Museum of the Medical University in Łódź

The Museum of the Medical University in Łódź, on ulica gen. Lucjana Żeligowskiego, has operated continuously since 1972 and continues to welcome visitors every Saturday. It is the only institution in Poland that, alongside the history of civilian medicine, holds collections relating to military healthcare.

History of the museum

The museum opened on 22 January 1972 at the Department of History of Sciences and Military Medicine of the Medical University in Łódź. Since then, the museum has operated on the same basis: as a place combining academic teaching with the presentation of collections to the wider public. The exhibition occupies approximately 800 square metres.

What can be seen

The collections include historical medical texts and rare prints, including the herbal "Zielnik" by Szymon Syreński from 1613. On display are also medical instruments, uniforms of military doctors from Napoleonic times to the present day, and mementos of prominent figures in medicine, including Robert Koch. Among the larger exhibits is a field tent equipped with surgical equipment and a two-wheeled cart used for transporting wounded soldiers, in use until 1939.

Dioramas from the battlefield

A distinctive element of the exhibition is dioramas showing the provision of medical aid directly on the battlefield. They depict the working conditions of military doctors and medical orderlies in various historical periods, from Napoleonic wars to the twentieth century.

Guided tours

Tours of the museum are led by volunteers, students from the Military-Medical Faculty of the university. This format makes the visit intimate and allows visitors to ask questions of people who are themselves preparing for a career in medicine.

Correction of status

The museum is sometimes marked as permanently closed in Google Maps data. This is an error: the facility has operated continuously since 1972, has regular opening hours and regularly welcomes visitors on Saturdays.

Nearby

A short walk away is Park Staszica, one of Łódź's oldest city parks, with a pond and monuments under conservation protection.

Practical information

• Address: ul. gen. Lucjana Żeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Łódź
• Getting there: trams and buses of the city transport serving ulica Żeligowskiego, parking on the Medical University grounds
• What to expect: visits on Saturdays 14:00–18:00, free admission, guided tours by volunteer students, it is worth booking your visit in advance