Muzeum Dawnego Kupiectwa w Świdnicy
Museum in the town hall on the Świdnica market square with a collection of measures and weights, reconstructed interiors of historic trade and an exhibition on the history of the town.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The organisation of the museum in the Świdnica town hall began in 1966. The institution was not a continuation of the German municipal museum, which had operated until the end of the Second World War. The statute was adopted in 1967, and the first permanent exhibition opened to visitors on 13 May 1967. At first, exhibits were lent by museums in Lower Silesia, while the museum’s own collections grew through purchases and donations.
In 1978 the Ministry of Culture and Art approved a new statute, which extended the collecting area beyond Silesia and changed the name from Muzeum Dawnego Kupiectwa Śląskiego (Museum of Silesian Old Trade) to Muzeum Dawnego Kupiectwa (Museum of Old Trade). In 1995 the gravestone art section was closed and a metrology department was set up. In 2017 the museum was entered in the State Register of Museums.
The collections include weights, coins, shop tills, labels, measuring instruments and historic measures of length and volume. Visitors will see reconstructed interiors: an inn, a pharmacy, a shop, the Weighing House, the Office of Measures and the stalls of wealthy merchants. In the Gothic Council Chamber there is an exhibition on the history of Świdnica, with a 17th-century model of the town. A branch, the Museum of Brewing at 16B ul. Kotlarska, is under construction.
Highlights
- Collection of measures, weights and coins
- Reconstructed interiors of an inn, a pharmacy and a shop
- Weighing House, Office of Measures and Petrol Station
- Gothic Council Chamber with a 17th-century model of Świdnica
- Świdnica History Department
- Free admission on Fridays
Permanent exhibitions
- Dział Dawnego Kupiectwa – Reconstructed interiors of old shops, an inn and a pharmacy, and the stalls of wealthy merchants.
- Dział Metrologii Historycznej – Collection of historic measures of length and volume, scales, weights and measuring instruments, together with the Weighing House and the Office of Measures.
- Dział Historii Świdnicy – Exhibition on the history of the town in the Gothic Council Chamber, with a 17th-century model of Świdnica.
- Founded
- 1967
- Director
- Dobiesław Karst
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 15 zł |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 10 zł |
| Children & teens | 10 złfree up to age 6 · Children under 7 and children from families with a Large Family Card enter free of charge; children under 12 can be in the museum only in the company of adults. |
| Groups (10+ people) | 10 zł per personGroup ticket for organised groups; visits must be reported by phone no later than the day before. |
| Guided tour (about 45 minutes) | 50 złPrice per group of up to 30 people. |
| Museum lesson (about 45 minutes) | 50 złPrice does not include admission to the museum. |
Free admission: On Fridays admission to the museum is free.
The combined ticket with the town hall tower is temporarily withdrawn due to renovation.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 6 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The museum runs museum lessons and workshops for children; children under 7 and children with a Large Family Card enter free of charge.
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 · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Free photography and filming for private use without flash are allowed; commercial use requires the museum’s permission. |
| Good to know | Guided tours and museum lessons are paid (PLN 50 per group). Organised groups should register their visit at +48 74 852 12 91. |
