Muzeum Witrażu w Krakowie

About the museum

The Krakowski Zakład Witrażów S.G. Żeleński (Kraków Stained-Glass Works S.G. Żeleński) was founded in 1902 by the architect Stanisław Gabriel Żeleński, brother of Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński. A specially designed tenement house on al. Krasińskiego was built for the workshop, and the firm still operates there today. The greatest artists of Young Poland collaborated with the firm, among them Stanisław Wyspiański, Józef Mehoffer and Wojciech Jastrzębowski. After Żeleński’s death in 1914 the workshop was run by his wife Izabela, and the firm’s works were awarded prizes at exhibitions at home and abroad.

After the Second World War, in 1952, the workshop was nationalised and for several decades operated within a workers’ cooperative. In 2000 the artist Piotr Ostrowski bought it, renovated the interiors of the tenement house and restored the high quality of workmanship. In 2004 he combined craft work with educational activities, and the Pracownia i Muzeum Witrażu (Stained-Glass Studio and Museum) was created.

The museum has the format of a “living museum”: the visitor area merges with an active studio, where visitors can watch stained-glass artists at work and learn about the successive stages of making a window. The permanent exhibition, the Galeria Młodopolskich Mistrzów Witrażu (Gallery of Young Poland Stained-Glass Masters), presents works by Wyspiański, Mehoffer, Jastrzębowski and Stefan Matejko, while the upper floors show designs and finished works from the history of the workshop, which spans more than a century. The museum also runs the cycle “W budowie” (Under Construction), in which new works are created in front of visitors.

Highlights

• Gallery of Young Poland stained-glass masters with works by Wyspiański, Mehoffer and Jastrzębowski
• Working stained-glass studio open since 1902, where visitors can watch the glass artists at work
• Historic tenement house designed for the workshop
• “W budowie” (Under Construction) cycle – new windows made in front of visitors
• Stained-glass workshops and museum lessons

Permanent exhibition

• Galeria Młodopolskich Mistrzów Witrażu – Permanent exhibition of stained-glass works by Stanisław Wyspiański, Józef Mehoffer, Wojciech Jastrzębowski and Stefan Matejko, supplemented by designs and works from the history of the workshop.

Founded

2004

Operated by

Krakowski Zakład Witrażów S.G. Żeleński sp. z o.o.

Admission & discounts

The price applies to the 45-minute guided tour in Polish and is the only form of visit. Tickets can be bought through the online booking system or at the museum ticket office; after paying for a booking, the confirmation number is given at the ticket office.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum organises Saturday mornings for children, art workshops and museum lessons for groups, as well as birthday parties in the studio; on Saturdays at 10:00 a tour for children takes place.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The museum has a café and a shop selling souvenirs, publications and stained-glass lamps.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

The Sala Izy Żeleńskiej (Iza Żeleńska Hall) can be rented in the museum for corporate events and other occasions.

Plan your visit