Museum of Pawiak Prison, Prison museum in Śródmieście, Warsaw, Poland.
The Museum of Pawiak Prison occupies restored prison blocks VII and VIII, featuring recreated cells and corridors with equipment and items from the World War II era. The exhibition displays original cell doors, locks, and objects used or made by inmates during their confinement.
The prison opened in 1835 and operated for over a century before becoming a center of Nazi repression during World War II. The facility held tens of thousands of people who faced execution or deportation.
The name derives from a Polish word relating to the place's function as a center of control and surveillance during its operational years. Visitors can observe how spaces were organized and see craftwork made by inmates, which reveals details about their daily routines and ways of coping.
The museum sits on Dzielna Street and is easily reached on foot, with clearly marked rooms throughout. Allow two to three hours to walk through the exhibition and read the information displays.
A bronze replica of a tree stands at the entrance, marking where families once left memorial plaques for imprisoned relatives. This gesture reveals how people found ways to keep connections alive even under the harshest circumstances.
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