Warsaw's museums are quite unusual. During the Second World War, the city was destroyed and plundered, and the treasures were taken away. Only a small part was returned after release. But the Poles did painstaking work: bit by bit they restored what they had lost. The buildings of the historic center had to be reconstructed, and some of them had to be rebuilt. But the result exceeded the wildest expectations: the old times came to life in the new halls.
National Museum
The exposition received its first visitors in 1862. The organizers managed to compile an exposition from private collections donated by patrons of art, or artifacts acquired specifically for the opening center.
The exhibits covered various areas:
- collection of paintings by Polish and foreign painters
- subjects of early Christianity
- artifacts found by archaeologists
- medieval jewelry
- unique furniture, clothing, household items
- photography and graphics reflecting the life of Poland
Unfortunately, the meeting was plundered during the German occupation. Some of the exhibits were returned, the rest were lost irretrievably. But the halls are decorated with love for the national culture, the artifacts are interestingly arranged. The inspection will be a pleasure for both children and adults.
Adam Mickiewicz Literary Museum
In 1948, an exhibition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Adam Mickiewicz, which was staged at the National Museum, attracted a large number of guests. It was then that the idea of creating a center dedicated to the poet and publicist of Poland was born. 2 buildings were allocated to accommodate the exposition. The sources of the funds were Mitskevich's personal belongings, manuscripts, letters. Artifacts were shared by the poet's relatives. Often items came from overseas.
By 1962, 2 more buildings were allocated for the exposition. But the collection continued to grow:
- in 1974, the poet's son Joseph presented Mickiewicz's archive and some personal belongings
- in 1976, the publicist's daughter Maria donated part of her memorabilia
The center actively cooperates with foreign literary museums: it arranges outdoor exhibitions to learn about the Polish poet and publicist Adam Mickiewicz.
Maria Sklodowska-Curie Museum
Organized for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Skłodowska-Curie at the initiative of the Polish Chemical Society. Nine Nobel Prize winners attended the opening. The main exhibits are presented by the daughter (and at the same time biographer) of the great chemist Eva Curie. The exhibition tells about Maria's work, her relationships with colleagues and close people.
After Curie's death, grateful compatriots attached a memorial plaque to the house in which she was born, located at 16 Freta Street. After the defeat of the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, the Nazis demolished the house, but the board miraculously survived. After the liberation of the city, it was installed on the newly built house. And later it was moved to a permanent place at 5 Freta Street.
The exposition is based on personal belongings, letters, photographs, notes of Maria and Pierre Curie. The funds include a collection of films in Polish and foreign languages. A separate room contains materials describing the activities of scientists in France, participation in international organizations and the founding of the Radium Institute in Warsaw.
Copernicus Science Center
The complex will amaze the imagination of the most sophisticated tourist: here you can independently cause thunder and lightning, control the movement of clouds, make it rain or snow. Offers guests to visit more than 400 interactive sites. The first exposition was located in the city center on the Vistula embankment. A little later, the Planetarium and interactive laboratories were included in the composition. All this is located on an area of 2.2 hectares. Exhibitions leave no one indifferent: after all, they cover all areas of human life.
Tourists either conduct experiments themselves, or observe how an employee does it. The most popular exhibitions:
- The roots of civilization will acquaint you with how civilizations arose and where they disappeared.
- Re: Generation is created specifically for the new generation. Here, visitors will learn about psychological problems and ways to manipulate people.
- The zone of light invites you to travel through the colors of the solar spectrum. This lab is more like a vibrant digital show.
- People and the environment is entirely devoted to the problems of human biology and ecology. Its purpose: to teach people to take care of themselves and the environment.
- The world in motion will tell you about the various forms of activity of living and nonliving matter.
- The preschool gallery resembles a well-equipped playground where everyone can play with the latest robot model.
This center is popular not only among visitors, but also among the people of Warsaw.
The Royal Castle
This is a reconstructed building: the original was completely destroyed during the Nazi occupation. In the 80s of the last century, it was built on the same site. During the work, we used the surviving archives and amateur photographs. It was possible to achieve a complete resemblance of the external appearance of the building and the interiors to the original.
