Izba Pamięci Hugona Kołłątaja w Wiśniowej

About the museum

The Izba Pamięci Hugona Kołłątaja (Hugo Kołłątaj Memorial Room) in Wiśniowa was founded in 1967. Its founder and first curator was Jan Henryk Góral, a resident of Sztomberg, who collected mementos of Kołłątaj and held this role until his death in 1984. The collections are housed in a two-storey palace from the first half of the 18th century, once owned by the Kołłątaj family. Hugo Kołłątaj, co-author of the Constitution of 3 May, visited his brother Rafał here, founded a library in Wiśniowa and designed the park around the palace. His heart is kept in the local parish church.

The palace served for many years as a school. From 2018 the Staszów municipality restored it in stages, with help from EU funds and the Ministry of Culture. The renovated building was officially opened on 14 August 2022. It now serves as a cultural centre, hosting concerts, conferences and exhibitions, and children and young people take part in workshops there. The renovation also covered the memorial room.

The exhibition displays documents and early printed books connected with Kołłątaj, including first editions of his works, such as “Prawo polityczne narodu polskiego” (Political Law of the Polish Nation) from 1790, and a letter from 1798. It shows the handwritten copy of the Constitution of 3 May found in the palace, numerous editions of the constitution, clothing probably belonging to Kołłątaj, and reproductions of paintings depicting the framers and the adoption of the constitution. The exhibition has been expanded with rooms on the church in Wiśniowa, the former palace, everyday life in 18th-century Poland, and places from Kołłątaj's childhood and youth.

Highlights

• Handwritten copy of the Constitution of 3 May found in the palace
• First editions of Kołłątaj's works, including “Prawo polityczne narodu polskiego”
• Hugo Kołłątaj's study and a 19th-century stairwell
• Reproductions of paintings of the framers of the Constitution of 3 May
• Historic palace with a park laid out by Kołłątaj

Permanent exhibition

• Izba Pamięci Hugona Kołłątaja – Documents, early printed books and editions of the Constitution of 3 May connected with Kołłątaj, the handwritten constitution found in the palace, and rooms on the church, the palace and 18th-century Poland.

Founded

1967

Operated by

Gmina Staszów

Admission & discounts

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Accessibility

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Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Creative workshops for children and young people are held at the palace, including cooking and art classes.

Getting there & parking

The palace stands in the village of Wiśniowa in the Staszów municipality, in a park laid out in the 18th century.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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