Copper Museum in Legnica

Above the entrance to the Baroque palace at ul. Partyzantów 3 you can see the letters LAL – short for "Lodovicus Abbas Lubensis", Abbot Ludwig Bauch of Lubiąż. For more than sixty years this building from 1728 has housed Poland's only museum devoted to copper. It is also the museum of Legnica and its region, and it opens several other historic sites in the city to visitors.

History: a museum for a mining capital

The Copper Museum was founded in 1962 on the initiative of Tadeusz Gumiński. At that time the Legnica–Głogów copper basin was being developed, and Legnica, the largest town in the region, was meant to become its capital. From the start the museum has occupied the former town house of the abbots of the Cistercian monastery in Lubiąż, at the corner of ul. św. Jana and ul. Partyzantów. The cartouche above the portal commemorates Abbot Ludwig Bauch, who led the abbey from 1696 to 1729. The museum is run by the City of Legnica.

What to see

• "Copper. The story of an extraordinary metal" in the main building – copper minerals from around the world, old and modern copper engraving, mining and smelting technology, small bronze sculptures and objects made of copper and its alloys.
• Art – an Art Deco collection and contemporary Polish silverwork, including pieces from Legnica's silver competitions.
• Knights' Academy at ul. Chojnowska 2 – the second building, with an exhibition on its history and temporary shows.
• Piast Castle – a pavilion over the remains of the Romanesque chapel of Saints Benedict and Lawrence from around 1220, St Peter's Tower with a viewing terrace, and St Hedwig's Tower.
• Piast Mausoleum in St John's Church – the first Baroque funerary chapel in Silesia, built in 1677–1679, shown on guided tours.

Interesting facts

The museum owns the largest lapidarium in Lower Silesia, with architectural details from Legnica buildings of the 14th to 19th centuries, although it is currently closed. Its branch is the Museum of the Battle of Legnica in Legnickie Pole (open Wednesday to Sunday, ticket PLN 10). The museum also has a numismatic department and runs coin-striking demonstrations.

Practical information

According to the museum website, from 1 October to 31 May the main building and the Knights' Academy are open Tue–Fri 10:00–17:00 and Sat 11:00–17:00. From 1 June to 30 September: Wed–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat–Sun 11:00–17:00. A standard ticket costs PLN 20, reduced PLN 10, valid for both buildings. Admission is free every Wednesday. Castle tours (PLN 10) run at fixed times from late April to October, and the mausoleum is shown on weekdays at 11:00, 12:30 and 14:00 (PLN 5).

Tripto tip

Allow about 1.5 hours for the main building; if you also want the castle and the mausoleum, set aside half a day for Legnica. On a Wednesday you can see the exhibitions for free, but groups should book in advance. Check current hours on the museum website before you go, as they change with the season.