Kolekcje Przyrodnicze Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika
University zoological and geological collections in Bielany, with animal specimens, hunting trophies and fossils; visits for groups by arrangement.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Muzeum Przyrodnicze (Natural History Museum) of Nicolaus Copernicus University was officially established on 14 November 1973 thanks to the efforts of professors Izabela and Jan Mikulski; its first head was Dr Wiesław Kokociński. At that time the museum consisted of three exhibition rooms with a total area of 400 m², three workrooms, a breeding room and a storeroom, and it was visited by residents of Toruń and guests from all over the country.
In 2017 the museum was closed, and some specimens were displayed in the foyer of the building of the Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences at ul. Lwowska. Thanks to the efforts of staff of the Department of Vertebrate Zoology and Ecology, a considerable part of the collections was gathered again and shown in one of the rooms. In its present form the Natural History Collections have been operating since October 2023.
The collections serve mainly as a teaching base for students and as a learning aid for pupils. Visitors can see, among other things, a collection of hunting medallions of African animals from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, an elephant skull, a porpoise skeleton, a collection of birds including a golden eagle, a white-tailed eagle, a great bustard and a young emperor penguin, as well as a brown bear, a grey wolf and a beaver. The collections also include wet preparations, teratological specimens and wood cross-sections.
Highlights
- collection of hunting medallions of African animals from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries
- collection of birds with a golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, great bustard and young emperor penguin
- elephant skull and porpoise skeleton
- brown bear, grey wolf and beaver
- wet preparations and teratological collections
Permanent exhibition
- Kolekcje Przyrodnicze – Mounted animals, African hunting trophies, skeletons, skulls, wet preparations and a collection of birds.
- Founded
- 1973
- Operated by
- Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu, Wydział Nauk Biologicznych i Weterynaryjnych
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Visits are free of charge.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
School classes are offered theoretical and laboratory sessions on animal anatomy and morphology, including in the cycle “Piątki z biologią” (Fridays with Biology).
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Aula UMK, Okrężna lub Uniwersytet
Tram lines 1, 4 and 7 and bus lines 15, 26, 40 and 80.
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 · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Group of up to 15 people; during a 60-minute visit the guide talks about biology and interesting facts from the lives of animals, adapting the content to the age of the visitors. School-age children, young people, students and adults in organised groups are invited. Registrations are received by the collection’s custodian by telephone or via the form on the website. For larger groups, dividing the group or visiting the Teaching Garden (Ogród Dydaktyczny) or the Meteorological Observatory (Obserwatorium Meteorologiczne) is recommended. |
