Bolesławiec Ceramics Museum

The Bolesławiec Ceramics Museum is a municipal institution devoted to the local pottery tradition and the town's history. It operates in two buildings: the headquarters on Mickiewicza Street houses the management and the Ceramics Department, while the branch on Kutuzowa Street runs the Town History Department.

How the museum survived two wars

The institution was founded in 1908 as the Municipal Museum and opened to visitors in 1911. Its work was interrupted by both world wars, during which part of the collection was lost. After the war the museum resumed operations in 1953, initially under the supervision of the Silesian Museum in Wrocław, and since 1967, following renovation, it has operated under the name Ceramics Museum.

Bolesławiec ceramics across two exhibitions

The permanent exhibitions divide the history of local craft into two periods: Bolesławiec ceramics up to 1945 and ceramics made after that date. They are complemented by the Centre of Old Pottery Techniques, devoted to historic methods of making vessels. The collection also includes ceramics brought from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic, England and France, allowing a comparison of Bolesławiec ware with the traditions of other European regions. The museum also runs a lapidarium set up in the surrounding park.

A building with Kutuzov's history

The branch on Kutuzowa Street came under the museum's management in 1991, and the Town History Department opened there in 1995. The building had previously operated as a museum devoted to Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov, who died on the spot in 1813 during the campaign against Napoleon. Today this part of the institution houses an exhibition on the history of Bolesławiec across different historical periods.

What's on offer for visitors

The museum runs pottery workshops, guided tours of the exhibitions and of the town, as well as ceramics conservation and room rental. A tourist information point also operates at the museum. For people with disabilities, the museum's website offers accessibility features such as font enlargement, greyscale mode and high contrast.

Nearby

Close to the museum, about a kilometre away, stands the railway viaduct in Bolesławiec. Nearby are also Termy Bolesławiec and Orka Water Park, so a day can be split between visiting the museum and water activities.

Practical information

• Headquarters address: Mickiewicza 13, Bolesławiec (Town History Department branch: Kutuzowa 14)
• Opening hours are worth checking on the museum's website before a visit, as they vary from day to day
• Accessibility features for people with special needs are listed on the institution's website