Muzeum im. Władysława Orkana w Rabce-Zdroju

About the museum

Muzeum im. Władysława Orkana w Rabce-Zdroju was founded on 9 August 1936. The idea grew out of the need to protect the town's most valuable monument, the larch wooden church of St Mary Magdalene, built in 1606. When the church stopped serving its liturgical functions at the beginning of the 20th century, it was turned into a regional museum, and its patron became the writer Władysław Orkan (1875–1930), known as the poet of the Gorce landscape.

The church has been rebuilt several times, so its interior bears traces of different periods. Its most valuable elements include the organ from 1778, where summer concerts are held, as well as a secondary polychromy and the baroque dome of the tower. Centuries-old trees grow around the church, and three stone tombstones of local landowners survive from the former cemetery.

The museum's collection of about five thousand exhibits from the area inhabited by the Zagórzanie highlanders is displayed in four rooms on the ground floor of the tower, devoted to pottery, shepherding and crafts, costume, and folk sculpture. The collection of folk figurines (świątki) is one of the largest in Poland. The museum also runs the Academy of Glass Painting, where lessons and workshops take place, while the office and storerooms are in a separate building at ul. Sądecka 6.

Highlights

• Wooden chapel of St Mary Magdalene from 1606 as the museum's seat
• Exhibition of pottery, shepherding, costume and folk sculpture of the Zagórzanie highlanders
• One of the largest collections of folk figurines (świątki) in Poland
• Figure of Christ Frasobliwy (Christ the Sorrowing) from Maków Podhalański
• Organ from 1778 and summer organ concerts

Permanent exhibition

• Wystawa stała: kultura Górali Zagórzańskich – Four rooms on the ground floor of the church tower are devoted to pottery, shepherding and crafts, Zagórzanie costume, and older folk sculpture, including figurines.

Founded

1936

Operated by

Powiat nowotarski (samorządowa instytucja kultury)

Director

Wojciech Kusiak

Admission & discounts

Visiting times and classes are booked at the museum office, tel. +48 18 267 62 89.

Accessibility

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

Wheelchair users are asked to arrive from ul. Orkana, where a side gate and side door lead into the museum; there is also parking there. The main entrance from ul. Sądecka leads up stone steps and high stairs to the church porch with the ticket office. The accessibility statement contains guidance for blind visitors.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The museum runs workshops in painting folk toys, glass painting and pottery with no age limit; lessons on historical fashion and shepherding are intended for participants aged 7 and up. For holders of the Large Family Card from the Nowy Targ county the ticket costs PLN 10.

Getting there & parking

The exhibition is in the historic chapel at ul. Orkana 2; the office, storerooms and the Academy of Glass Painting are in the building at ul. Sądecka 6. Parking for guests with wheelchairs is available near the museum on the ul. Orkana side.

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