Ethnographic Park of the Western Krakowiaks

In Wygiełzów, in Lesser Poland, there is the Park Etnograficzny Krakowiaków Zachodnich (Ethnographic Park of the Western Krakowiaks), previously known as the Nadwiślański Park Etnograficzny (Vistula Ethnographic Park). Established in 1968, it collects examples of characteristic wooden architecture from this ethnographic group, which spans the regions from Bochnia to Oświęcim and Chrzanów. By 2012, the open-air museum featured 25 structures, including houses, barns, forges, and other historical artifacts such as log hives and an Angelus bell. Among the exhibits is also an amphitheater that can accommodate about 500 people. The neighboring Lipowiec Castle, also of historical significance, adds to the appeal of this location. The decision to create the museum was made by Kraków ethnographers, including Dr. Hanna Pieńkowska and Prof. Tadeusz Chrzanowski. From 2007 to 2011, the museum was managed by the Museum in Chrzanów, and since 2011, it has been listed in the State Register of Museums. In 2023, the institution was transformed into the Muzeum Małopolski Zachodniej (Museum of Western Lesser Poland), and its administration was transferred to the Museum of Firefighting in Alwernia. The objects gathered in the park, such as a house from Alwernia, a barn from Przeciszów, and a rectory from Bęczyn, illustrate the traditional architecture and way of life of the region's inhabitants. The open-air museum serves as an important cultural site that contributes to the preservation of local heritage and history, combining educational elements with tourist attraction.