Lapidarium Rzeźby Nagrobnej we Wschowie
Open lapidarium in the historic cemeteries of Wschowa with numerous epitaphs and gravestones from the 17th to 19th century; a branch of the Muzeum Ziemi Wschowskiej.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Lapidarium Rzeźby Nagrobnej (Lapidarium of Funerary Sculpture) covers three historic cemeteries in Wschowa: the Old Town Protestant cemetery founded in 1609, the new Protestant cemetery of 1630 and the Catholic cemetery of around 1805. The Old Town Protestant cemetery is one of the earliest examples in Europe of breaking with the medieval tradition of burying the dead next to the church. Its layout, with arcades open to the interior, recalls the Italian Campo Santo type.
In 1972, 142 epitaph slabs and freestanding gravestones from the 17th to 19th centuries were entered in the register of monuments. In 1973 the Ministry of Culture and Art designated the Wschowa cemeteries as the first cemetery lapidarium in Poland. Between 1978 and 1981 tidying and conservation work was carried out with the aim of creating an open museum of funerary sculpture and architecture. By resolution of 26 October 1982 the lapidarium site was handed over for use and supervision to the Muzeum Ziemi Wschowskiej (Museum of the Wschowa Land), and in 2006 the entire cemetery area was entered in the register of monuments.
The collection comprises several hundred historic stelae and shows the development of Baroque, Classicist and historicist stone carving. Epitaphs were made of sandstone and originally painted; most are rectangular slabs with an inscription in a decorative frame. The most valuable is the epitaph of Valerius Herberger, founder of the cemetery. The lapidarium is an open permanent exhibition, also including chapels, old trees and rich vegetation.
Highlights
- Old Town Protestant cemetery from 1609, in the Campo Santo type
- Several hundred stelae and epitaphs from the 17th–19th centuries
- Epitaph of Valerius Herberger
- The first cemetery lapidarium in Poland
- Free admission
Permanent exhibition
- Lapidarium Rzeźby Nagrobnej – Open permanent exhibition across three historic cemeteries: a collection of gravestones, epitaphs and chapels from the 17th to 20th centuries, together with old trees.
- Founded
- 1982
- Operated by
- Muzeum Ziemi Wschowskiej
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Guided tour | 50 złRequires booking at least two days in advance at +48 65 540 16 40, ext. 23 (Tuesday to Friday during museum opening hours). Guides are available only from Tuesday to Saturday. |
|---|
Entry to the lapidarium grounds is free; only guided tours are charged.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
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 |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The lapidarium is an open exhibition on the grounds of historic cemeteries; the entrance is from ul. Spokojna. Guided tours must be booked by telephone. |
