Muzeum Wodociągów w Bydgoszczy

About the museum

The Water Supply Museum in Bydgoszcz is the first museum of its kind in Poland. It was created within the EU project “Ścieżka edukacji ekologicznej na bazie zabytkowych obiektów Hali Pomp i Wieży Ciśnień” (“Ecological Education Trail based on the historic Pump Hall and Water Tower”) and operates in two places: on the site of the Las Gdański water intake at ul. Gdańska 242, and in the Water Tower at ul. Filareckiej 2. The museum is run by Miejskie Wodociągi i Kanalizacja w Bydgoszczy (the Municipal Water and Sewerage Company of Bydgoszcz).

The Water Tower was built in 1898–1899 to a design by the architect Carl Meyer and was put into use in 1900. The Neo-Gothic structure is 45 metres high, and its reservoir held 1,260 m³ of water; it performed its function for almost 90 years, until 1990. Today visitors climb almost 170 steps to the viewing terrace, from which there is a panorama of the city; those who cannot climb up watch the view on a screen on the ground floor.

The Pump Hall is the former pumping station of the Las Gdański waterworks from 1900, designed by Franz Marschal. The historic interiors show old pipes, water tokens, bathroom fittings, photographs and documents, and multimedia info-kiosks with films on the history of water. On ul. Gdańska there is an open-air trail with hydrants, fountains, pumps, a replica of a medieval rurmus (a wooden water pipe) and a two-storey water and sewage channel; beside it the former manager’s building, known as the Pałacyk (Little Palace), is being adapted.

Highlights

• Viewing terrace at the top of the 45-metre Water Tower
• Historic Neo-Gothic Pump Hall from 1900
• Open-air ecological education trail with working water equipment
• Replica of a medieval rurmus and a two-storey water and sewage channel
• Multimedia info-kiosks with films on the history of water
• Old wooden pipes, water tokens and bathroom fittings

Permanent exhibitions

• Wieża Ciśnień – wystawa stała – Exhibition with wooden water pipes, water tokens, the fittings of old bathrooms, archive photographs and films on the history of water, and a viewing terrace at the top of the tower.
• Hala Pomp – plenerowa ścieżka edukacyjna – Historic water-supply equipment, a replica of the rurmus and a two-storey water and sewage channel, and films on the water cycle and treatment.

Founded

2012

Operated by

Miejskie Wodociągi i Kanalizacja w Bydgoszczy sp. z o.o.

Admission & discounts

The ticket covers the exhibition and access to the viewing terrace of the Water Tower.

Accessibility

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

Four steps lead to the Water Tower; a stair-climbing device (schodołaz) is available and is also used between the floors, and the toilets are adapted for wheelchair users. Almost 170 steps lead to the viewing terrace, and older people and people with disabilities can watch the view on a screen on the ground floor. Four steps with a wheelchair lift lead to the Pump Hall, and inside there is a lift between the ground floor and the basement. Assistance dogs are admitted without restriction; there is no sign-language interpreter.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

On the open-air educational trail you can touch the water equipment and see how it works; a low-priced family ticket for PLN 10 and a school ticket for groups are available.

Getting there & parking

The museum recommends travelling by car.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The historic interiors of the Pump Hall and the Water Tower host exhibitions, concerts and performances, as well as scientific conferences, symposia and other meetings.

Plan your visit