Muzeum Okręgowe im. Leona Wyczółkowskiego w Bydgoszczy

About the museum

The beginnings of the museum go back to the collections of the Historical Society of the Nadnotecki District (Towarzystwo Historyczne Obwodu Nadnoteckiego), founded in 1880. The Muzeum Miejskie w Bydgoszczy (Bydgoszcz City Museum) opened on 5 August 1923 in a townhouse on the Stary Rynek; its first director was Father Jan Klein. In 1937 the institution received the legacy of the painter Leon Wyczółkowski, who later became its patron. During the German occupation the building on the Stary Rynek was demolished, and the collections were scattered and suffered heavy losses.

After the war, on 11 April 1946, the museum reopened in the building at ul. Gdańska 4 and was given the name of Leon Wyczółkowski. In 1949 it was nationalised, and in 1975 it became a district museum (muzeum okręgowe). Over time the collection gained further premises: granaries on ul. Grodzka, the buildings of the former mint on Wyspa Młyńska, and the former factory complex in which the Exploseum was set up.

Today the museum, run by the city of Bydgoszcz, shows its collections in several historic buildings. In the main building at Gdańska 4, renovated after years of repair work, contemporary art and works by Jan Stanisławski from the Pietraszak collection are presented. The Dom Leona Wyczółkowskiego (Leon Wyczółkowski House), the Zbiory Archeologiczne (Archaeological Collections), the Europejskie Centrum Pieniądza (European Money Centre), the Galeria Sztuki Nowoczesnej (Gallery of Modern Art) and the Spichrze nad Brdą (Granaries on the Brda) complete the offer with the work of the patron, archaeology, numismatics and the history of the city.

Highlights

• Main building at ul. Gdańska 4 after conservation renovation
• Exhibition devoted to the work of Leon Wyczółkowski in his former house on Wyspa Młyńska
• Contemporary art: the exhibition “Obrazy nie-/rzeczywistości” (“Paintings of Non-/Reality”)
• Archaeological collections and an exhibition on early medieval Bydgoszcz
• Spichrze nad Brdą (Granaries on the Brda) with the history of the city
• Free admission to the permanent exhibitions on Thursdays

Permanent exhibitions

• Obrazy nie-/rzeczywistości. Między fikcją a rzeczywistością – Exhibition of contemporary art in the main building, with works by Ryszard Winiarski, Henryk Stażewski, Andrzej Wróblewski, Teresa Pągowska and Józef Czapski, among others.
• Jan Stanisławski i uczniowie z kolekcji Wandy i Leonarda Pietraszaków – Permanent exhibition in the main building presenting paintings by Jan Stanisławski and his pupils from the Pietraszak collection.
• Twórczość Leona Wyczółkowskiego (1852–1936) – Permanent exhibition in the Leon Wyczółkowski House on Wyspa Młyńska, covering the salons and the artist’s painting and graphic studios.

Founded

1923

Operated by

Miasto Bydgoszcz

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Thursdays – free admission to the permanent exhibitions.

Free admission is granted, among others, to children under 7, holders of the Karta Polaka (Polish Card), members of ICOM and ICOMOS, museum staff and veterans. Holders of the Bydgoska Karta Rodzinna 3 Plus (Bydgoszcz Family Card 3 Plus), the Karta Dużej Rodziny (Large Family Card), the Karta Seniora 60+ (Senior Card 60+), the Edukarta and the Bydgoska Karta Młodzieży (Bydgoszcz Youth Card) receive a 50% discount on the standard ticket. Temporary exhibitions are also charged on Thursdays. Discounts cannot be combined.

Accessibility

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

The main building at ul. Gdańska 4 has lifts with Braille buttons, ramps, and toilets adapted for people with mobility difficulties on the ground floor and the first floor; the entrance is hampered by a 3 cm threshold. In the other buildings access is limited: in the Spichrze nad Brdą the staff help with the stair platform lift, and the Leon Wyczółkowski House has narrow wooden stairs leading to part of the exhibition. Details are given on the architectural accessibility page; coordinator: dostepnosc@muzeum.bydgoszcz.pl.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum runs educational workshops (PLN 18 per person; a child’s carer pays PLN 1), the “Twórcza sobota” (“Creative Saturday”) sessions, and offers a family ticket for PLN 50.

Getting there & parking

The main building is at ul. Gdańska 4 in the centre of Bydgoszcz; the other buildings are in the Old Town on ul. Grodzka and on Wyspa Młyńska at ul. Mennica.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

The ticket office and the shop are on the left as you enter the main building at ul. Gdańska 4; the cloakroom has lockers that take a PLN 2 coin or a token from the ticket office.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit