The Jan Sarkander Museum in Skoczów

The Jan Sarkander Museum in Skoczów is a parish cultural institution dedicated to the life and veneration of St. Jan Sarkander, a 17th-century martyr whose cult spread throughout Silesia and Moravia starting in 1620. The museum is housed in a historic 17th-century townhouse adjacent to the town hall, on the site where the saint was born in 1576. Since 1890, the building has also contained a chapel dedicated to him. The idea of establishing a museum emerged before World War II, and it was officially opened in November 1994. Initially, the museum operated under the auspices of the Gustaw Morcinek Museum, but since September 1995, it has functioned as an independent institution. The exhibition features valuable artifacts, including early church prints, paintings and sculptures of saints, a 17th-century confessional, and a tabernacle. The museum also organizes temporary exhibitions showcasing contemporary painting, graphic art, sculpture, and photography. Additionally, it serves as the starting point of the urban St. Sarkander Walking Trail, which leads to sites associated with the saint’s life, such as the town hall with a mural depicting him, the Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross—where he was baptized—and the chapel on Kaplicówka Hill. The museum is owned by the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Apostles Peter and Paul in Skoczów, underscoring the importance of cultural heritage in the region.