Museum of the Archdiocese of Warsaw

The Warsaw Archdiocese Museum, located at Dziekania Street 1 in Warsaw, is a church institution that showcases a rich collection of sacred art, historical works, and contemporary Polish art. Founded in 1938, the museum was initially housed in tenement buildings on Kanonia Street. During the Warsaw Uprising, its collections suffered catastrophic destruction. After the war, thanks to the initiative of Primate Stefan Wyszyński, the museum resumed its activities in 1978, and in 1980 it was relocated to the former monastery of the Trinitarian Fathers at the Holy Trinity Church. During martial law, the museum became an important meeting place that supported freedom of speech. In 2014, the process of moving the collections to the Dean's Palace began, which was adapted to serve as the museum's new headquarters and opened in January 2016. The architecture of the new building reflects a careful attention to historical context and functionality, harmoniously blending modern construction with sacred elements. The museum's collection includes over 20,000 exhibits, such as paintings, prints, sculptures, textiles, numismatics, and goldsmithing, all acquired exclusively through donations and deposits. The collection features historical art from the 15th century, contemporary Polish art, memorabilia related to Pope John Paul II, and a collection of items associated with Stefan Wyszyński. The museum also houses valuable works, such as woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer, paintings by Jan Matejko, Stanisław Wyspiański, and Jacek Malczewski, as well as a collection of contemporary Polish painting. Another interesting feature is the exhibition of independent art from the 1980s, featuring works by emigrant artists. The museum not only serves a cultural function but also a historical one, providing a space for reflection on Polish heritage and the role of art in the country's history.