Muzeum Samochodu Papieskiego JP2 w Kielcach

About the museum

The Museum of the Papal Car JP2 (Muzeum Samochodu Papieskiego JP2) was established in 2018 in Kielce. Its most important exhibit is the rebuilt vehicle in which John Paul II travelled during his first pilgrimage to Poland in 1979. At the Pope’s request a domestically built car was then created – a special version of the Star 660 M2 truck with 6×6 drive – and its body, the gondola, was made at the Przemysłowy Instytut Motoryzacji (Industrial Institute of Automotive Technology) in Warsaw. After the Pope’s visit the vehicle was dismantled, and its parts were scattered.

In 2006–2011 employees of the Kielce company Auto-Adamczak recreated the car from the surviving original components and the frame, in cooperation with the Industrial Institute of Automotive Technology and with engineers and students of the Politechnika Świętokrzyska (Kielce University of Technology). The vehicle is operational and entered in the register of historic vehicles; it has driven to many ceremonies in the country and visited more than 140 places.

The exhibition has three parts: the design and construction of the JP2 Special Vehicle in 1979, the search for parts and the rebuilding of the car in 2006–2011, together with the original documentation, and the journeys of the rebuilt car around the country. The museum documents the history of the vehicle, searches for further original parts and organises educational activities for children and young people. It is included in the list of museums of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Highlights

• Rebuilt papal car Star 660 M2 from 1979
• 6×6 drive and a gondola for 16 seats with a papal seat
• Design documentation from the Industrial Institute of Automotive Technology
• The story of the rebuilding in 2006–2011

Permanent exhibition

• Samochód Papieski JP2 – Exhibition on the construction in 1979, the rebuilding in 2006–2011 and the journeys of the rebuilt papal Star 660 M2 around the country.

Founded

2018

Operated by

Fundacja Samochodu Papieskiego Jana Pawła II z 1979 r. (od 2026 w likwidacji)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free (according to the tourism portal of the Świętokrzyskie Region); a visit reservation is required.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum runs educational activities for children and young people.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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