Muzeum Historii Przemysłu w Opatówku

About the museum

The Muzeum Historii Przemysłu w Opatówku (Museum of Industrial History in Opatówek) was established on 1 January 1981 by decision of the head of the gmina. It was set up in the historic factory complex in order to save a building that had been used by various institutions for about thirty-six years and was falling into ruin. Today it is a local government cultural institution of Kalisz County.

The cloth factory was founded in 1824 by the brothers Adolf Gotlieb and Edward Fiedler, who came from Saxony. In 1824–1826 they built a complex of framed halls for spinning, fulling, weaving and dyeing, powered by a steam engine of about 40 hp. The plant produced high-quality cloth until the outbreak of the economic crisis, and after the January Uprising and the loss of town rights by Opatówek in 1870, its development clearly weakened.

The five-storey building with a timber interior structure and cast-iron stairs is a monument of technology. Several permanent exhibitions are displayed in its original interiors, and the collections include machines and devices from the 19th and 20th centuries, industrial products, including embroidery, lace, ceramics and pianos, and historical textiles.

Highlights

• Classicist cloth factory from 1824, a monument of technology
• steam engines, looms and textile machines
• more than 50 pianos and upright pianos – free admission to the exhibition
• utility ceramics from the 19th to the 21st century
• printing house and paper-making workshop
• free admission on Wednesdays

Permanent exhibitions

• Napędy, wynalazcy i maszyny robocze XIX wieku – Looms, machines for preparing fibres and the steam engines that powered the former factory.
• Przemysł regionu kaliskiego w XIX wieku – Interiors of factory owners and workers, a spinning equipment set, a hand embroidery machine and aircraft engines from WSK Kalisz.
• Fortepiany i pianina – More than 50 pianos and upright pianos by Polish and European makers from the 19th and 20th centuries; free admission.

Founded

1981

Operated by

Powiat Kaliski (samorządowa instytucja kultury)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Admission is free on Wednesdays (not applicable to workshops, lessons and guided tours).

Museum employees, teachers and supervisors of youth groups while on duty, carers of people with disabilities, and holders of certain state decorations and of the Karta Polaka (Polish Card) also enter free. The piano exhibition is free. Admission to temporary exhibitions is free for visitors to the permanent exhibitions.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrance has steps without a ramp; access through the gate is possible after telephone arrangement (+48 62 761 86 26, Mon–Fri 7:30–15:30). A lift reaches all the exhibitions, but the doors are 75 cm wide. In the west wing there is a large lift with Braille markings and voice announcements, and a toilet for people with disabilities; a parking space must be requested in advance. The main building has no adapted toilet. Assistance dogs may enter the buildings.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum runs museum lessons and workshops and offers a family ticket for holders of the Large Family Card.

Getting there & parking

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