Racławice Panorama in Wrocław

The Racławice Panorama in Wrocław (say: rats-wah-VEE-tseh, VROTS-wahf) is a vast 360-degree painting of the Battle of Racławice, fought on April 4, 1794, during Poland's Kościuszko Uprising against Russia. Displayed in a purpose-built rotunda, the canvas wraps around you for more than 110 meters, while real soil, shrubs and props in the foreground blur the line between painting and landscape. It is one of the most popular things to do in Wrocław, and the 30-minute show is a memorable lesson in Polish history.

Where it is and how to get there

Wrocław is the capital of Lower Silesia in south-western Poland, roughly 3–3.5 hours by train from Kraków and about two hours by car from the German border at Görlitz. The panorama stands at Purkyniego 11, on the edge of Słowacki Park, about a 10–15 minute walk from the Market Square (Rynek). Wrocław Airport has flights across Europe. There is a paid parking lot by the museum (PLN 7 per hour); other options are Nowy Targ square and the Galeria Dominikańska mall.

What the painting shows

In 1794, General Tadeusz Kościuszko – also a hero of the American Revolution, where he designed the fortifications at West Point – led a national uprising against the powers that had partitioned Poland. At Racławice, his troops defeated a Russian corps under General Alexander Tormasov. The painting's most famous scene shows peasant scythemen (kosynierzy), armed with straightened scythes, charging and capturing Russian cannons. You can also spot Kościuszko himself wearing a peasant coat, the Polish cavalry and village cottages in the distance.

History: from Lviv to Wrocław

The panorama, about 15 × 114 m, was painted in 1893–1894 by a team led by Jan Styka and Wojciech Kossak and first shown on June 5, 1894, in Lwów (today Lviv, Ukraine) to mark the uprising's centenary. Damaged by bombing in 1944, it was brought to Wrocław in 1946 – part of the postwar westward shift of Poland's borders and people. Because of its anti-Russian theme, the communist authorities kept it rolled up for decades. The concrete rotunda, designed by Ewa and Marek Dziekoński, finally opened to visitors on June 14, 1985.

How the visit works

You enter at a fixed time and watch from a central platform while a recorded narration guides you around the scenes for 30 minutes. Narration is available in 20 languages, including English, plus children's and audio-description versions. Advance booking of a date and time slot is required, and summer slots sell out fast. Allow about an hour in total, including the small rotunda with a battlefield model. Is it worth visiting? Yes – even visitors who rarely enter museums are usually impressed by the illusion.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026 (National Museum in Wrocław):

• summer season (April 1–October 31): daily 8:30 am–7:00 pm,
• winter season (November 1–March 31): Tue–Fri 9:30 am–4:00 pm, Sat 9:30 am–5:00 pm, Sun 9:30 am–4:00 pm, closed Mondays,
• closed in 2026 on October 31, November 1, December 24–26 and 31, among other dates,
• standard ticket PLN 50 (about US$13), reduced PLN 35, family PLN 35 per person (parents with children aged 7–18).

Bonus: your ticket gives free entry to the permanent exhibitions of three other branches of the National Museum in Wrocław for three months – including the Main Building right next door. Phone: +48 71 344 23 44.