But some tourists believe that the restorers have overdone it: the castle looks too new and fresh. But it is loved and appreciated by the people of Warsaw as a returned object of national culture. After restoration, the complex houses a permanent exhibition of paintings, sculptures, furniture, and household items of the royal family. Thematic exhibitions, concerts, symposia are held. Unfortunately, not all exhibits are provided with plates in English: this makes it very difficult to inspect the artifacts.
Archaeological Museum
This ancient institution was founded in 1923. The initiators were the Ministry of Education and the Committee for Religious Affairs. At first, the center was engaged in the study of the ancient history of the territory on which Poland is located.
- private collection of Sigmund Gloger;
- artifacts donated by Polish patrons;
- archaeological finds obtained during field work;
- the funds of the Museum of Industry and Agriculture (does not exist now).
In 1945, the center expanded: the funds of the scientific society of Erasmus Mayevsky and the Biskulinskoe settlement were added to it. In addition to permanent and thematic exhibitions, the center holds master classes, where those who wish to learn to weave, produce ceramics, make jewelry from glass and ceramic beads using old Polish technologies.
Museum of Caricature. Eric Lipiński
In 1978, the artist Erik Lipiński became the founder of an unusual museum, and his archive and collection of paintings became the first funds.
Today the exposition consists of 25,000 items, including:
- drawings
- graphic arts
- sculpture
- caricatures by Kazimir Shchikhulsky
- paintings
Works by both Polish and foreign authors are exhibited here. There are artifacts dating from the 18th century. From time to time, the complex exhibits part of the collection abroad, and at home it arranges thematic expositions. In parallel, she is working with young people.
Museum of the History of Polish Jews Polin
If you translate the word Pauline from Hebrew, you get Poland. The second interpretation: you can relax here. The exposition includes a huge period of time: from the moment of the first appearance of the ancient people on the territory of the country until recently. In 2016 he received the title of the best museum in Europe: and had to fight with 48 applicants.
The prize was awarded for a creative approach to the consecration of the history of Polish Jews and Poles, for the original concept of the building. The design of the exhibition combines documents, artifacts and interactive screens. There is a 3D cinema: to get a complete picture, you can watch a thematic film.
Moments of the history of the ancient people are grouped into halls:
- The first room is called the Forest.The atmosphere of a light forest located on the territory of Poland is created here. Light walls and birdsong create a peaceful atmosphere.
- Then the guests go to the First contacts room.
- The next exposition is the Jewish Town.
- The Jewish Paradise reflects the people's perception of happiness.
- Jewish street takes tourists to the old street. You can inspect the pharmacy, look into the shop window.
- The creepiest hall is the Holocaust. It's dark and uncomfortable here. To get out, you have to go up the stairs, on the steps of which the names of the streets of the Warsaw ghetto are written. This is almost the entire center.
The rest of the halls show post-war reconstruction. And the exposition ends unexpectedly: after all, it is impossible to predict the future.
Warsaw Uprising Museum
The exposition reflects a sad but heroic page in the history of Warsaw. In 1944, residents raised an uprising to free themselves from the Nazi yoke. A bloody struggle lasted for 63 days. The rebels counted on the help of the Soviet army, but such an operation was not included in the command's plans. In isolation, without military and food aid, the rebels were defeated. Repression followed. Mass executions of the surviving freedom fighters began, and the city (as punishment) was practically destroyed.
Residents raised the issue of creating a commemorative exposition in the 50s of the last century. But it was only with the coming to power of Lech Walenski that a positive decision was made. The tram depot building of the early 20th century was allocated for the exhibition. The exhibitions are organized very humanely: photographs of the mass atrocities of the fascists are hidden in recesses so that the eye does not accidentally come across them. The stands are high enough so that children cannot see them.
The British bomber on display is interesting: it was assembled from found original parts. The play with light and sound creates the illusion of the car taking off soon. The guests are very popular with the film, edited from photographs taken from the height of the aircraft in 1945. It does not last long, but it allows you to imagine what a sad sight the destroyed city was.
Modern Art Museum
The exposition is located in the building of a furniture store. And this adds intrigue to the entire exhibition. By organizing the installations, the administration pursued a goal: can contemporary Polish art be integrated into other, even distant, areas. The exhibition of paintings by Andrzej Wrublewski tells about the artist's creative path from admiration for socialist realism to self-expression.
