Ulma Family Museum of Poles Saving Jews in World War II (Markowa)

The Ulma Family Museum of Poles Saving Jews in World War II, in the village of Markowa (say "mar-KOH-vah") in southeastern Poland, tells the stories of local people who hid Jewish neighbors during the German occupation – and the price many of them paid. It is named after Józef and Wiktoria Ulma and their children, who were murdered in 1944 for sheltering eight Jews. The museum is small, but its quiet, carefully designed exhibition is one of the most moving Holocaust-related sites in the country.

Where it is

Markowa lies about 8 km (5 miles) southeast of Łańcut and roughly half an hour's drive from Rzeszów and its airport (RZE), via the A4 motorway. Kraków is about two and a half hours away by car. A car is by far the easiest way to get here; check local bus connections from Łańcut before you travel.

The story of the Ulma family

Józef and Wiktoria Ulma were farmers in Markowa. They married in 1935 and had six children – Stanisława, Barbara, Władysław, Franciszek, Antoni and Maria – and Wiktoria was pregnant with a seventh. Józef was a keen amateur photographer, gardener, fruit grower, beekeeper and bookbinder; his photographs of village life survive as a rare record of the time.

During the occupation the Ulmas hid eight Jews from the Szall and Goldman families in their home. After they were denounced, on March 24, 1944, German gendarmes led by Lieutenant Eilert Dieken, assisted by local "Blue" police under German command, shot the Jews in hiding and then the whole Ulma family, children included. In German-occupied Poland, helping Jews was punishable by death. Yad Vashem recognized Józef and Wiktoria as Righteous Among the Nations in 1995, and on September 10, 2023 the entire family was beatified in Markowa – the first time in the 21st century that a whole family was beatified together. Other villagers in Markowa saved 21 Jews during the war.

The museum and its building

The museum opened on March 17, 2016. Its building, designed by Nizio Design International, is a stark, minimalist form inspired by the outline of a simple village house. At the heart of the exhibition hall stands a glass cube measuring 5 × 8 m – a full-scale outline of the Ulma home, which itself has not survived.

What to see

The permanent exhibition, in one hall, is organized into seven sections: Poles and Jews in the region before 1939, life under German occupation, Poles who rescued Jews, hiding places, Poles murdered for helping Jews, the Ulma family, and the postwar years. Photographs, documents, witness testimony and documentary films are presented with labels in Polish, English and Hebrew.

Outside, take time for:

• the wall of names listing people from the region who helped Jews,
• illuminated plaques on the square naming Poles killed for helping Jews,
• the Orchard of Remembrance, with plaques for places across Poland where Righteous Among the Nations saved Jews, and the 2004 Ulma family monument.

Planning your visit

Allow 60–90 minutes. The museum recommends the exhibition for visitors aged 12 and over. Individual visitors explore on their own; groups can book a guide in English (at least one week ahead). Admission is free every Tuesday.

Accessibility

The building is single-story, and the permanent exhibition starts right behind the ticket desk. There is an accessible restroom next to the entrance, and a chair is available on request at the desk. A disabled parking space is provided on the internal road, level with the square – the museum asks you to let them know in advance. Staff will help with the heavy entrance doors. The Orchard of Remembrance sits on a steep slope and is harder to reach, but museum staff can accompany you if you call ahead. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026, according to the museum:

• April–October: Tuesday–Sunday 10 am–6 pm; November–March: Tuesday–Sunday 10 am–4 pm; closed Mondays. Last entry 45 minutes before closing.
• Closed on November 1 and December 24–25, 2026, among other dates.
• Tickets: PLN 25 standard, PLN 15 reduced, PLN 10 for ages 7–26; free on Tuesdays.
• English-language guide for groups: PLN 85 (short introduction PLN 50).
• Contact: Markowa 1487; tel. +48 17 224 10 15; bookings +48 17 783 75 78, rezerwacje@muzeumulmow.pl.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes. If you are exploring Kraków's Jewish heritage or visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau, Markowa adds a different and essential perspective: the story of ordinary rural families who chose to help, knowing the risk. Combine it with nearby Łańcut Castle and the Baroque Łańcut Synagogue for a full day.