Muzeum Narodowe Gmach Główny Kraków

The National Museum Main Building, Krakow

Museums

Aleja 3 Maja 1, 30-062 Kraków Tourist region: Kraków i okolice

tel. +48 124335500
fax. +48 124335555

The National Museum in Krakow is the oldest and the largest museum that is called “National” in Poland. It was established in 1879 by the decision of the Krakow City Council. Until the end of World War I, it was the only large museum open to the public in Poland and to this day remains the institution with the largest number of collections, buildings and permanent galleries. There is currently a collection of over 900,000 exhibits under the care of the Museum.

In the building, designed by Bolesław Szmidt, Czesław Boratyński and Edward Kreisler, erected intermittently in the years 1934-1989, there are two permanent exibitions.

Gallery of Decorative Art is located in nine rooms, where almost 4,000 monuments are exibited. In stylishly arranged interiors, viewers can admire a collection of and its collection of golds, fabrics, clothing, furniture, ceramics and glassware, complete with a unique collection of musical instruments and judaica. The National Museum in Krakow also has the second largest collection of old weapons and uniforms in Poland. The most valuable exhibits, memorabilia of historical figures and craft works of art are presented every day at the permanent exhibition "Weapons and Color in Poland". However, this exhibition is only a foretaste of the museum's rich collections.

In the Gallery of Polish Art of the 20th and 21st centuries, you can get acquainted with the works of the most outstanding artists who have permanently entered the canon of Polish art, such as: Olga Boznańska, Jacek Malczewski, Stanisław Wyspiański, Leon Chwistek, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Maria Jarema, Andrzej Wróblewski, Tadeusz Kantor, Maria Pinińska-Bereś, Jerzy Nowosielski, Katarzyna Kozyra. This exhibition presents art from the last 120 years.

The Main Building of the museum also includes workshops (conservation, art, photography), a workshop and a shop where you can buy publications about art, postcards, reproductions of works of art and souvenirs. The museum cares greatly about the children who come to visit. There are special guides created to introduce them to the history of art. The building is also adapted for those with disabilities.