The Matchmaking Museum in Bystrzyca Kłodzka

The Matchmaking Museum in Bystrzyca Kłodzka is a unique institution in Poland, with a significant part of its collection focused on items related to fire-making, including various lighters and an impressive collection of matchbox labels. The collection includes approximately half a million labels and over a thousand lighters. The museum offers permanent exhibitions, such as "The History of Fire-Making" and "Matchbox Labels and Packaging from Around the World," and organizes temporary exhibitions each year, enriching the cultural offerings. The museum's headquarters, located at the Small Market Square, is a former Evangelical church and parish school from 1821-1822, adding architectural and historical value. The buildings were adapted for museum purposes in the 1960s by local entrepreneurs. As an important element of the region's culture, the museum promotes the history of local industrial plants related to match production, which had a significant impact on the development of Bystrzyca Kłodzka. Additionally, since 2001, the museum has published annuals on phillumeny and the region, and in 2005, the Gallery – The Enchanted World of Matches was established to promote regional monuments. Supported by local associations, the museum was established through community initiative, giving it special significance in the cultural landscape of Lower Silesia. Interestingly, the Matchmaking Museum is the only institution of its kind in Poland, and its collections attract both phillumeny enthusiasts and tourists interested in the history and culture of the region.