wyspiański; and also, works by artists of the interwar and post-war periods: Cubists, Expressionists, Colourists, the avant-garde of the 1930s and representatives of New Directions from the 1960s, such as Minimalism and Op art.

The Main Building has a vast display of militaria, ranging from the 12th to 20th century, including Polish armour from the 16th and 17th century, Polish sabres, firearms, saddles and caparisons, military uniforms from the 18th to 20th century, military orders, medals and distinctions. The Museum holdings also include a collection of Western and Eastern European weapons. The militaria are presented at the “Arms and Colours” exhibition.

Decorative arts and crafts are exhibited in the Decorative Arts and Crafts Gallery, with gold, silver and precious stone artefacts ranging from the 12th to 18th century; copper, pewter and iron objects, such as bowls and wrought iron chests; old furniture, musical instruments, clocks, ceramics and glass, notably stained glass from the churches of Krakow. The Museum has one of Poland’s largest collections of Polish and Oriental antique rugs and carpets, as well as a collection of costumes dated from the 16th to 20th century.