Wielkopolski Park Etnograficzny w Dziekanowicach

About the museum

The Wielkopolski Park Etnograficzny w Dziekanowicach (Greater Poland Ethnographic Park in Dziekanowice) is an outdoor branch of the Muzeum Pierwszych Piastów na Lednicy (Museum of the First Piasts at Lednica). The idea of creating it emerged in 1969, and in 1974 it was decided to locate the open-air museum on Lake Lednica, in the village of Dziekanowice. At that time the first buildings were moved to the area of the ferry landing stage, and a collection known as the Mały Skansen (Small Open-Air Museum) was created.

The first stage of construction, following a plan to recreate a typical Greater Poland village of the 18th and 19th centuries, took place between 1975 and 1982. The first buildings were opened to visitors in 1981, and in the following decades the open-air museum grew and became one of the largest open-air museums in Poland.

Original buildings were moved from various places in Greater Poland and arranged to reproduce the layout of the former village. Visitors can see, among others, a manor house, the village head’s cottage (chata sołtysa), an inn (karczma), a church, windmills, a mill and a forge, as well as fields, vegetable and flower gardens and orchards. The open-air museum hosts annual events tied to the rhythm of rural life in the past, such as Marzanna, Żywy Skansen (Living Open-Air Museum) and Pożegnanie lata (Farewell to Summer).

Highlights

• Manor house from Studzieniec, village head’s cottage from Dobrca and inn from Sokołów Budzyński
• Church from Wartkowice, windmills, mill and forge
• Fields, vegetable and flower gardens and orchards
• Annual events: Marzanna, Żywy Skansen and Pożegnanie lata
• Karczma Lubczynek with local specialities

Permanent exhibition

• Wielkopolska wieś z przełomu XIX i XX wieku – The open-air exhibition recreates a former village with residential and farm buildings, a church, an inn, windmills and a forge, as well as fields, gardens and orchards.

Founded

1975

Operated by

Muzeum Pierwszych Piastów na Lednicy

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Thursday (free admission)

Tickets can be bought at the ticket office or online. Holders of the Wspólny Bilet Samorządowy Kolei Wielkopolskich (joint municipal ticket of the Greater Poland railways) are entitled to a reduced ticket. Parking is free.

Accessibility

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

Because of the historic character of the buildings, some of them have high thresholds and limited space. Paths are covered with gravel, sand or grass, and the ticket office entrance is not accessible to wheelchair users (staff help with buying tickets). After a prior telephone notice, the museum sets up portable ramps at selected buildings (the manor house from Studzieniec has a permanent ramp). The site has tactile graphics and copies of exhibits, and a toilet adapted for people with disabilities with a changing table. Guided tours can be held with a Polish Sign Language interpreter if requested. Before a visit you can contact the accessibility consultant (tel. 61 427 50 10, ext. 223).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The museum offers lessons and workshops for kindergartens and schools, including motanka dolls, herbs and forge activities, and annual family events take place in the open-air museum. There is a changing table for children in the toilet.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant

The Karczma Lubczynek, serving local specialities, operates on the open-air museum grounds; there are also places to rest.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit