Muzeum Kanału „Dętka”

About the museum

“Dętka” (Inner Tube) is a round brick rainwater reservoir hidden beneath Freedom Square (plac Wolności) in Łódź. It was built in 1926, when the Łódź sewerage network was being constructed. The structure was designed by William Heerlein Lindley, and the works were supervised by Stefan Skrzywan. The reservoir is shaped roughly like a torus, about 142 metres long and 187 centimetres high, with a capacity of about 300 m³. The rainwater collected in it was used for periodic flushing and cleaning of the sewers in the city centre.

In 2008 the interior was opened to visitors as the first historic structure of this kind in Łódź. The exhibition was officially opened on 28 April 2008, and the museum was opened to the public two days later. The spatial design and lighting were by the architect Maciej Słowiński, and the exhibition itself was prepared by Robert Kuśmirowski.

The exhibition shows objects, documents and archive photographs telling the story of the construction of Łódź’s sewerage and water supply network. The entrance leads through a round, glazed pavilion on the northern part of Freedom Square. The museum is a branch of the Łódź City Museum (Muzeum Miasta Łodzi).

Highlights

• Historic rainwater reservoir from 1926 beneath Freedom Square
• Exhibition on the history of Łódź’s sewerage and water supply
• Glazed round entrance pavilion
• Guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays

Permanent exhibition

• Wystawa o łódzkiej kanalizacji i wodociągach – Inside the historic reservoir: objects, documents and archive photographs relating to the construction of Łódź’s sewerage and water supply network.

Founded

2008

Operated by

Muzeum Miasta Łodzi

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Admission is free on Wednesdays.

Tickets can be bought at the ticket machine in the museum and online. Cash payment is possible only at the ticket office of the main seat at ul. Ogrodowa 15; the ticket machine in “Dętka” does not issue invoices. Bookings for organised groups: wycieczki@muzeum-lodz.pl, tel. +48 42 307 13 82.

Accessibility

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

The museum offers audio description, an audio guide, an induction loop, tactile materials (tactile graphics), materials in Easy-to-Read format, and Polish and English subtitles, including for deaf visitors. A pre-visit guide to prepare for the visit is also available, as are materials for people on the autism spectrum and people with intellectual disabilities.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

From Łódź Fabryczna station you can get there directly by tram 4, and from plac Dąbrowskiego by bus 96. The door of the entrance pavilion is on the southern side of the building. Coaches may stop for 15 minutes in the lay-by on ul. Ogrodowa; free coach parking is at the western end of the Manufaktura car parks (entrance from ul. Karskiego).

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