Centralne Muzeum Jeńców Wojennych

About the museum

The Central Museum of Prisoners of War was established in 1964 as a branch of the Muzeum Śląska Opolskiego, and has operated as an independent institution since 1965. It has borne its current name since 2018. It belongs to the martyrology museums which, after the Second World War, took up the documentation of war crimes and the remembrance of the victims. It deals with the two prisoner-of-war systems of the Second World War, German and Soviet, and in particular with the fate of Polish prisoners of war and soldiers interned in neutral countries.

The seat in Łambinowice (formerly Lamsdorf) occupies buildings from the 1930s, the former Wehrmacht headquarters and a guardhouse. Nearby, remains of a German training ground, prisoner-of-war camps and a labour camp survive, as well as three war cemeteries. This whole area, together with the museum buildings, forms the Łambinowice National Memorial Site (Miejsce Pamięci Narodowej). In 1939–1945 one of the largest prisoner-of-war camp complexes in Europe for soldiers of the anti-Hitler coalition operated here.

The Opole seat at ul. Minorytów 3 has been in use since 1988. The building, already mentioned in the 18th century, was probably a malthouse, later a town jail, and during the occupation a Gestapo prison. The museum’s collections number several tens of thousands of items, including over 11 thousand objects related to prisoners and camp administration, and about 20 thousand archival units. A new permanent exhibition is currently being prepared in Łambinowice, while visitors can see temporary exhibitions and the outdoor exhibition “Miejsce z blizną” (A Place with a Scar).

Key themes

• Outdoor exhibition “A Place with a Scar” on the grounds of the former Stalag 318/VIII F (344) Lamsdorf camp
• Permanent exhibition in Opole on the Łambinowice National Memorial Site
• Collections of prisoner-of-war memorabilia and archive materials, among the richest in Poland
• Three war cemeteries and the post-camp grounds in Łambinowice
• Free admission for all visitors

Permanent exhibitions

• Miejsce z blizną – Outdoor educational exhibition on the grounds of the former Stalag 318/VIII F (344) Lamsdorf prisoner-of-war camp, with a model of the camp, a timeline, an art installation and the Wall of Reflection. Access is open.
• Miejsce Pamięci Narodowej w Łambinowicach – dziedzictwo regionalne, narodowe, europejskie – Exhibition at the Opole seat of the museum, consisting of seven parts, showing the history of the National Memorial Site, its cemeteries and post-camp grounds, and the museum’s activities.

Founded

1964

Operated by

Centralne Muzeum Jeńców Wojennych

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is free for all visitors. Guided tours can be ordered for a fee after prior booking of a date; the fee depends on group size (up to 10, 20 or 30 people). Versions with a study stay of up to 6 hours are also available, as well as a guiding service in a foreign language around the Memorial Site. A fee of PLN 6 per person applies for showing an educational film, and PLN 120 for hire of a melex or a car with driver (up to 7 people, 2 hours).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: not available
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

In Opole the entrance is on the ground floor; the reception has an induction loop and a tactile floor plan, and a hydraulic platform lift connects the ground floor with the exhibition rooms and the cellar. One parking space for people with disabilities is designated in front of the museum. In Łambinowice the entrance is barrier-free; a hydraulic platform lift serves the ground floor and the first floor, adapted toilets are on the ground floor, and an induction loop works at the reception and in the shop. There is no separate parking space, but it is possible to park close to the entrance. A tactile guiding path leads to the guardhouse (ul. Muzealna 2). There are no Braille signs in Łambinowice. A sign language interpreter is not available.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

The museum runs museum lessons and workshops for pupils. The subject of the prisoner-of-war camps is serious, so it is best suited to older children and young people.

Getting there & parking

By car, about 15 km from the A4 motorway (Nysa–Opole exit). The grounds of the Memorial Site can be explored on foot or by bicycle; the museum rents out bicycles. The exhibition “A Place with a Scar” is about 2 km from the museum, on a forest road, and can also be reached from the village of Szadurczyce.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

In Łambinowice there is a shop with publications and souvenirs; books can also be bought in the museum’s online shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Conference room hire: PLN 150 per hour, or PLN 200 per hour with multimedia equipment.

Plan your visit