National Museum in Kraków facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
National Museum in Kraków

Main Building
Established	7 October 1879
Location	3 May Street Kraków, Poland
Type	National museum

The National Museum in Kraków (called MNK for short) is the biggest museum in Poland. It's like the main hub for Poland's National Museum system. This amazing museum started way back in 1879.

It has 21 different parts, including 11 art galleries, 2 libraries, and 12 workshops where old art is fixed. Imagine this: it holds about 780,000 art pieces! These range from ancient history to modern art, with a special focus on Polish paintings. In 2023, over 1.65 million people visited, making it one of the most popular art museums in Poland and even the world!

Where is the Museum Located?

The Kraków National Museum first opened in the Sukiennice building. This old building is in the Kraków Old Town's Main Square. Today, it is still one of the museum's most popular spots.

The museum's main building, called the New Main Building, is on 3 Maja Street. Construction started in 1934 but stopped during World War II. It was finally finished in 1992. Most of the museum's huge collection is kept here. There are also nine other museum locations around the city.

During World War II, many artworks from the museum were taken by the German forces. After the war, the Polish government worked hard to get many of these pieces back. However, over 1,000 artworks are still missing today.

What Can You See at the Museum?

The Main Building has a newly updated gallery. It shows Polish art from the 20th century. This is one of the largest collections of paintings and sculptures from the late 1800s onwards in Poland.

You can see famous works by artists like Jacek Malczewski and Leon Wyczółkowski. There is also a large collection of art by Stanisław Wyspiański. The museum also displays art from after the wars. This includes works by Polish cubists, expressionists, and avant-garde artists.

The museum's collection includes masterpieces from the Young Poland movement. This was a time when Polish artists created new and exciting art. You can see paintings by Olga Boznańska and Józef Pankiewicz. There are also works by modern artists like Tadeusz Kantor and Alina Szapocznikow.

Cool Weapons and Armor

The museum has a special section for military items. It shows weapons and armor from the 12th to the 20th century. You can see Polish armor from the 1600s and 1700s. There are also Polish sabers, old firearms, and military uniforms.

The museum also has a collection of weapons from other parts of Europe and Asia. These items are shown in an exhibition called "Arms and Colours."

Beautiful Decorative Arts

The Decorative Arts and Crafts Gallery displays many beautiful objects. You can see items made of gold, silver, and precious stones. These pieces date from the 1100s to the 1700s. There are also objects made from copper, pewter, and iron.

The gallery features old furniture, musical instruments, and clocks. You can also see ceramics and glass, including amazing stained-glass windows from Kraków's churches. The museum has one of Poland's largest collections of old Polish and Oriental rugs. It also has a collection of costumes from the 1500s to the 1900s.

Museum Locations Around the City

The National Museum in Kraków is spread across several buildings. Here are some of its main locations:

• The Main Building, at 3 Maja St., shows nearly 500 works by Poland's top modern artists.
• Gallery of the 19th Century Polish Art in Sukiennice has famous paintings from the Young Poland Movement.
• Czartoryski Museum, Library and Arsenal, is famous for Leonardo da Vinci's painting of Lady with an Ermine. It also has other old master paintings.
• The newest part, called EUROPEUM, opened in 2013. It has over a hundred Western European paintings, including one by Pieter Brueghel the Younger.
• Bishop Erazm Ciołek Palace displays Polish Gothic, renaissance, and baroque art.
• Stanisław Wyspiański Museum is dedicated to the famous Polish artist Stanisław Wyspiański.
• Jan Matejko House on Floriańska Street was the home of a famous Polish painter.
• Józef Mehoffer House was the home of another important artist.
• Szołayski's House hosts temporary art exhibitions.
• Emeryk Hutten-Czapski Museum has a large collection of old coins and medals.
• Karol Szymanowski Museum at Villa Atma in Zakopane is dedicated to a famous composer.
• Cracovia Hotel is another location connected to the museum.

In 2009, a new project called "Museum Forum" started. It aims to promote art in front of the Main Building. A design by architect Michal Bernasik was chosen for this project.

Gallery of Artworks

Images for kids

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  Throning Madonna of Rabka, Lesser Poland

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  The Fight Between Carnival and Lent, Pieter Bruegel the Elder

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  Historical scene, Pieter Codde

See Also

• Culture of Kraków
• National Museum, Poznań
• National Museum, Warsaw
• National Museum, Wrocław
• Culture of Poland
• Beautiful Virgin Mary from Krużlowa