Open-Air Museum in Russów

In the historic park of Russów, next to the manor house of Maria Dąbrowska, operates the Ethnographic Park run by the District Museum of the Kalisz Land. This small open-air museum gathers timber monuments of the Kalisz region: houses, a cottage, a barn, a cowshed and two granaries, including one from the second half of the 18th century — the oldest accent on the touring route.

From idea to museum

The first plans were drawn up in the 1960s, when timber village architecture began to disappear from the landscape. The open-air museum was eventually built in the 1980s, with some objects transferred later. Today the grounds live to the rhythm of the museum: archaeological festivals are held here, drawing families from the Kalisz area.

Monuments from several villages

The complex consists among others of a dwelling house from Takomyśla (c. 1870), a cottage from Dobrzec from the first half of the 19th century, a barn from Godziesze Wielkie from the second half of that century and a cowshed from Skrzatki from its end. The most precious object is the granary known as „sołek" from a homestead in Russów, dating to the second half of the 18th century — a relic of the former rural architecture. Next to it stands a manor granary from Kuźnica Grabowska of 1800, a witness of the manor-farm economy.

Practical information

The open-air museum is at Russów 49, in the Żelazków municipality in southern Greater Poland, sharing the grounds with a historic park. A visit combines well with the neighbouring manor house of Maria Dąbrowska — a branch of the same museum, a few hundred metres away.