Muzeum Tatrzańskie im. dra Tytusa Chałubińskiego

About the museum

The Tatra Museum was founded in 1888 on the initiative of friends and admirers of Dr Tytus Chałubiński, a physician who made Zakopane and the Tatras famous. The first collections had a natural history, geological and ethnographic character, and the institution also had a library. The first exhibition was housed in a rented building on Krupówki that no longer exists. Today the museum is one of the oldest and largest regional institutions in Poland and runs a network of branches in Zakopane and in the Podhale.

The Main Building at ul. Krupówki 10 is a monumental structure in the Zakopane style, built of light stone and rendered. Sketches of the façade were made by Stanisław Witkiewicz, and the technical design was prepared by Franciszek Mączyński; both worked on it in 1913. The foundation stone was blessed in August 1913, and construction, interrupted several times, lasted until 1922. Renovation and conservation work was completed in 2022.

The current permanent exhibition “Spotkanie” combines ethnography, history and natural history around the motif of encounters between highlanders and visitors. It shows the path of Zakopane from a small mountain settlement to a health resort, the spiritual capital of Young Poland and a modern holiday centre. On the upper floor the nature of the Tatras is presented, including a relief of the mountains and the botanical and geological collections of Chałubiński.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition “Spotkanie” on the relations between highlanders and visitors
• Full-size highlander cottage with its “black” and “white” rooms
• Model of the Dom pod Jedlami villa and the Zakopane style
• Relief of the Tatras and Dr Chałubiński’s natural history collections
• Costumes, jewellery, instruments and folk art of the Podhale
• Multimedia and interactive stations, including for children

Permanent exhibition

• Spotkanie – Ethnographic, historical and natural history exhibition on encounters between highlanders and visitors, on the history of Zakopane, the folk culture of the Podhale and the nature of the Tatras.

Founded

1888

Operated by

Muzeum Tatrzańskie im. dra Tytusa Chałubińskiego w Zakopanem (instytucja kultury współprowadzona przez Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On Thursdays admission to the permanent exhibitions is free.

The stated price of PLN 26 (reduced PLN 13) applies to the permanent exhibition alone. Separate tickets for temporary exhibitions cost PLN 14 (reduced PLN 7) and PLN 12 (reduced PLN 6).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Main Building is on the list of museum buildings adapted for people with disabilities. Guide dogs are permitted. People with disabilities are entitled to a reduced ticket; detailed information is provided on the page “Muzeum bez barier” (Museum without Barriers).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

The permanent exhibition has multimedia and interactive stations, including activities for children. Families with a Karta Dużej Rodziny pay PLN 10 for a ticket.

Getting there & parking

The Main Building stands at ul. Krupówki 10. The museum’s administrative office is located separately in the Willa Koziańskich at ul. Droga na Koziniec 8.

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