Museum of the Martyrdom of Polish Villages in Michniów

The Museum of the Martyrdom of Polish Villages in Michniów, located in the Świętokrzyskie region, commemorates the martyrdom of Polish villages during World War II. The initiative to build this memorial began in 1979, and the cornerstone was laid in 1989. It is currently managed by the Kielce Village Museum. The complex consists of the National Remembrance House, the Sanctuary of the Martyrdom of Polish Villages, a cemetery, and the "Pieta of Michniów" monument. The pacification of Michniów took place on July 12, 1943, when German authorities killed 204 villagers, making it one of the most tragic events in Polish history. After the war, a monument with the names of the victims was erected, and annual masses in honor of those killed during the pacification began to be held. In 1977, Michniów was awarded the Grunwald Cross III Class. In 1991, the "Monument-Mausoleum" Foundation was established to preserve the memory of the martyrdom of Polish villages. The current form of the mausoleum was achieved through expansion and modernization, and it was officially opened in 2021. Architecturally, the site blends modernity with historical remembrance, and its space is designed for education and commemoration. The mausoleum has become a venue for important cultural events, such as academic conferences on Polish villages during World War II, co-organized with the Institute of National Remembrance and the Jan Kochanowski University. In 2020, it won the Architectural Award of "Polityka" in the Readers' Favorite category, highlighting its significance not only as a memorial site but also as a structure of architectural and cultural value.