Muzeum Spraw Wojskowych w Krakowie
Private museum in a historic fort of the Kraków Fortress, devoted to Poles who fought in foreign uniforms and to Polish military technology; open on Sundays.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museum of Military Affairs is housed in Fort No. 51 1/2 Swoszowice (formerly “Wróblowice” Ost), which belongs to the outer ring of the Kraków Fortress. The Austrians began building it in 1897, and in December 1898 it was declared ready for combat. The two-storey barracks were built to withstand heavy projectiles, and on the roof stood an armoured observation turret and four turrets with quick-firing guns. The camouflage greenery gradually turned into an almost eight-hectare park.
After 1920 the Polish Army classified it as a facility “without maintenance”, and after the Second World War it served Civil Defence and as an archive of the voivodeship office. The armoured turrets were scrapped, and in 1989–1992 a statue of Lenin from Nowa Huta, removed from its pedestal, was stored here. In 2012 the fort, together with its camouflage greenery and the relics of a field battery, was entered in the register of monuments. Since 3 May 2013 its tenant has been the “Gloria Fortibus” foundation, the founder of the museum.
The motto of the museum reads: “Si bellum omittimus, nunquam pace fruemur”. The museum wishes to commemorate Poles who fought in foreign uniforms when Poland was not on the map, soldiers of the wars of independence of 1919–1921, and the achievements of Polish military technology. The collections are built up from donations by private collectors and reconstructions of equipment, and in the fort one can touch a rifle, put on a helmet or take part in a training march with a backpack. After a break for renovation the museum reopened on 2 February 2025.
Highlights
- Historic fort of the Kraków Fortress from the late 19th century
- Memorabilia of Poles who fought in foreign uniforms
- Collections devoted to the wars of independence of 1919–1921
- The chance to hold a rifle and put on a helmet
- A park with camouflage greenery of about 8 hectares
Permanent exhibition
- Wystawa stała Muzeum Spraw Wojskowych w forcie 51 1/2 Swoszowice – An exhibition devoted to Polish soldiers in foreign uniforms, the wars of independence of 1919–1921 and Polish military technology, presented in the interiors of the historic fort.
- Operated by
- Fundacja „Gloria Fortibus”
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
In the fort one can hold a rifle, put on a military helmet and take part in a training march with a backpack.
Getting there & parking
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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
| Good to know | Visits take place on Sundays; current information on dates and events (e.g. a patriotic picnic) is published by the museum on its Facebook profile. |
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