Czartoryski Museum

The Czartoryski Museum is an art museum in the heart of the Old Town of Krakow, housed in three historic buildings that hold European paintings, antiques, and decorative works. The rooms stretch across several floors, connecting halls with high ceilings, narrow galleries, and cabinets where paintings, sculptures, and weapons are displayed side by side.

The collection began at the end of the 18th century when a Polish princess gathered artworks and memorabilia to preserve the country's cultural heritage. After years moving through Europe, the ensemble found its permanent home in Krakow in the mid-19th century.

The name honors the noble family who gathered this collection over centuries and saw themselves as guardians of Polish treasures. Visitors see European paintings alongside armor, weapons, and decorative objects once kept in the family's estates.

The museum opens its doors from Tuesday to Sunday, between late morning and early evening, and remains closed on Mondays. Visitors receive a floor plan at the entrance that helps with navigating the rooms spread over several levels.

One room displays Ottoman battle standards and armor pieces captured during 17th-century fighting near Vienna. These military trophies hung in Warsaw palaces for many years before joining the current collection.

Location: Kraków

Inception: 1796

Founders: Izabela Czartoryska

Official opening: 1887

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Fee: Yes

Part of: National Museum in Kraków

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-18:00

Phone: +48123705466

Website: https://mnk.pl/oddzial/muzeum-ksiazat-czartoryskich

GPS coordinates: 50.06464,19.93997

Latest update: December 20, 2025 11:58