Museum - Synagogue Complex in Włodawa

The Museum – Synagogue Complex in Włodawa, established in 1981 as the Museum of the Łęczna-Włodawa Lakeland, is located in a synagogue complex associated with the Jewish community that existed until World War II. The complex includes the Great Synagogue, the Small Synagogue, and the kahal house. During the Polish People's Republic, these buildings were used as warehouses, highlighting their complex history. The museum consists of four departments: ethnographic, historical, promotional-educational, and administrative. The ethnographic department organizes exhibitions related to local folklore as well as exotic cultures, while the historical department collects valuable artifacts, including Judaica, which can be viewed in a permanent exhibition in the men's hall of the Great Synagogue. The museum is also known for organizing the Festival of Three Cultures, which commemorates the multi-ethnic history of the city, and for publishing Museum Notebooks, which document the activities and culture of the region. In 1993, the Museum of the Former Sobibór Extermination Camp was established, which in 2012 became a branch of the State Museum at Majdanek. In 2016, the institution changed its name to the Museum – Synagogue Complex in Włodawa, reflecting its unique significance as a place of remembrance and education, connecting the rich Jewish history with the local cultural heritage.