Dom Rodzinny Ojca Świętego Jana Pawła II w Wadowicach
Museum in the tenement house at ul. Kościelna 7, where Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul II, was born in 1920.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The house at ul. Kościelna 7 in Wadowice is a tenement house from the late 19th century, where Karol Wojtyła was born on 18 May 1920. The family rented the flat from the owner, Chiel Bałamuth, and in 1938 moved to Kraków.
After Cardinal Wojtyła was elected pope in October 1978, pilgrims and journalists began to visit the flat. On the initiative of the local parish priest, the tenants were relocated, the building was renovated, and the museum opened on 18 May 1984. In 1997 it was enlarged with two rooms on the upper floor.
In 2006 a foundation bought the tenement house and handed it over to the Archdiocese of Kraków, and in 2010 a new cultural institution was established. Based on a design by the Kłaput Project studio, the building was returned to its appearance from the 1930s, and the Wojtyła family flat was recreated on the basis of witnesses’ accounts. The new permanent exhibition opened on 9 April 2014.
The exhibition is set up in the original rooms of the house and shows the life of Karol Wojtyła from childhood, through his Kraków years, to his pontificate. The museum also runs educational activities and collects memorabilia connected with the Pope.
Highlights
- Recreated flat of the Wojtyła family
- Permanent exhibition on the life of John Paul II in the original rooms
- Guided tour, audio guide or individual visit
- Sensory route and facilities for people with disabilities
Permanent exhibition
- Wystawa stała: życie Karola Wojtyły – Jana Pawła II – The exhibition in the original rooms of the house shows the Wojtyła family’s flat and the life of the future pope in successive periods.
- Founded
- 1984
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 34 zł |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 27 złchildren, pupils, students, people with disabilities, seniors over 65, pensioners and early retirees, and other persons listed in the regulations |
| Children & teens | 27 złfree up to age 6 · Children under 7 enter free of charge but need a ticket, which can be ordered online or collected at the ticket office. |
| Seniors | 27 złReduced ticket for people over 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | 27 złcompanion free · The reduced ticket is granted regardless of the type and degree of disability. |
| Students & apprentices | 27 zł |
| Groups (10+ people) | 33 zł per personPrice per person, standard ticket; reduced PLN 26. With audio guide PLN 33 (reduced PLN 26), with guide PLN 40 (reduced PLN 33). |
| Families | 85 złUp to 5 people: 1–2 adults and up to 3 children under 16 (with audio guide PLN 100, with guide PLN 110). |
| Ticket with audio guide (standard) | 44 złReduced PLN 37. |
| Ticket with guide (standard) | 49 złReduced PLN 42. |
| Ticket with the Large Family Card | 17 złReduced PLN 13.50; with audio guide PLN 22 / PLN 18.50, with guide PLN 24.50 / PLN 21; individual tickets only. |
| Ticket for residents of Wadowice county | 15 złThe price applies to all visit variants. |
| Ticket for activists of the anti-communist opposition | 1 zł |
Free admission: Individual visits on Tuesdays are free, except for the last Tuesday of the month; free tickets are released online two weeks in advance.
Advance booking online is recommended, especially from May to October; the number of tickets at the ticket office is limited. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. Free admission is also granted to carers of people with disabilities, holders of the Karta Polaka (Pole’s Card) and supervisors of school groups (one per 15 children).
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description
Floors are connected by lifts and ramps (the ramp between floors has an 8% gradient with landings, and the first zone has cobblestones). An induction loop, a Polish Sign Language interpreter, tactile description and audio description, a guide in easy-to-read language and a sensory route are available. Accessibility coordinator: dostepnosc@domjp2.pl, tel. 693 592 805.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 6 |
| Family ticket | 85 zł · Up to 5 people: 1–2 adults and up to 3 children under 16 (with audio guide PLN 100, with guide PLN 110). |
A family ticket (up to 5 people) is available, and children under 7 enter free of charge. The museum offers workshops and educational sessions as well as tours for school classes.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
ul. Lwowska
By bus to the stop at ul. Lwowska or to the bus station, or by train to the railway station; from there on foot towards the market square.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park of its own. In the centre there are free spaces along the streets, car parks (some paid) and spaces for coaches.
- Accessible parking
Vehicle traffic is prohibited in front of the entrance, so passengers cannot be dropped off directly at the entrance. The ticket office is at ul. Kościelna 2 (Ogród Pielgrzyma).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum shop is open during exhibition hours, with a break from 13:30 to 14:00.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 70 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Booking is not mandatory but is recommended. A guided tour takes about 70 minutes, and a visit with audio guide about 60 minutes; individual visits have no time limit. Group bookings: tel. 33 823 35 65 or 33 823 26 62 (Mon–Fri 8:00–15:00), rezerwacja@domjp2.pl. |
