Muzeum Przyrodnicze Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego

About the museum

The Muzeum Przyrodnicze Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego (Natural History Museum of the University of Wrocław) was formed by merging former museums: the zoological, botanical and herbarium collections. The Zoological Museum was founded in 1814, shortly after the creation of the secular university, by Professor Johann Ludwig Christian Gravenhorst. From the beginning the collections were gathered both for science and teaching and for public exhibitions. They were moved to the present building, constructed specially for the museum, in 1904.

During the siege of Festung Breslau the building was bombed, and the exhibitions, apart from the Sala Szkieletowa (Skeleton Hall), were destroyed; about half of the scientific collections survived. After the war the reconstruction and the first exhibitions were led by Professor Władysław Rydzewski, whose name the museum bears. In 1974 a unit with the status of an institute was created at the university, into which the zoological and botanical collections were incorporated.

Today visitors can see the exhibitions “Świat zwierząt” (The World of Animals; more than 1,500 exhibits, including 448 bird species), “Świat roślin” (The World of Plants), based on the herbarium collections, “Układ kostny kręgowców” (Vertebrate Skeleton) and “Owady i człowiek” (Insects and Humans). The Muzeum Człowieka (Museum of Man) is not part of this museum and has separate tickets.

Highlights

• Skeletons of a blue whale and a sei whale – the only complete specimens on display in Poland
• Skeleton of the extinct giant deer
• Extinct species, including the great auk, the passenger pigeon and the Carolina parakeet
• More than 1,500 exhibits in the “Świat zwierząt” hall
• The largest permanent botanical exhibition in Poland, based on the herbarium collections

Permanent exhibitions

• Świat zwierząt – The largest historic hall of the museum, with more than 1,500 exhibits arranged systematically, including 448 bird species and a blue whale skeleton.
• Świat roślin – The exhibition presents nearly 500 plant species from all regions of the world, entirely based on the museum’s herbarium collections.
• Układ kostny kręgowców – More than 60 complete skeletons illustrate the relationship between the structure and function of the skeleton, from fish to marine and land mammals.

Founded

1814

Operated by

Uniwersytet Wrocławski

Admission & discounts

Payment is possible in cash or by card. Employees of the University of Wrocław also enter free of charge on presentation of an ID card.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

People with disabilities and families with children in pushchairs enter through the porter’s lodge next to the main entrance (a gate in the steel fence), and can use the lift between the floors of the museum.

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.

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