All tours,
Material culture
Tuesdays are free admission days for the permanent exhibitions at the National Museum in Kraków.
The largest branch of the National Museum is renowned for its spectacular temporary exhibitions, amongst which the permanent Gallery of Crafts on the first floor stands out for its tranquillity. It is Poland’s largest exhibition of material cultural artefacts of its kind, arranged in chronological order – from the early Middle Ages to the second half of the 20th century.
As you move through the successive rooms, you will see fragments of stylishly arranged interiors, examples of goldsmithing, and a selection of textiles, clothing, furniture, ceramics and glass from various eras. Unique musical instruments and an exceptional collection of Judaica have also found their place there. In total, around 4,000 extraordinary items are on display across nine exhibition rooms and two annexes.
The Józef and Jadwiga Mehoffer’s House combines an art exhibition with a reconstruction of the artist’s authentic, personal living space and that of his family. The current interior layout has been recreated on the basis of photographs, sketches and paintings, documents and memoirs. The appearance of this place echoes the various homes of the Mehoffer family, filled with the same stylish furniture, family heirlooms and works of art. The house on Krupnicza Street combines the features of a traditional Polish home with historical elements applied in a deliberate and artistic manner, as well as a certain touch of 1930s aesthetics.
The first floor of the Szołayski House on Szczepański Square invites you to discover the most significant achievements of Polish design. There you will see everyday objects now regarded as iconic, as well as outstanding works by Polish designers that form the canon of Polish design. The exhibition features exhibits ranging from the Young Poland era, through modernism and the avant-garde of the Second Polish Republic, the communist era, to the present day. It is worth returning to this place, if only because change is a constant feature of the exhibition: cyclical, themed displays of textiles and clothing last only a few months to make way for the next ones. This is determined by conservation considerations, but also by the quality and diversity of the National Museum in Kraków’s collection.
Buy tickets online and visit our branches, where you’ll find all the most interesting exhibits
Discover our suggestions for exploring the museum’s branches. See the most important works in a single day, discover the lives of the greatest artists, or discover unusual works from bygone eras.
Ścieżka zwiedzania prowadzi przez trzy oddziały Muzeum Narodowego w Krakowie – Pałacu Książąt Czartoryskich, Arsenału oraz Domu Jana Matejki – ukazując, w jaki sposób sztuka przez stulecia budowała obraz państwa i pamięci narodowej.
He was a painter, graphic artist and designer; he explored new avenues in literature and experimented in theatre. You’ll find traces of Stanisław Wyspiański all over Kraków, as the artist had a direct influence on the way we see the city.
