Sieradz Ethnographic Park

In one of the homesteads here you can see wooden devils, human figures and village scenes carved from a single piece of wood by Szczepan Mucha (1908–1982), a folk sculptor from the village of Szale. His homestead is one of the highlights of the Sieradz Ethnographic Park. This open-air museum of rural life lies in eastern Sieradz, at ul. Grodzka 1, at the foot of Castle Hill, between the Żeglina river and the Paradzianka reservoir. It is a branch of the Regional Museum in Sieradz.

History: built in two attempts

The idea dates from the 1960s and came from the museum's director Zofia Neymanowa, who drew up the first plan with Anna Korytowska in 1972. The park was established by a resolution of 26 January 1973, and building work began in 1975. The first structure was a weaver's house from ul. Długa in Zgierz, which at first served the construction workers. An economic crisis halted the project; it was revived in 1986, and in 1987 the regional governor approved the construction of the park.

What to see

• The weaver's cottage from Zgierz, from the 1820s – the first building in the museum.
• Szczepan Mucha's homestead, with his house and a collection of works from 1972–1983.
• An open farmstead typical of the Sieradz area: a cottage from Męka (second half of the 19th century), a cowshed with a cart shed from Wiertelaki, and a barn from Ruda from the early 20th century.
• The granary (kumora) from Brąszewice-Zabrodzie, from around 1810 – the oldest building in the park.
• A bread oven – a reconstruction of a 1955 oven from Kopyść near Łask – and a shelter with threshers, winnowers and sieves.

Interesting facts

On 26 June 2010 a time capsule with mementoes and memories of local people was buried under a boulder in the park. The museum runs the "Krzesiwo" (Flint) programme with workshops and meetings with folk artists. Groups can also book a bonfire here.

Practical information

According to the museum website, the park is open from 15 April to 15 October: Tue–Fri 10:00–16:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–17:00, closed on Mondays. A standard museum ticket costs PLN 18, reduced PLN 12, and a guided tour PLN 50. Admission to the museum and its branches is free every Tuesday, and children under 7 go free.

Tripto tip

About an hour is enough for the park. Come on a Tuesday, when admission is free. Afterwards, walk up nearby Castle Hill and continue to the main museum on ul. Dominikańska in the town centre. Check the museum website for notices before you go, as sites sometimes close for technical reasons.