Muzeum Książąt Czartoryskich – Arsenał

About the museum

The Arsenal at ul. Pijarska 8 was built in 1565–1566 as a store for weapons and gunpowder; it was the second municipal arsenal in Kraków. Initially a single-storey sandstone building stood by the city walls, and in 1854–1861 Antoni Stacherski added a floor and gave it an early Renaissance character. In 1874 the city handed over the building, together with the Stolarska and Ciesielska towers, to Prince Władysław Czartoryski for museum purposes, and in 1876 the first part of the Czartoryski Museum opened here. For a long time the Czartoryski library was also housed here.

The façade was renovated in 2014–2016, and from 2017 the National Museum in Kraków carried out a comprehensive renovation, including the reconstruction of the historic roof and the conservation of the interiors.

On the ground floor the exhibition “Broń i Barwa w dawnej Polsce” (Arms and Colours in Old Poland) presents a collection of militaria: armour, weapons and uniforms; it has been shown here since 2023. On the first floor is the Gallery of Ancient Art, whose core is a collection acquired by Prince Władysław Czartoryski in the second half of the 19th century. In the neighbouring towers visitors can see a selection of Greek and Roman coins and finds from Polish lands from the prehistoric Czartoryski collection.

Highlights

• Gallery of Ancient Art with a collection from the 19th century
• “Broń i Barwa w dawnej Polsce” (Arms and Colours in Old Poland): armour, weapons and uniforms
• Greek and Roman coins in the towers
• Monument from 1565–1566 by the city walls
• Audio guide also in Polish Sign Language and with audio description

Permanent exhibitions

• Broń i Barwa w dawnej Polsce – The ground-floor exhibition presents the militaria collection of the National Museum: armour, weapons and uniforms from old Poland.
• Galeria Sztuki Starożytnej – The first-floor exhibition shows the art of ancient cultures, including the collection acquired by Prince Władysław Czartoryski in the second half of the 19th century; in the towers visitors can see Greek and Roman coins and prehistoric finds.

Founded

1876

Operated by

Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Tuesdays – free admission to the permanent exhibitions.

Holders of the Large Family Card, the Kraków Family Card 3+ and the Kraków Card (20% discount on the permanent exhibitions) receive discounts. Free admission is granted, among others, to children under 7, children from large families up to age 18, museum employees, members of ICOM and ICOMOS, holders of the Polish Card (Karta Polaka) and veterans. The ticket to the Czartoryski Museum (ul. Pijarska 15) also covers the permanent exhibitions in the Arsenal.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The building is accessible to wheelchair users: the entrance has a ramp with handrails and a low threshold, and a lift runs from level –1 to the first floor. Wheelchairs and portable seats can be borrowed at the ticket office. On level –1 there are a cloakroom, toilets (including a toilet for people with disabilities) and a baby changing table. For blind and partially sighted visitors there are tactile paths at the entrance, tactile bins (at the ticket offices, cloakrooms or quiet zones), audio description and an audio guide also in Polish Sign Language; at the end of the Gallery of Ancient Art there is a quiet zone with a sensory basket. Assistance dogs are welcome. Accessibility contact: dostepnosc@mnk.pl, tel. +48 609 430 129.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

A family ticket, a family audio-guide route and the sensory tour “Broń i barwa” for families with children are available; the building has a baby changing table.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

The cloakroom, toilets and baby changing table are on level –1; visitors can use Wi-Fi. A café and shop operate in the neighbouring Czartoryski Museum at ul. Pijarska 15.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit