Twenty-one historic buildings in the heart of the historic center of Krakow: it is not a conventional museum complex, but a widespread system that transforms the entire old town into a journey through centuries of Polish history. The Museum of the History of Krakow, known in Polish as Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa, collects collections that span from the Middle Ages to World War II, distributed in venues that are themselves architectural monuments of extraordinary value.
Founded in 1899, the museum has progressively expanded its network of venues to include Renaissance palaces, medieval towers, and 20th-century factories. Each venue retains its own narrative identity, making each visit a standalone and distinct experience. Among the most particular attractions are a still-functioning Renaissance pharmacy, a medieval torture chamber, and the famous Schindler's Factory, which hosts one of the most engaging exhibitions on World War II in Europe.
The Schindler Factory: an immersion in the Twentieth Century
The most visited site of the entire museum system is the Oskar Schindler Factory, located at number 4 Lipowa Street, in the Podgórze district. The building, which during World War II housed a real production of pots and kitchen utensils under the management of the German entrepreneur Oskar Schindler, today hosts a permanent exhibition titled Krakow under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945. The setup, inaugurated in 2010, occupies about 4,000 square meters and uses scenic reconstructions, original documents, period photographs, and sound installations to tell the story of daily life under the Nazi regime.
The visitor physically traverses reconstructed environments: a ghetto pharmacy, an apartment from the era, the streets of the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz. The narrative is not limited to Schindler's story but broadens the perspective to the deportation of Krakow's Jews, Polish resistance, and the life of civilians during the occupation. It is advisable to book tickets online several days in advance, especially in the summer months: the factory is often sold out weeks in advance.
The Krzysztofory Palace and the Renaissance Pharmacy
In the heart of the Main Market Square, the Krzysztofory Palace houses the main headquarters of the museum, with collections dedicated to the history of the city from the Middle Ages to the modern age. The building dates back to the 14th century and was subsequently rebuilt in Renaissance and Baroque style. Inside, there are works of art, historical furnishings, ancient maps of Krakow, and objects of daily life that document the urban evolution of the city.
One of the most appreciated curiosities by visitors is the Pharmacy Under the Black Eagle, located on Szeroka Street in the Kazimierz district. This pharmacy, active for centuries in the history of the Jewish ghetto of Krakow, is now a museum that preserves original furnishings, period pharmaceutical instruments, and documentation about its history during the Nazi occupation. Tadeusz Pankiewicz, the Polish pharmacist who managed the establishment during the war, was the only non-Jew to live within the ghetto: his story is told through documents and authentic objects displayed in the very rooms where he operated.
The Town Hall Tower and the torture chamber
In the Market Square stands the Town Hall Tower, the only surviving part of the ancient medieval town hall demolished in 1820. The tower, about 70 meters high, houses a small collection of Gothic sculptures and offers a panoramic view of the largest square in medieval Europe. In the cellars of the tower, there is a reconstruction of a medieval torture chamber, with original instruments and explanatory panels illustrating the judicial system of the time.
The climb to the tower requires a certain physical endurance due to the steep and narrow internal staircase, but the view of the rooftops of the historic center and the dome of the Basilica of Santa Maria more than compensates for the effort. The ticket for the tower is separate from the other museum locations and can be purchased directly on site.
Practical Information for the Visit
Given the distribution across 21 locations, it is practically impossible to visit the entire museum system in one day. The most effective strategy is to choose two or three locations based on your interests: the Schindler Factory alone requires at least two hours, while the Krzysztofory Palace and the Town Hall Tower can be combined in one morning. The combined ticket for multiple locations offers savings compared to single purchases.
Most locations are within walking distance from the historic center or the Kazimierz district. For the Schindler Factory, located in Podgórze, the tram that crosses the Vistula River is convenient. The explanatory panels at the main locations are available in Polish and English; some exhibitions also offer audio guides in German and other languages. The best time to avoid queues is early in the morning on weekdays, preferably outside the summer period between July and August.
