The City Museum of Wroclaw

The City Museum of Wroclaw

Standing in front of the gate, it is hard for tourists to know that the Baroque Royal Palace in front of them is a museum.

Enter the gate, follow the instruction, open the door – you have arrived in City Museum of Wroclaw! Turn right to the Kasa and buy your tickets. After buying the ticket remember to go back to the lobby you have just entered. There is a floor plan on your right hand side. However, there is only 1 direction to visit the exhibition room so you will not get lost even you have not looked at the floor plan. When I visited this museum, there was a temporary exhibition showing dolls from different parts of the world in the room which is connected by the Kasa. You should check whether there is any temporary exhibition taking place in some hard-to-find rooms in the museum!

There are so many exhibits and themes in the City Museum that it is difficult to conclude the exhibitions in a few words. Or a vague description is used : this museum shows the culture of Wroclaw.You can start your visit in the museum by entering the room on your left hand side. After you have entered each exhibition room, remember to search for a room description board if you want to have an overall idea to know what is being shown in the room. Most of the room has its own theme . Also you may encounter an interactive computer which tells you somethings which is not shown in the room. Most importantly, all the titles of exhibits and descriptions, as well as the interactive computer, are in English! You must be able to understand them. The first floor shows the medieval time of Wroclaw. Seeing the old remains of Wroclaw in the past felt like experiencing an archaeological trip of Wroclaw. There are a lot of sculptures and painting with religious theme. You can feel the powerfulness of religion in the past in Poland – nearly every museums shows some collection in this aspect! Honestly, some of them are similar and make you think that you have encountered them in other museums as this theme was too prevalent at that time.

The exhibition contiunes to the 2^nd Floor. On this floor, the most surprising exhibition is the group of Rococo rooms – they are the regal rooms of Frederick Wilhelm II and Frederick Wilhelm III. The rooms are very splendid. Maybe the tourist will see something similar when they visit the Wawel Castle in Krakow. Spend some time here to read the description boards and I am sure you will understand the underlying message of the setting better.

Don't leave so soon as there are still exhibitions on the 3^rd Floor. Generally speaking, there are two sessions on this floor. There are a session of Polish Contemporary art (which is difficult for me to understand), and a session showing the contemporary achievment of Wroclaw with the development of Wroclaw after World War I. After visiting the museum, look for the word „WYJŚCIE”. It means „exit”. When you are back to the ground floor, be reminded that to visit the beautiful Baroque Garden on the opposite side of the entrance.

Inside the museum you are not allowed to take pictures. However, in the Baroque Garden? Take as much as you want!