The Princes Czartoryski Museum
The collections of the first museum in the territory of the Republic of Poland
The National Museum in Krakow
Compiled by Agata Jabłońska, based on the materials of the National Museum in Krakow
Palace of the Czartoryski PrincesThe National Museum in Krakow
The museum is located in buildings near Krakow's historic city walls.
The beginnings of the Czartoryski family collection
... date back to 1801, when Izabela Czartoryska, née Flemming, a Polish aristocrat and patriot, opened the first museum in the territory of the Republic of Poland, a publicly available collection of works of art and national memorabilia.
Portraits of members of the Jagiellon family by Łukasz Cranach the younger - workshopThe National Museum in Krakow
The collect duchess in accordance with the spirit of the era – among the masterpieces of European art, you can find the so-called antiquities, peculiarities and art relics of the Far East. (Portraits of members of the Jagiellonian family, Łukasz Cranach the Younger - workshop).
After the outbreak of the November Uprising
the property in Puławy was confiscated, and the Czartoryski family, engaged in patriotic activities, were forced to protect the collections. Thanks to the actions of the duchess, court servants and the local population, a significant part of the collection was hidden.
In the 1840s, the works were transported to Paris to the Hôtel Lambert. They were made available to the public to draw Europe's eyes to the fate of Poland, which was affected by the partitions.
In the second half of the 19th century, the collections were transferred to Krakow and exhibited in the museum established by Prince Władysław Czartoryski, grandson of the founder of the museum in Puławy. The Museum's dramatic history was not bypassed during the Second World War.
Lady with an Ermine (circa. 1489) by Leonardo da VinciThe National Museum in Krakow
The monuments presented today at the Museum
are an integral part of the heritage of Poland and Europe. The most valuable collections of the Princes Czartoryski Museum include Leonardo da Vinci's ‘Lady with an Ermine’ and Rembrandt van Rijn's ‘Landscape with the Good Samaritan’.
Courtyard of the Princes Czartoryski MuseumThe National Museum in Krakow
See the Princes Czartoryski Palace
In addition to works of art, the Princes Czartoryski Palace attracts visitors with the beauty of a place that has retained the special character of a historical gallery.
Compiled by Agata Jabłońska, based on the materials of the National Museum in Krakow
