Karol Szymanowski Museum in the "Atma" Villa in Zakopane

The "Atma" Villa, built in 1895 in the Zakopane style by Józef Kasprusi-Stoch, originally served as a guesthouse. Its name comes from Sanskrit and means "soul." Between 1930 and 1935, the renowned Polish composer Karol Szymanowski lived there. After he left Zakopane in 1935 to seek medical treatment in Switzerland, his niece, Krystyna Dąbrowska, proposed turning the villa into a museum. From 1972 to 1974, Jerzy Waldorff raised funds to purchase "Atma," and in 1974 it was handed over to the National Museum in Krakow. Following renovations, the museum opened to the public in 1976. Although the villa was used as a rental property after Szymanowski's departure, the composer's study was faithfully recreated based on photographs, and the remaining rooms were designed to reflect the ambiance of the interwar period. Between 2011 and 2013, the building underwent a comprehensive renovation and modernization. In 2007, two portraits of Szymanowski by Witkacy, which had previously been part of the villa's decor, were returned to the museum. The museum collects memorabilia related to the life and work of the composer, including awards and honors he received. The directors of the museum since its opening have been Maciej Pinkwart (1976–2012) and Agnieszka Gąsienica-Giewont (since 2012). The "Atma" Villa is the only museum dedicated to Karol Szymanowski and is located in Zakopane at 19 Kasprusie Street. Publications about the museum include guidebooks by Maciej Pinkwart and an article by Mateusz Budziakowski discussing the renovation of "Atma." The villa and its history highlight Szymanowski's cultural significance in Polish music and the unique architecture of the region.