Kazimierzowski Castle in Opoczno with the Regional Museum

Kazimierzowski Castle in Opoczno, built around 1365 on the orders of Casimir the Great, now houses the Regional Museum in Opoczno, which has operated continuously since 1 January 1976. The monument stands on Plac Zamkowy in the city centre and is its main historical attraction.

A medieval royal residence

The castle was built around 1365 as a royal residence and seat of the monarch's territorial administrator, also serving as a place of residence for the king during his travels through the country. It served defensive and administrative functions, symbolising royal authority in the Opoczno territory.

Damage, ruin and reconstruction

The castle suffered significant damage during the Swedish Deluge in 1655, though it continued to be used in subsequent years. By 1844-1846 the building had fallen into ruin, losing its defensive function. After 1874 a new building serving utilitarian purposes was erected on the old medieval foundations, and in 1927 it was rebuilt in the Neo-Renaissance style to a design by architect Majewski, acquiring richer architectural forms. Modern adaptation for museum purposes began in 1976 under the direction of architect J. Mackiewicz and lasted many years.

The castle is characterised by three vaulted chambers with walls 2.5 metres thick, in which original medieval defensive walls have been preserved, combined with later Renaissance additions. The monument is entered in the register of historic monuments of Łódź Voivodeship.

The founding of the museum and its collections

The Regional Museum in Opoczno was established on 1 January 1976. The core of the collection consisted of items donated by the Society of Friends of the Opoczno Region, supplemented by purchases from the National Museum in Warsaw and the National Museum in Poznań, as well as gifts from local craftspeople and residents of the region.

Departments and organisation

The museum operates in seven divisions: the ethnography department, the archaeology and numismatics department, the history and art history department, the educational department, the library, the secretariat and the administrative and financial office. The director is Adam Grabowski. The activities of the institution are overseen by a five-person Museum Board appointed by the mayor of Opoczno, composed of Andrzej Białkowski, Krzysztof Czajkowski, Katarzyna Wągiel, Paweł Wąs and Edward Zagdański.

What to see in the exhibitions

The permanent exhibition takes you through the history of the Opoczno region from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, with a separate section devoted to Opoczno during the Second World War. Folk sculpture of the region occupies separate halls, as does a reconstruction of the interior of a traditional Opoczno cottage and a collection of folk costumes, for which Opoczno is known nationally. In display cases you can also see militaria from various historical periods, documents, paper cuts, decorated eggs, paintings, ceramics and numismatic items and archaeological artefacts excavated in the district.

Practical information

• Address: Plac Zamkowy 1, 26-300 Opoczno.
• Getting there: the castle stands in the centre of Opoczno, near the market square and the main streets of the city, easily reached on foot.
• Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8:00-15:30, Saturday 10:00-16:00, on Sundays and public holidays the museum admits groups of more than 20 people by prior arrangement. It is worth checking the hours on www.muzeumopoczno.pl before your visit, as they may change.
• What to expect: visiting seven themed halls within the historic castle walls, 2.5-metre-thick defensive walls, an ethnographic exhibition of the Opoczno region and a reconstruction of the interior of a village cottage. The museum is on the route of sightseeing in central Opoczno, so it is easy to combine a visit with a walk around the surrounding market square.