And if you are tired of examining the bizarre combinations of exhibits, you can visit:
- play;
- a lecture;
- cinema.
In order to organize an excursion in Russian, you should call the administration 2-3 days in advance. Guests who are hungry can have a bite to eat at the café located on the ground floor. Excellent coffee is prepared here.
Independence Museum
Until 1990, the building owned by the Radziwills housed the V.I. Lenin. And in 1990, the Polish authorities decided to transfer the mansion to the newly created Museum of Independence. The organizers set a goal: to reflect in the exposition all stages of the country's struggle for independence.
Tourists can view the departments:
- mausoleum of struggle and martyrdom
- exhibition dedicated to Pawiak prison
- X Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel
Since 1992, the complex bears the title of a national cultural center. Lectures are held here, films are shown. Several expositions work constantly:
- the emergence and development of the coat of arms of Poland
- the establishment of borders and the struggle for the independence of the state (period from 1914 to 1921)
- Polish opposition (period from 1945 to 1989)
The visit will interest those who study the history of the states adjacent to Russia.
National Museum of Ethnography
Before World War II, he had a large-scale collection. But during the occupation, it was completely destroyed or plundered, and the building was destroyed. After the liberation of Poland, restoration began. In 1946, the surviving exhibition was housed in the Bruhl Palace. It was called an exhibition of folk culture. But the Polish public set a goal to completely restore the lost cultural object, so the search for artifacts continued.
The center received a new location for the renovated exposition: a 19th century mansion, the former Credit Society. The building was also destroyed, it took time and money for its reconstruction. Lost funds were returned in parallel. The renovated exhibition was opened in 1973.
Frederic Chopin Museum
Located in the Ostrozhsky mansion, where young Chopin gave his first concerts. This building was destroyed after the defeat of the 1944 uprising, but after the liberation of Poland it was reconstructed according to the surviving documents. The exhibition is based on materials collected by the Chopin Society. It was formed in the 30s of the twentieth century. Musicians, composers, public figures, politicians became members. They considered their goal to perpetuate the memory of the composer and musician.
The society began its work with the purchase of Chopin's manuscripts from relatives. After a while, the organization was transformed into the Frederic Chopin Institute. Before the start of the Second World War, it was possible to collect a significant collection of photographs, personal belongings, notes, letters. During the occupation, the Institute ceased its activities. In 1954, a permanent exhibition was created. In 2010, the Ostrozhsky palace was restored again, the territory was cleared and ennobled, and the exposition was supplemented with interactive screens. Today the complex has become one of the best museums in Warsaw.
Polish Vodka Museum
Opened in 2018. The building of the Koneser plant was chosen for the exposition, it was here that vodka recipes, which became famous all over the world, were created. The exposition tells guests about:
- unique equipment of Jan Pistorius, with the help of which 85% alcohol was obtained
- tradition of drinking vodka in Poland
- old recipes
- the very first vodka distilleries in Poland
- the price of a glass of fire drink
Tourists are shown a film about the evolution of vodka production and vodka masters. The screening takes place in a cinema hall with chairs from the Comedy cinema. The culmination of the excursion is a tasting of drinks made according to traditional Polish recipes. You can appreciate the taste of vodka made from potatoes, rye and barley. And after the tasting, you can eat in the cafe located in the center. It is important to remember: due to the specifics of the event, only citizens who have reached the age of 18 have the right to visit.
Warsaw Prague Museum
The left bank of the Vistula in the 15th century was densely overgrown with forest. But then part of it was burned out, and on this place a village arose, which was named Prague (from the Polish pragus - to burn). Subsequently, the village entered the city limits. After the defeat of the 1944 uprising, the historical center of Warsaw was destroyed, and Prague was practically unaffected. Today it is an open-air museum.
In the narrow streets, there are old buildings with signs with the names and occupations of the owners. Here tourists will see the Ruzicki market, which has retained its former charm. The building of the Church of Mary Magdalene, built in the 19th century, has been preserved. Here is the Koneser vodka distillery, which houses a popular exposition. Warsaw Prague is loved by Polish and foreign artists: they are inspired by the atmosphere of antiquity.
