Bauble Museum in Milicz

For nearly half a century, glass Christmas baubles were hand-blown and hand-painted in Milicz and shipped to every continent; one of the customers is said to have been Walt Disney himself. The factory closed in 2008, but its pattern archive survived. Today some 6,000 baubles, one of every design ever made here, are on display at the Bauble Museum in Milicz, an hour's drive from Wrocław.

History: Poland's largest bauble manufactory

The Milicz Christmas ornament factory was founded at the turn of the 1950s and 60s and operated without a break until 2008. It was Poland's largest manufactory of glass decorations, turning out around a million baubles a year, all made by hand. As much as 90% went for export, mainly to the United States and Japan. Over the years one piece of each design was set aside in the pattern room, and it is this archive that forms the exhibition.

What to see

• About 6,000 baubles – there are practically no two alike.
• The oldest pieces date from the second half of the 20th century, the newest from 2007, from the last production seasons.
• Unusual shapes – besides balls there are baubles shaped like a kitten, a penguin or a cucumber.
• The Lower Silesian Pattern Book – modern baubles with regional motifs that you can buy as a souvenir.

Did you know?

The museum is more than display cases. It runs bauble-decorating workshops for groups, educational programmes and weekend events, and for the youngest visitors there is a Museum Detective Game. You can also order personalised and corporate baubles, or buy a ticket that includes a souvenir Lower Silesian Bauble.

Tripto tips

The museum is housed in the Creative Multifunctional Building (KOM) at ul. Dąbrowskiego 3 in Milicz. According to the current price list, a visit with an audio guide (about 45 minutes) costs PLN 20, reduced PLN 15, a ticket with a Lower Silesian Bauble PLN 60, and children under 3 go free. Opening hours for individual visitors: Mon–Fri 9:00–15:00, Sunday 11:00–17:00, closed on Saturdays. Groups can come any day by prior arrangement (tel. +48 71 384 12 96). In December the museum mainly hosts groups on St Nicholas programmes on weekdays, so individual visitors are better off coming on Sunday or in the middle of the day. The visit combines easily with a walk in the Barycz Valley.