Museum of Architecture in Wrocław

The Museum of Architecture in Wrocław is the only museum of its kind in Poland. It is housed in a historic former Bernardine monastery complex on ulica Bernardyńska and holds more than 20,000 exhibits related to architecture.

How the museum came about

The idea of creating the institution had been considered since the 1950s. The museum was set up in 1965 in the rebuilt interiors of the former Bernardine monastery and church. Initially it operated as part of the Museum of Wrocław, and since 1971 it has functioned as an independent institution. It is registered in the National Register of Museums under number 117/134, and is run by the city of Wrocław. It remains the only museum in Poland devoted solely to architecture as an art form.

Home

The building is a former Bernardine monastery complex, whose main church nave today serves as a concert and theatre hall. As a result, exhibitions are held within the museum's walls, alongside concerts, theatre shows, festivals and conferences.

Collections

Of the more than 20,000 exhibits, around 500 are on permanent display, including architectural details, plans, maps, drawings, sketches, models and photographs. A particularly valuable object in the collection is the Romanesque Tympanon Jaksy (Tympanum of Jaksa), one of the oldest monuments of architectural sculpture connected with Wrocław. The museum is also known for its stained-glass department, which holds the oldest surviving stained glass in Poland, dating from the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries.

Exhibitions and education

The museum's programme is based on permanent exhibitions and a cycle of changing temporary exhibitions devoted to the work of Polish and foreign architects. The institution runs a construction archive with a search facility and organises family workshops, a series of meetings called the "academy of architecture", themed debates and lessons for school pupils. The museum is a founding member of the International Confederation of Architectural Museums (ICAM), which links it to a network of similar institutions worldwide.

Nearby

The museum lies in the very centre of Wrocław, close to the Panorama of the Battle of Racławice and the Museum of Post and Telecommunications. Within walking distance is also the National Museum in Wrocław, so it's easy to combine them into one visiting route.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Bernardyńska 5, Wrocław
• The museum is closed on Mondays; open Tuesday and Wednesday 10:00-17:00, Thursday and Friday 12:00-19:00, and at weekends 10:00-17:00 - hours are worth checking before your visit, as they may change
• Accessibility for wheelchair users is limited
• There is a museum bookshop on site, and tickets can be bought online