Beskidzki Dom Zielin „Przytulia”

About the museum

The wooden Dom Katolicko-Ludowy (Catholic People's House) in Brenna was built in 1923 on the initiative of Catholic youth associations during the great economic crisis, funded by donations, loans and the work of local residents. It was blessed by Prelate Józef Londzin, who later became the patron of the house. The building housed a large hall with a stage, a library and premises for the associations; concerts and theatre performances took place there. After the war, the authorities took it over and set up a cinema hall in it, and in 1995 it returned to the Church, to the parish of St John the Baptist.

After a renovation carried out as part of the Polish-Czech project “Silesian Beskids – Common Heritage”, the building received a new purpose. Beskidzki Dom Zielin “Przytulia” presents the heritage of the highlanders of the Silesian Beskids through the lens of herbs. The name comes from bedstraw (przytulia), a plant now regarded as a weed that was formerly used in herbal medicine and to curdle milk in cheese-making.

The multimedia permanent exhibition shows how herbs functioned in the culture and daily life of the highlanders, in four thematic areas. The exhibits, dried herbs and models can be touched and smelled. Around the house grows a herbarium, i.e. a herb garden, and the visit programme includes a film screening and a tasting of Brenna herbal tea. The house also runs workshops, temporary exhibitions, concerts and meetings; it is managed by the Ośrodek Promocji, Kultury i Sportu Gminy Brenna (Municipal Centre for Promotion, Culture and Sport of Brenna).

Highlights

• Multimedia permanent exhibition on herbs in the culture of the Silesian highlanders
• Exhibits that can be touched and smelled
• Herbarium – herb garden around the building
• Film screening and tasting of herbal tea
• Historic wooden Dom Katolicko-Ludowy from 1923

Permanent exhibition

• Funkcjonowanie ziół w kulturze i życiu górali śląskich – Multimedia permanent exhibition in four sections: health and illness, the family home, the field and the farmstead, and holidays and Sundays.

Operated by

Ośrodek Promocji, Kultury i Sportu Gminy Brenna

Admission & discounts

The price of PLN 15 (adults) and PLN 10 (children) applies to the tour including the film and the herbal tea tasting.

Accessibility

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

Three entrances at ground level lead into the building, and each can be reached by wheelchair; the ground-floor exhibition room is accessible to wheelchair users, and the building has one accessible toilet. The exhibition room has basic descriptions in Braille and some material in audio form. Assistance dogs are allowed in the building. The nearest accessible parking spaces are in front of the municipal office (1 space, approx. 350 m) and by Hotel “Kotarz” (2 spaces, approx. 300 m); the bus stop is approx. 350 m away.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Exhibits and herbs can be touched and smelled, and workshops are held for children's groups, e.g. making herbal incense sticks (from age 3).

Getting there & parking

The bus stop is approx. 350 m from the building; there are car parks nearby at the municipal office and at Hotel “Kotarz”.

Amenities & dining

The visit programme includes a tasting of fruit and herbal Brenna tea.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

Rental of the large hall (chairs for 100 people): conferences PLN 150 net per hour, workshops and meetings PLN 100 net, concerts PLN 300 net (prices plus 23% VAT).

Plan your visit