Mr Blot's Fairy Tale (Bajka Pana Kleksa), Katowice

Bajka Pana Kleksa (Mr Blot's Fairy Tale) is a family centre for play and learning in the former Porcelain Factory in Katowice: more than 1,400 m² of puzzles, experiments and sets inspired by Jan Brzechwa's novels about Professor Klex. It is neither a soft-play hall with a ball pit nor a classic museum – children and adults move through the zones together, solving tasks as they go. It works best for children aged 5–12.

The story: three stolen secrets

The whole exhibition is built around one tale. The mischievous Bebok has stolen three powerful objects from Mr Klex – the button from the Bogdychans' cap, the magic inkwell and Doctor Paj-Chi-Wo's emerald casket – and the family's task is to find them. In the first zone a guide dressed as a character from the books introduces the mission, and along the way information boards tell you what to do next. The sets were created by the Fabryka Dekoracji studio, which has designed exhibitions for the Silesian Museum and the POLIN Museum, among others. The project is supported by Jan Brzechwa's heirs as well as Krzysztof Gradowski, Piotr Fronczewski and Andrzej Korzyński.

What to see

According to the venue, the exhibition is divided into 10 themed zones:

• The Last Nature Reserve – a jungle with birds, insects and a tree hollow full of stories; this is where the mission begins.
• Mateusz the Starling's Land – Mr Klex's beard, dream mirrors, colour mixing and a button to find.
• The Kingdom of Bajdocja – a voyage on Apolinary Baj's ship, ropes, maps, a compass and a slide; the prize is the inkwell with never-ending ink.
• Planet Fantasy – a pilot school for the Voltan II racer, a space capsule and the robot Silver.
• Abecja, Queen Aba's Underwater World – 13 multimedia stations about plastic in the seas and endangered species, a bathyscaphe and a climbing wall.
• Mr Klex's Kitchen, Dog Paradise, the Robot Scrapyard, the LEGO Zone and the newest, Planet Mango.

Before you go

Children cannot visit alone – everyone needs a ticket, adults included, because the tasks are designed for parents and children to solve together. The ticket covers all zones and there is no time limit. You walk around in socks, so bring a spare pair; adults can use shoe-cover machines. A pushchair is not practical – a sling or carrier works better; wheelchair users can enter the exhibition, though some spots may be hard to reach. There is a café, Meluzyna, on site.

Tripto tips

The venue is at ul. Porcelanowa 23 (building D, entrance 006). According to its official website it is closed Monday to Wednesday, open Thursday and Friday 15:00–19:00 and at weekends 10:00–20:00. Prices depend on the day and time and are shown once you pick a slot in the online shop; visitor numbers are limited, so it is best to book ahead. A visitor with a disability and their companion pay PLN 40 each, and holders of the Katowice Resident Card get 20% off. Parking is free for 3 hours if you show your parking ticket at reception, then PLN 6 for each started hour. Take bus 930 (Fabryka Porcelany stop) or a tram to Zawodzie Ośrodek Sportowy. Allow at least 2–3 hours for your visit.