Muzeum Ludowych Instrumentów Muzycznych w Szydłowcu

About the museum

The Museum of Folk Musical Instruments in Szydłowiec was established in 1968 as a branch of the Świętokrzyski Museum in Kielce (Muzeum Świętokrzyskie). Preparatory work lasted almost seven years and made it possible to gather 218 instruments and tools. The museum opened to visitors on 19 May 1975 in four rooms of the castle. A foreign expert then gave the opinion that it was the first independent museum in the world devoted to folk musical instruments. In 1976 the institution gained independent status, and from 1978 it has also collected objects connected with the history of Szydłowiec.

Since 1985 the museum has organised the Nationwide Competition for the Construction of Folk Musical Instruments (Ogólnopolski Konkurs na Budowę Ludowych Instrumentów Muzycznych), which has become one of its most important activities. Since 2005 the museum’s organiser has been the Mazovian Voivodeship self-government. In 2015, with support from EU funds, all the rooms in the castle were modernised and a new permanent exhibition, “Instrumenty… – zobaczyć i usłyszeć tradycję” (“Instruments… – to see and hear tradition”), equipped with display cases and multimedia kiosks, was opened.

The exhibitions are housed in the castle in Szydłowiec, an early Renaissance magnate residence on an artificial island surrounded by a moat. The stone Gothic castle was built in 1470–1480 by Stanisław Szydłowiecki, and in 1515–1526 his son Mikołaj extended it into a Renaissance residence with sgraffito and polychrome decoration. From 1548 the castle belonged to the Radziwiłłs, and after its sale to the state treasury in 1828 it fell into decay and served, among other things, as a grain and beer store.

Highlights

• Collection of folk musical instruments from all over Poland
• Eksperymentarium Dźwięku (Sound Experimentarium) – visitors play here
• Early Renaissance castle of the Szydłowiecki and Radziwiłł families
• Exhibition “Instrumenty… – zobaczyć i usłyszeć tradycję” (“Instruments… – to see and hear tradition”)
• Nationwide Competition for the Construction of Folk Musical Instruments

Permanent exhibitions

• Instrumenty… – zobaczyć i usłyszeć tradycję – The main permanent exhibition of folk musical instruments, equipped with display cases and multimedia kiosks.
• Magia instrumentów. Osobliwości „inwencja trzygłosowa” – Exhibition of zithers and music boxes, which houses the Sound Experimentarium with instruments to play yourself.
• Zamek w Szydłowcu. Wokół mecenatu dawnych właścicieli – Exhibition on the history of the castle and on the patronage of the Szydłowiecki and Radziwiłł families.

Founded

1975

Operated by

Samorząd Województwa Mazowieckiego

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Admission is free on Tuesdays.

The document entitling you to a concession must be shown before buying a ticket.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: not available
• Sign language tours: not available
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The entrance from the eastern side of the castle island has steps without a ramp, so entry with a wheelchair is possible by prior arrangement (tel. +48 48 617 12 43). For wheelchair users the rooms of the exhibition “Instrumenty… – zobaczyć i usłyszeć tradycję” and the temporary exhibition room are accessible. There is no toilet adapted for people with disabilities and no Braille signage; visitors may enter with an assistance dog. The car park with two spaces for people with disabilities is about 160 m from the entrance. The Centrum Naukowo-Administracyjne (Scientific and Administrative Centre) at ul. Kąpielowa 8 is fully accessible and has a lift.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

In the Sound Experimentarium children and adults can play rarely seen instruments themselves, use interactive apps and games, and draw the shapes of instruments on illuminated pads. The museum runs museum classes for children and young people and the school programme “Cultural School in Mazovia”.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the castle in Szydłowiec, and the entrance is on the eastern side of the castle.

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