National Museum of the Przemyśl Land

The National Museum of the Przemyśl Land (Muzeum Narodowe Ziemi Przemyskiej) is the main museum in Przemyśl ("PSHEH-mishl"), a historic town on the San River in southeastern Poland, close to the Ukrainian border. Its modern building, a few minutes' walk from the Market Square, tells the story of the region from prehistory through the WWI fortress to the town's Polish, Ukrainian and Jewish communities, and it shows religious art from both the Latin and Eastern Christian traditions. There is a rooftop terrace with views, too. Start here and the rest of Przemyśl makes much more sense.

History of the museum

The museum was founded in 1909 by Przemyśl's Society of Friends of Learning, built around the private collections of the brothers Kazimierz and Tadeusz Osiński, and opened its first exhibition on April 10, 1910. It has carried the name "National Museum of the Przemyśl Land" since 1921 (shortened in 1963 and restored in 1984). Before World War II it held over 20,000 objects.

For decades the museum was housed in the former palace of the Greek Catholic bishops. Work on a new home began in 2005, and the current main building at Plac Berka Joselewicza 1 opened in 2008.

What to see

Permanent exhibitions in the main building include:

• Prehistory and the early Middle Ages in the Przemyśl region (ground floor) – including finds from a 10th-century cemetery of early Hungarian (Magyar) warriors.
• "Credo for Two Voices" (1st floor) – sacred art of the Latin and Eastern churches, including icons.
• "The Story of the Jews of Przemyśl" (1st floor) – the history and culture of the town's Jewish community.
• "Hutsul Treasures" – folk art of the Hutsul highlanders of the Carpathians.
• "Przemyśl Fortress" (2nd floor) – the first comprehensive exhibition on the WWI fortress and its sieges.
• "The Executed City" (2nd floor) – Przemyśl during World War II.

In October 2026 there is also a temporary exhibition on Art Deco kilims from Hlyniany.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• September 1 – June 30: Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–3 p.m., closed Mondays.
• July–August: Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Last entry 45 minutes before closing.
• Tickets: 22 PLN for one site (11 PLN reduced); a ticket for three of the museum's sites costs 40 PLN (20 PLN reduced).
• Free admission on Thursdays.
• A guide costs 50 PLN per group (from October 1, 2026); book in advance if you need one in English.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially on a rainy day or before you head out to the forts. Allow 1.5–2 hours. The building is fully wheelchair accessible: there is a ramp at the entrance, an elevator to all exhibition floors and the terrace, and an accessible restroom on the ground floor.

How to get there

The museum is at Plac Berka Joselewicza 1, on the edge of the old town, a few minutes from the Market Square. Przemyśl is about 155 miles (250 km) east of Kraków on the A4 motorway, roughly three hours by car, and has direct trains from Kraków and Rzeszów; the nearest airport is Rzeszów-Jasionka (RZE).

Nearby

The museum runs two branches you can visit on a combined ticket: the Museum of the History of Przemyśl on the Market Square (No. 9) and the Bell and Pipe Museum in the Clock Tower. Also nearby: the Market Square, Przemyśl Castle and the Tatar Mound viewpoint.

Contact: +48 16 679 30 00, sekretariat@mnzp.pl.