The building in the photo above is the windmill from Zygmuntow. It’s a symbol of the Lublin Open Air Village Museum and the first exhibit to be placed there. It was in 1976. Since then, a whole lot of new facilities have been added. The exhibits that can be seen there are transported from all over the country. So we can say that the Lublin Open Air Village Museum is old Poland in a nutshell.
Eastern Poland is beautiful! See the best attractions of Lublin and the surrounding area.
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum – photos
Travel-Mates team absolutely loves walking through open-air museums. We currently live in a huge, noisy and (quite) modern Warsaw, so each visit to this type of tourist attraction is a double journey for us: not only in place, but also in time.
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum is divided into seven ‘districts’: Miasteczko, Nadbuże, Podlasie, PowiÅ›le, Roztocze, Wyzyna Lubelska and the Zespol Dworski. Some sectors can only be visited on foot, in others you can also view the buildings inside.
Of course, we looked into all the open farmsteads and cottages. Thatched-roof buildings, atmospheric wooden ceilings, whitewashed walls and perfectly polished furniture are impressive. This is definitely not IKEA plywood that you can put together yourself. There is no shortage of paintings, of course with sacred themes. And this suspended cradle – really stylish!
Such an interior, full of wood and accessories made of natural materials, could become an inspiration for many contemporary interior designers. On the one hand, it is quite austere and minimalist, on the other – quite neat and cozy.
Animals were, of course, an inseparable element of the Polish countryside landscape. They not only ‘fed’ the inhabitants, but also took part in agricultural work. In the Lublin open-air museum you will have the opportunity to see horses, sheep, rabbits and domestic birds. Stables, barns, perches and paddocks are waiting for your visit. Sounds tempting?
We were most enchanted by representatives of two species. First of all: the sheep with whom we literally came face to face. Aren’t they adorable? Especially in the above comparison, i.e. an elegant, well-trimmed sheep versus a powerful, woolen snowball. With a little nostalgia, we also looked into the hen house – its inhabitants reminded us of visits to our grandparents and grandmothers in our childhood.
Of course, a real Polish village could not do without an inn – it was mainly here that the social life of the inhabitants took place. In the pub you could not only eat or drink, but also do business or simply gossip with your neighbors. The building, which today can be visited as a beer hall from Siedliszcz, in fact served as a commune office with a jail, and even a school hall.
Apart from visiting the inn, the villagers could go for a little shopping at the general store. Here, all products were closed in ecological packaging made of glass or metal. We should learn from our ancestors how to take care of the environment (even if it was due to their lack of access to plastic). Also pay attention to the scale with weights – beautifully made and richly decorated, it brings back the charm of childhood memories.
Another important place on the map of every village was, of course, the church. Some parishioners went to pray to him, and others – as is the case to this day – went to meet him socially. In The Lublin Open Air Village Museum you will find this beautiful, wooden, historic Roman Catholic temple.
The church from Matczyn was built in the 17th century, making it the oldest preserved building of this type in the Lublin region. The interior – fortunately – is not dripping with splendor, and yet it looks very stylish. It has a unique, intimate atmosphere.
We had the opportunity to see the blacksmith’s cottage while visiting the Rynek Underground – Museum of Krakow. Its counterpart in The Lublin Open Air Village Museum is the forge from Urzedow. Here we could see what a blacksmith’s workplace looked like, i.e. equipment for forging horses or repairing agricultural equipment.
Although most people associate an open-air museum only with the countryside, in the one in Lublin you will find a Museum Town. When you are there, be sure to visit the station of the Volunteer Fire Department from Wilkow. Volunteer Fire Departments are organizations that have always played an important role in the life of society. It can be said that such a fire station is a facility combining old rural and urban culture.
In the era of clothing chains and easy availability of all kinds of products, we use the services of craftsmen less and less often. Instead of repairing, we throw things into the trash and buy new ones. Meanwhile, in recent centuries, tailors and shoemakers played an important role in the city. In The Lublin Open Air Village Museum you will be able to see what their workshops looked like.
When we visited the Lublin open-air museum, all facilities in the Museum Village (except the Volunteer Fire Department) were closed. So we could only peek at the exhibits inside through the window. This, of course, added charm to the entire trip – after all, the most interesting things are what are inaccessible. Behind the glass, we spotted a lot of gems – including handmade and richly decorated shoes.
We have already shown you many exhibits, but the vast majority are still ahead of you. Was it worth going to The Lublin Open Air Village Museum? Oh yes! Not only did we learn many historical facts, but for a few hours we were completely transported back in time. And the rain didn’t bother us one bit.
The package for idyllic pictures also includes wooden signs with detailed descriptions of attractions (they create an atmosphere). And even though we didn’t buy a ticket for the guided tour, we had an inseparable travel companion for a significant part of the day. Exactly the one sitting comfortably on the threshold of the cottage in the photo below. Who knows, maybe he will also want to walk with you and show you around.
