House under the Golden Sun

The Pan Tadeusz Museum in Wrocław is a modern storytelling museum run by the Ossolineum, set in the Baroque House under the Golden Sun on the Market Square. Its centerpiece is the only surviving manuscript of "Pan Tadeusz," Adam Mickiewicz's 1834 epic poem, which every Polish student reads and which is often called Poland's national epic. Other galleries follow two remarkable 20th-century lives and the poet Tadeusz Różewicz. The museum received a special commendation at the European Museum of the Year Award in 2019.

Background

The museum opened on April 23, 2016, as part of the Ossoliński National Institute (Ossolineum), a historic library and research foundation that moved to Wrocław from Lviv after World War II. Exhibits cover about 1,500 m² (16,000 sq ft). The manuscript, sold by Mickiewicz's son in 1871, was deposited at the Ossolineum in 1939 and became its property in 1999.

The building itself dates back to two 13th-century houses, remodeled into today's Baroque townhouse in 1694–1695. Over the centuries it hosted royal guests, including King Vladislaus II Jagiellon and Emperor Rudolf II.

Permanent exhibitions

• "The Pan Tadeusz Manuscript": how the poem was written and received, with the original manuscript on display.
• "Mission: Poland": the wartime and postwar lives of Jan Nowak-Jeziorański (a courier for the Polish Underground and later head of Radio Free Europe's Polish service) and Władysław Bartoszewski (Auschwitz survivor, resistance member and later foreign minister), including recreations of their studies.
• "Pan Tadeusz Różewicz": devoted to the poet, who lived in Wrocław.
• "Exhibits": selected objects from the collection.

The manuscript's journey

Mickiewicz's son Władysław sold the manuscript in 1871 to the critic Stanisław Tarnowski. His family deposited it with the Ossolineum in 1939, and after long negotiations it was purchased in 1999 for $200,000 – reportedly about a third of its value.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• Hours: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun 10 am–5 pm; Thu 10 am–7 pm; closed Mondays. Last entry to permanent exhibitions at 4:30 pm.
• Closed in late 2026 on November 1, December 24–27 and December 31.
• Tickets: standard 25 PLN, reduced 15 PLN, family 45 PLN (2–6 people, up to two adults). Children under 6 and visitors over 75 enter free.
• Entry is timed: a maximum of 15 visitors every 15 minutes, so book ahead on weekends.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you're interested in Polish history and culture – the museum offers an accessible introduction even if you've never read the poem. Allow about 1.5 hours. Guided tours in English can be arranged for groups of more than 10 people.

How to get there and nearby

The museum is at Rynek 6, on the west side of the Market Square, in the pedestrian zone. Wrocław Airport is about 10 km west of the center and the main train station a 20-minute walk away. Right next door is the House of the Seven Electors; opposite stands the Old Town Hall, and Salt Square and St. Elizabeth's Church are a few steps away.