Mauzoleum Walki i Męczeństwa w Warszawie
A memorial site in the basement of a former ministry building, where a Gestapo detention centre was located during the German occupation; preserved cells and prisoners’ inscriptions.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The building at al. Szucha 25 was built in 1927–1930 for the Ministry of Religious Denominations and Public Enlightenment. From October 1939 it was occupied by the German security police, and on the ground floor a so-called house arrest was set up: four group cells, called “tramwaje” (trams), ten single cells and a room for the duty officer. Interrogations were conducted on the upper floors of the building.
A government resolution of 25 July 1946 ordered that the former detention centre be kept unchanged as a place of martyrdom. The rooms were opened to visitors on 1 September 1947, and the official opening of the Mauzoleum took place on 18 April 1952. Initially the preserved interiors were shown mainly, with the doors torn off and the bars removed; later the cell doors and bars were reconstructed in the wartime style, and exhibitions were set up. In 1962–1964 the inscriptions made by prisoners on the walls were inventoried and conserved, 1,260 items in total.
The Mauzoleum is now a branch of the Pawiak Prison Museum, which belongs to the Museum of Independence. Visitors see corridors with cells, the room of the Gestapo duty officer and an exhibition devoted to the Poles who were arrested and tortured. The interiors have retained their authentic character, so the museum recommends visits for young people from the age of 14.
Key themes
- Authentic group and single cells in the basement of the building at al. Szucha
- Inscriptions and drawings made on the walls by prisoners
- Room of the Gestapo duty officer
- Free admission on Thursdays
- Guided tours on selected weekends at no extra charge
Permanent exhibition
- Wystawa stała w Mauzoleum Walki i Męczeństwa – The preserved group and single cells of the former Gestapo detention centre, the room of the Gestapo duty officer, and an exhibition on the martyrdom of Poles during the occupation.
- Founded
- 1952
- Operated by
- Muzeum Niepodległości w Warszawie
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 20 zł |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 10 złpupils, students, doctoral students, people over 65, pensioners, disability pensioners, people with disabilities with carers, teachers and veterans (citizens of the EU, Switzerland and EFTA states). |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 7 · Children up to the age of 7 enter free of charge; holders of the Karta Dużej Rodziny buy a ticket for PLN 1. |
| Families | 1 złHolders of the Karta Dużej Rodziny: ticket for PLN 1 (the discount cannot be combined with other discounts). |
| Guided tour (group of up to 30 people) | 150 złBooking one week in advance: szucha@muzn.pl, tel. 22 629 49 19. |
Free admission: Every Thursday – free admission on the basis of a free ticket.
On selected Saturdays and Sundays the “Weekendowe zwiedzanie z przewodnikiem” (Weekend Guided Tours) takes place with no extra guide fee; an admission ticket is sufficient.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking: not available
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: not available
- Sign language tours: not available
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Nine steps lead down to the exhibition, with no handrails, ramp or lift. A wheelchair user can get inside with a stair-climbing device, which must be arranged by phone in advance. The whole exhibition is on one level, but one of the corridors is narrow and does not allow a wheelchair to turn around. There is no public toilet. There are no public parking spaces in front of the building. There is no sign language interpreter, tactile map or Braille signage.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 14+
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 7 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | 1 zł · Holders of the Karta Dużej Rodziny: ticket for PLN 1 (the discount cannot be combined with other discounts). |
Because of the character of the site, the museum recommends a visit from the age of 14; younger children enter under the supervision of adults, who bear responsibility for them.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Plac na Rozdrożu · 5-min walk
Metro: Politechnika station (about 10–15 minutes on foot towards Plac na Rozdrożu). Buses from the Plac na Rozdrożu stop (about 5 minutes on foot): 116, 138, 143, 151, 166, 180, 182, 187, 188, 411, 502, 503, 514, 520, 523, 525, E-2. Trams 4, 10, 11, 14, 16, 18: Pl. Zbawiciela and Trasa Łazienkowska stops (about 10 minutes on foot).
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There are no public parking spaces in front of the building.
- Accessible parking: not available
Amenities & dining
The Mauzoleum has no public toilet.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Individual visitors may book a paid guided tour (PLN 150 for a group of up to 30 people). Because of the character of the site, the Mauzoleum is open to young people over 14; younger people may enter under the supervision and responsibility of their carers, and school groups with their teachers. |
