Muzeum Katyńskie

About the museum

The Katyn Museum was founded on the initiative of the Katyn Families, who after 1990 demanded a permanent exhibition on the crime committed by the NKVD against Polish prisoners of war. Its first seat was Fort IX “Dąbrowskiego” in the Czerniaków district of Warsaw. The official opening, as a branch of the Museum of the Polish Army, took place on 29 June 1993. The collections included family memorabilia and thousands of grave artefacts recovered during exhumations in Kharkiv, Miednoje and Katyn.

In 2009, because of serious technical problems, the exhibition in the fort was closed and the museum was no longer open to visitors. For the following years a new site was sought, and an exhibition on the Katyn crime was held in the building of the Museum of the Polish Army. Since 2015 the museum has been located on the grounds of the Warsaw Citadel, in a modern building integrated into the historic fortifications of the 19th-century fortress.

The visit includes a walk through the outdoor area – the Plac Apelowy (Parade Ground), the “Warta” copse and the symbolic railway wagons “Sarkofagi” (Sarcophagi) – and two levels of the permanent exhibition. The upper level tells the story of the Katyn crime in chronological order, and the lower level shows artefacts found with the remains of the victims. The tour ends with a walk along the restored walls of the Citadel and the place called the Epitafium Katyńskie (Katyn Epitaph), where the victims’ names are inscribed on plaques.

Key themes

• Permanent exhibition on two levels: chronology of the crime and grave artefacts
• Katyn Epitaph with plaques bearing the names of the victims
• Parade Ground, the “Warta” copse and the symbolic “Sarkofagi” wagons
• Free admission
• Audio guide in five languages and the free MOVI GUIDE app

Permanent exhibition

• Wystawa stała Muzeum Katyńskiego – Two-level exhibition: the upper level presents the chronology of the Katyn crime, the lower level grave artefacts found with the remains of the victims.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Muzeum Wojska Polskiego w Warszawie

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is free for individual visitors and groups; the hire of an audio guide and guiding services are charged.

Accessibility

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

The entire museum complex is adapted to the needs of people using wheelchairs. Dogs may not be brought into the museum, except guide dogs.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 13+

• Family tours & workshops

The museum recommends the visit for young people from the age of 13 (from the seventh grade of primary school). Museum lessons and workshops are organised for pupils.

Getting there & parking

The museum can be reached on foot from the Nowomiejska Gate (150 m), the Żoliborska Gate (500 m), the Straceń Gate (600 m) or the Bielańska Gate (900 m).

Amenities & dining

• Coat check

There is a cloakroom; toilets are on every level and near the Nowomiejska Gate.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit