Irena and Mieczysław Mazaraki Museum

The Loewenfeld mansion houses the municipal museum of Chrzanów

Biedermeier salon inside the Loewenfeld mansion

The Irena and Mieczysław Mazaraki Museum (Polish: Muzeum w Chrzanowie im. Ireny i Mieczysława Mazarakich) is located in the town of in Chrzanów in Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

History

It was founded in 1960. It is a self-governing cultural institution of the municipality Chrzanów. Its areas include scientific and research activity of all areas of the western part of Lesser Poland.

The permanent exhibition is housed on ulica Mickiewicza 13 in the former mansion of Henryk Loewenfeld. The history, culture and nature of Chrzanów's region are presented from past to present. The museum showcases the flora and fauna of the region, has a rocks and minerals collection, details the early history of the region, the city and its people, including the Jewish history with a miniature model of the historical Synagogue of Chrzanów, the importance of the industry with a permanent exhibit on Fablok, the first locomotive factory in Poland. Some of the original interior of the Loewenfeld mansion are also preserved such as the Biedermeier salon.

The sponsors of the museum are Irena and Mieczysław Mazaraki, in whose honour the museum was named. Through gifts and grants the collection has been expanded to include antique items such as jewelry from Kraków, art objects, Judaica made out of glass, tin and wood, Biedermeier glass, patriotic souvenirs, memorabilia of Pope John Paul II, and paintings dating from the 19th century.

The museum is also entrusted with the care of one of the chapels in town, as well as the Jewish cemetery since December 2007.

Urbańczyk House

Urbańczyk House

The museum owns a department called "Urbańczyk House" (Dom Urbańczyka), located on Aleja Henryka 16. It was opened four tourists in 1985 after renovation and has been converted into a museum. The house belonged to Tadeusz Urbańczyk, who was a professor of secondary school. The house was built in the 19th century by his father Franciszek Urbańczyk. The architecture is in the provincial style of the region, located in the town. The house is registered on the heritage list. Exhibitions, cultural performances such as concerts and lectures are held there, as well as in the garden. A library and archive is also located there.

Image gallery

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  Minerals and rock collection

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  Flora and fauna collection

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  Room featuring the Jewish history of Chrzanów

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  Exhibit on the locomotive factory Fablok

External links

Media related to Irena and Mieczysław Mazaraki Museum at Wikimedia Commons

• Homepage of the museum