Arms and Uniforms in Poland (permanent)

The Gallery holds Poland’s second largest, after the Museum of Polish Armed Forces in Warsaw, collection of historic arms and military memorabilia. It was established in 1991 and has become somewhat “antiquated” over the past 18 years. On 6th March 2009, after several months of renovation work, the rejuvenated Gallery, with a display area of nearly 1200 square meters, was reopened to the public. The walls are no longer painted in shades of grey reminiscent of military uniforms. Now every room is painted in its own distinct and lively colours to match the character of the exhibits on display. The gallery has over 1600 objects relating to a 1000 years of Polish military history from the 10th century to World War 2. This is one of the largest collections of militaria, uniforms, weapons and memorabilia of all types in Poland.
The recently renovated and conveniently arranged display cabinets contain a vast array of beautiful works of artistic craftsmanship and memorabilia linked to the most important events in Poland’s history. There are items related to Polish hetmans, e.g. Stefan Czarniecki’s horse tack (including a saddle ornamented with precious stones and a shabraque), Stanisław Jabłonowski’s scale armour and gilded ceremonial mace and the only surviving hetman’s ensign that once belonged to Hieronim Lubomirski. You can also see relics associated with other famous Polish military leaders: Tadeusz Kościuszko’s homespun peasant’s coat, the world’s only specimen of the Star of the Grand Cross of Virtuti Militari awarded to Prince Józef Poniatowski, or Józef Piłsudski’s service dress tunic. The gallery has unique collections of Polish sabres, arms and armour of Polish winged hussars, Polish military badges and insignia as well as a truly unique collection of Polish uniforms spanning the period from the 18th to the 20th century. Enthusiasts of historic innovations in weapon design will be probably interested in mace pistols, multi-barrelled volley-guns or companion weapons such as swordbreakers or trident daggers used to parry thrusts or trap the blade of an opponent’s sword or rapier. For everyone who would like to find out how different weapons worked, we have prepared special exhibits you can touch and explore. We have even recreated a trench where you can have a photo of yourself taken in a soldier’s uniform.

Tickets: PLN 10/5, PLN 15 – family