Skansen Budownictwa Ludowego Zachodniej Wielkopolski

About the museum

The idea of an open-air museum for western Greater Poland emerged at the end of the 1960s. The site chosen was a little under 3.5 hectares at ul. Bohaterów Bielnika, on the shore of Lake Wolsztyn, about 800 metres from the town centre. The first buildings were placed there in 1976, and the open-air museum was opened to visitors ten years later. It is a branch of the Regional Museum in Wolsztyn.

The exhibition is meant to recreate the layout of a multi-road village on the border of Greater Poland and Lubusz, and to show the influence of Olęder (Dutch) settlers. The most valuable objects include a farmhand’s cottage from Tuchorza, an inn from 1706, a barn from Solec from the end of the 18th century, a farmstead from Reklinek, a Dutch-type barn from Sękowo and a trestle windmill (wiatrak koźlak) from Wroniaw. The terraced layout of the site offers views of the lake.

At present 15 interiors are open to visitors: living rooms, utility rooms, craft workshops and rural industry facilities, as well as small structures such as a bread oven and a dovecote. Gardens, trees and crops complete the picture and are meant to convey the character of a village from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. There is a forge on site, and the museum runs museum lessons and educational workshops.

Highlights

• historic cottages, barns, an inn from 1706 and a trestle windmill (wiatrak koźlak)
• fifteen interiors: living rooms, workshops and rural industry facilities
• layout of a multi-road village with the influence of Olęder (Dutch) settlers
• views of Lake Wolsztyn from the terraced site
• museum lessons and workshops at the open-air museum

Permanent exhibition

• Skansen Budownictwa Ludowego Zachodniej Wielkopolski – Historic rural and industrial buildings, craft workshops and agricultural machines, recreating a multi-road village from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Founded

1986

Operated by

Muzeum Regionalne w Wolsztynie

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every Sunday.

Free admission is also granted to holders of the Large Family Card (Karta Dużej Rodziny) and the Karta Polaka (Polish Card), members of ICOM and ICOMOS, museum staff and group supervisors (one per 10 people). Photography for private purposes is free of charge.

Accessibility

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

Paths on the site are unpaved, and some buildings are reached by high thresholds or stairs (for example the trestle windmill). The ticket office is in the administrative building, which also has a toilet adapted for people with disabilities. There are no lifts, induction loops, audio description or Braille signage.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum runs museum lessons and workshops at the open-air museum; children under 7 enter free of charge.

Getting there & parking

The open-air museum lies by Lake Wolsztyn, about 800 m from the town centre.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

At the ticket office you can buy a self-guided leaflet for the open-air museum and souvenirs; there is a toilet in the ticket office building.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

Up to 110 guests.

The museum makes available a designated place on the site for group events of up to 110 people (PLN 200 per hour), allows wedding sessions (PLN 100) and the preparation of a campfire in a designated place (PLN 50).

Plan your visit