Chata Kawuloka
A historic wooden cottage from 1863 with a kurny (smoke) oven – the house museum of folklorist Jan Kawulok, maker of shepherd instruments in Istebna.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The wooden cottage in Istebna dates from 1863 and for decades was the home of Jan Kawulok, a folklorist, musician, performer of folk instruments and storyteller, who received the Oskar Kolberg Award. Kawulok decided to furnish it as a regional room, so as to “stop time” and preserve the way of life of Istebna’s residents in the second half of the 19th century. He died in 1976.
After his death his daughter Zuzanna, also a storyteller, took over the care of the house. It is now looked after by the curator Janusz Macoszek, a folklorist who keeps alive the tradition of storytelling and playing shepherds’ instruments. The cottage is on the Szlak Architektury Drewnianej (Wooden Architecture Route).
Visitors see two rooms with a hall (sień) in the middle, traditional interior furnishings and historic everyday objects, for example a hand mill for grinding flour. In one of the rooms stands a kurny (smoke) oven without a chimney, through which the smoke escaped directly into the room. Visits are accompanied by the hosts’ stories and the sounds of shepherds’ instruments.
Highlights
- historic wooden cottage from 1863, roofed with wooden shingles
- kurny (smoke) oven without a chimney
- hand mills and historic everyday tools
- storytelling and playing of shepherds’ instruments
- workshops for groups (butter churning, lacemaking, straw plaiting)
Permanent exhibition
- Dom-muzeum Jana Kawuloka – Two rooms with a hall, a smoke oven and historic farm tools show the living conditions of Istebna’s residents in the second half of the 19th century and the legacy of folklorist Jan Kawulok.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 10 zł |
|---|
PLN 10 per person according to the information service of the Istebna municipality; workshops for groups are arranged individually.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Craft workshops and demonstrations of old activities are available for groups.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | During the visit you can listen to stories and to the playing of shepherds’ instruments. Workshops are organised for groups, including butter churning, lacemaking lessons and straw plaiting. |