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum – tickets
Tickets to The Lublin Open Air Village Museum cost as follows:
- Normal ticket – PLN 30.
- Reduced ticket – PLN 20.
- Children up to 7 years old enter free of charge.
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum – opening hours
The opening hours of The Lublin Open Air Village Museum are as follows:
- From January to March: Tuesday – Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- In April: 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- From May to September: 7 days a week from 9:00 to 19:00
- In October: 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
- From November to December: Tuesday – Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Last entry is possible no later than one hour before closing time.
The museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, All Saints’ Day and from December 24-31.
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum – visiting time
A guided tour of The Lublin Open Air Village Museum takes approximately 1.5 hours. We, on our own, walked around the local open-air museum for about… 3 hours. In the rain and against the wind. 🙂 But that’s us, we usually spend +/- 2 times more time on a given attraction than the average.
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum – how to get?
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum is located at ul. Warszawska 96 in Lublin.
- Traditionally, we encourage ecological walking and cycling trips – the museum is located 5 km from the center of Lublin (1 hour 15 minutes walk or less than 30 minutes by bike).
- There are two bus stops nearby: Skansen & Warszawska – Cerkiew.
- Information for those arriving by car: next to The Lublin Open Air Village Museum you will find a free, unguarded city car park.
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum – interesting facts and tips
- Do you dream of an atmospheric wedding? At The Lublin Open Air Village Museum you can ‘say yes’ in the wooden church from Matczyn. It will be modest but beautiful
- The Lublin open-air museum has often become a film set for many Polish films. You can watch one of them, Forgotten Love, on Netflix.
- The Lublin open-air museum has often become a film setIf you are not yet convinced whether it is worth going to The Lublin Open Air Village Museum, be sure to take advantage of the virtual walk option that the open-air museum offers on its website. You will have the opportunity to see 5 objects, 9 exhibitions and 24 interiors. This is quite enough to make sure that you simply have to come here!for many Polish films. You can watch one of them, Forgotten Love, on Netflix.
- If you are going to The Lublin Open Air Village Museum in rainy weather and after the holiday season, you will certainly not complain about the crowds. During the several-hour trip, we passed only two pairs of visitors. The situation is completely different in summer, when the open-air museum can be really crowded. The disadvantage of walking in autumn, rainy weather is undoubtedly the risk of drowning in mud. Guided by Wiolczi’s experience, do not wear light-colored shoes, even if they are warm, comfortable and waterproof.
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum – reviews
- Patrix – 10/10. This museum is absolutely amazing. I come from a rural area, so visiting The Lublin Open Air Village Museum was a trip back in time for me. It’s the perfect place to take your grandpa or grandma from the countryside. This wonderful open-air museum will remind them of their childhood. The tour was extremely interesting for me – I saw what the village looked like decades ago. This place allowed me to calm my head and appreciate the beauty of food production that I reach for in supermarkets every day. I sincerely recommend it.
- Wiolczix – 10/10. What a journey it was! It is worth going to the ‘Far East of Poland’ to see this place. Both the buildings and the animals here are kept in excellent condition. The open-air museum looks beautiful even in winter (let alone spring or summer, when it is green and everything is in bloom!). The Lublin Open Air Village Museum is distinguished by the presence of the Museum Town, thanks to which visitors have the opportunity to learn about both rural and urban life. My favorite ‘district’ is probably Powisle, consisting of several farms and water reservoirs. I think I could live here. : )
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum – FAQ
How much does a ticket to The Lublin Open Air Village Museum cost?
Regular tickets to The Lublin Open Air Village Museum cost PLN 30, and reduced tickets – PLN 20.
How often is The Lublin Open Air Village Museum visited?
A guided tour of The Lublin Open Air Village Museum lasts approximately 1.5 hours (each organized group must purchase a guide service). We moved around the open-air museum on our own. We spent about 3 hours here, looking at the exhibits slowly and thoroughly. How much time the tour will take is up to you. A single entry ticket entitles you to an unlimited stay in the museum.
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum – is it possible to bring a dog?
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum provides for the possibility of visiting the facility with a dog in its regulations. However, he must remain on a leash and with a muzzle at all times. The owner is obliged to clean up all waste after his/her guests. Apart from guide dogs and assistance dogs, pets are not allowed inside museum facilities.
What does the word open-air museum mean?
An open-air museum is an ethnographic museum, created in the open air, which collects monuments (buildings and objects) transferred from various places in a given country. This name comes from Swedish. The first museum of this type was called Skansen Park and was founded in 1891 in Stockholm.
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum – map
The Lublin Open Air Village Museum is located in the Slawin district, in the north-west of Lublin.