Muzea: Stare Polesie

Stare Polesie has one of the densest networks of museums in Łódź - from a large contemporary art institution, through intimate galleries in historic villas, to military and medical museums. All of them lie within a walk of a dozen or so minutes from each other, so they can be combined into a single day of sightseeing.

Where to start when visiting the museums of Stare Polesie?

The natural starting point is ms1, one of the seats of the Museum of Art in Łódź, housed in the neo-Renaissance palace of the Poznański family at Więckowskiego 36, modelled on Venetian architecture. It is a large collection of contemporary art, with free admission every Friday and a combined pass covering three branches of the museum, valid for two days.

A little further on, at Wólczańska 31, in the cellars of the Art Nouveau Willa Leopolda Kindermanna is home to Galeria Chimera - a place for experimental and avant-garde art, with free admission. It is a good contrast to the large ms1: an intimate space geared towards artists seeking new forms.

Where in Stare Polesie can you see history up close?

The Muzeum Tradycji Niepodległościowych (Museum of Independence Traditions) at Gdańska 13 is housed in a former Tsarist prison from 1883-1885, and its exhibits tell the story both of this place and of more than a hundred years of Polish efforts towards independence. At Żeligowskiego 7/9, on the grounds of a former barracks, is the Izba Pamięci 28 Pułku Strzelców Kaniowskich (Memorial Room of the 28th Kaniów Riflemen Regiment), devoted to a unit known as the Children of Łódź - an intimate exhibition with documents and photographs, run by a local historical association.

At the same address, Żeligowskiego 7/9, the Muzeum Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi (Museum of the Medical University of Łódź) has operated continuously since 1972 - the only institution in Poland combining the history of civilian and military medicine, with a herbarium from 1613 and dioramas depicting battlefield scenes. It welcomes visitors on Saturdays.

Which museum in Stare Polesie will kids like?

For families with children, the most interesting pair of intimate venues is Muzeum Sztuki Iluzji (Museum of Illusion) in the villa of Teodor Milsch at Łąkowa 21, opened in 2012 by the Łódź illusionist group Kreators, and the Muzeum Książki Dziecięcej (Museum of the Children's Book) at Gdańska 100/102, which holds around 30,000 volumes of literature for the youngest readers, from the 18th century to contemporary interactive editions. Both exhibitions are small, so they combine well into one afternoon along with the rest of the route.

Practical info: tickets, hours, visiting time

The pass for ms1 also covers the other two branches of the Museum of Art in Łódź and costs 50 PLN standard, 25 PLN reduced, valid for two days - it is worth validating it right away at the ticket office. Galeria Chimera and some of the smaller museums have free or very affordable admission, but opening hours can vary, so it is better to check them before leaving home. The full route of seven museums takes a relaxed full day, though it can be shortened to three or four stops for a single afternoon.

Frequently asked questions about the museums of Stare Polesie

Which museum in Stare Polesie has free admission?

You can visit free of charge, among others, Galeria Chimera in the Kindermann villa, and ms1 offers free admission every Friday.

Can you visit all the museums of Stare Polesie in one day?

Yes, they all lie close to each other, but with seven venues it is worth planning a full day or choosing a few of the most interesting ones.

What makes the Museum of the Medical University of Łódź stand out?

It is the only institution in Poland that, alongside the history of civilian medicine, also holds collections related to military medical service.

The museums of Stare Polesie are well complemented by the page kultura na Starym Polesiu (culture in Stare Polesie) with libraries and a music academy, and a wider selection is given by the section muzea w województwie łódzkim (museums in the Łódź region). The full list of the district's attractions is shown on the page atrakcje na Starym Polesiu (attractions in Stare Polesie), and all places at once - the mapa atrakcji (attractions map) and the full katalog atrakcji regionu (catalogue of regional attractions).