Muzeum Regionalne w Chojnowie

About the museum

The history of museum work in Chojnów goes back to 1906, when the decision was taken to found a museum. It opened in 1908 in the renovated Weavers’ Tower (Baszta Tkaczy), and in 1933 the collections were moved to the castle of the Piast dukes of Legnica-Brzeg. Before the war they numbered about five thousand exhibits, but after 1945 they were almost entirely dispersed, and a considerable part of them went to the Muzeum Śląskie (Silesian Museum) in Wrocław.

The Muzeum Miejskie w Chojnowie (Municipal Museum in Chojnów) reopened on 25 January 1959. The permanent exhibitions were based mainly on deposits from the Silesian Museum, surviving exhibits of the former museum, and gifts from private individuals and institutions in the region. In 1975 the institution was renamed the Regional Museum.

The seat is a castle built around 1290 on the left bank of the Skora, which guarded the border of the duchy and an important trade route. In the 15th century it was the residence of Duke Henry X; in 1428 it was captured and burned by the Hussites, and in 1546–1547 it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. Today the museum displays, among other things, Renaissance sgraffiti and tiles, an archaeological exhibition, a model of the town, the old crafts of locksmithing, blacksmithing and pewter-making, collections of weapons and a lapidarium.

Highlights

• Castle of the Piast dukes of Legnica-Brzeg from the late 13th century
• Renaissance sgraffiti from the Schellendorf manor house in Zagrodno
• Exhibition “Pradzieje Ziemi Chojnowskiej” (“Prehistory of the Chojnów Land”)
• Model of historic Chojnów
• Collections of edged weapons and firearms
• Lapidarium and an outdoor display of stonemasonry

Permanent exhibitions

• Pradzieje Ziemi Chojnowskiej. Wystawa archeologiczna – Permanent exhibition on the prehistory of the area around Chojnów.
• Historia Chojnowa – makieta miasta – Permanent exhibition with a model of old Chojnów.
• Renesansowe sgraffita z dworu Schellendorfów w Zagrodnie – Permanent exhibition of Renaissance sgraffiti from the manor house in Zagrodno.

Founded

1959

Operated by

Miasto Chojnów

Director

Andrzej Świdurski

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On Tuesdays admission to the museum is free.

Tickets are sold at the box office by the main entrance.

Accessibility

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

The entrance is at ground level, the doors are 90 cm wide, and the service point has a lowered counter. The rooms are on two floors, between which the difference in level is overcome by a stair platform lift; about half of the rooms are accessible to wheelchair users. There is a handrail by the stairs. The museum provides information about itself in easy-to-read text (ETR).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

For families and children there is an outdoor game (quest), “Najazd Husytów na Chojnów” (“The Hussite Raid on Chojnów”), with a free leaflet, as well as the museum’s educational programme.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the castle at 3 Plac Zamkowy in Chojnów.

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