Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie

About the museum

The Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie (Żabikowo Martyrdom Museum) was founded in 1979. It looks after the sites and objects of the German Nazi camps of 1941–1945 and of the camp for interned German civilians in 1945–1948. The museum grounds, about 3 hectares in area, stretch for almost half a kilometre along the A2 motorway and are commemorated by monuments dedicated, among others, to Poles, Jews, Luxembourgers, Dutch people and citizens of the USSR.

The German punitive and investigation camp in Żabikowo near Poznań was established in April 1943. Until spring 1944 it operated in parallel with the camp in Fort VII in Poznań, of which it was a continuation; after the liquidation of the camp in Fort VII on 27 April 1944, the commandant and the staff moved to Żabikowo. The museum building was extended on the foundations of a post-camp barrack and the remains of the commandant's villa, and from 11 September 2026 visitors can see the new wing.

The permanent exhibitions are devoted to the punitive and investigation camp and the educational work camp in Żabikowo, and to forced labour camps for Jews building the Reich's motorways. The museum runs museum lessons, publishes books, collects an archive of oral history, and also looks after the branch in Chełmno nad Nerem and Fort VII in Poznań. The institution is run by the local government of the Greater Poland Voivodeship.

Key themes

• Permanent exhibition on the Security Police prison and the educational work camp in Żabikowo
• Exhibition on forced labour camps for Jews (Reichsautobahnlager)
• Camp grounds with monuments along the A2 motorway
• New wing of the museum, opened on 11 September 2026
• Free admission

Permanent exhibitions

• Więzienie Policji Bezpieczeństwa i Wychowawczy Obóz Pracy – Exhibition on the German punitive and investigation camp in Żabikowo, established in April 1943 as a continuation of the camp in Fort VII in Poznań.
• Obozy pracy przymusowej dla Żydów – Exhibition on the forced labour camps for Jews at the construction of the Reich's motorway network (Reichsautobahnlager).

Founded

1979

Operated by

Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie (Instytucja Kultury Samorządu Województwa Wielkopolskiego)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum, including to all exhibitions, is free; the guided-tour service is paid (cash or card). For people with special needs the guided-tour service is free.

Accessibility

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

The building is architecturally accessible with exceptions: a path of historic cobblestones and a road of perforated slabs lead to the main entrance, the doors have no thresholds, and the exhibition rooms and toilets are on the ground floor. The room for museum lessons and the temporary exhibition on the upper floor can be reached only by stairs; there is no lift, and the toilet adapted for people with disabilities is not accessible. The camp grounds have limited accessibility: some paths are paved with stones or grassed, and a pavement leads from the entrance to the cross. There is an induction loop at the secretariat, and during guided tours a portable loop can be used. The museum can provide tactile aids in the form of selected exhibits, and a film about the museum in Polish Sign Language is available on the website.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 14+

The exhibitions show graphic photographs; the museum recommends that they be viewed by people over 14 years old, or by children under the constant supervision of an adult.

Getting there & parking

The railway station is 3 km from the museum. From the Unijna or Uradzka stops you need to cross at the pedestrian crossings, and from ul. Poniatowskiego take the viaduct over the motorway. There are bicycle racks in front of the entrance.

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