Tourists coming to Poland will have numerous opportunities to become familiar with the country's cultural life. Theaters in all major cities invite you to see their productions. Museums and galleries have interesting exhibits, and there are various cultural events in which to participate. These are ideal ways of spending your time regardless of the weather. World-wide known are the musical compositions of Witold Lutoslawski and Krzysztof Penderecki, poetry and essays of Czeslaw Milosz, and film productions of Andrzej Wajda and Krzysztof Kieslowski. Below is a list of the most important museums, theaters, concert halls, and galleries. Galleries with Polish modern art and artistic handicrafts offer works of high artistic level at relatively low prices.
 

Warsaw

• Grand Theater of Opera and Ballet, Plac Teatralny 1, tel. (48-22) 263 288, 263 287, 265 019
• Stefan Jaracz Ateneum Theater, ul. Jaracza 2, tel. (48-22) 625 7330
• Dramatyczny Theater, Palace of Culture and Science, tel. (48-22) 656 6844
• Polski Theater, ul. Karasia 2, tel. (48-22) 267992
• Jewish Theater, Plac Grzybowski 12/16, tel. (48-22) 620 7025
• National Philharmonic, ul. Jasna 5, tel. (48-22) 269281, 265712
• Roma Musical Theater, ul. Nowogrodzka 49, tel. (48-22) 628 0360, 621 4313
• Warszawska Opera Kameralna (Warsaw Chamber Opera), al. Solidarnosci 76b, tel. (48-22) 312 240

Bytom

• Silesian Opera, ul. Moniuszki 21, tel. (48-32) 813431, 813434

Cracow

• Karol Szymanowski State Philharmonic, ul. Zwierzyniecka 1, tel. (48-12) 220958, 229477 ext. 25
• Musical Theater, Operetta Stage, ul. Lubicz 48, tel. (48-12) 211630
• Helena Modrzejewska Stary Theater, ul. Jagiellonska 1, tel. (48-12) 224040, 228566
• Juliusz Slowacki Theater (also Opera House), Plac Sw. Ducha 1. tel. (48-12) 224022, 224364

Gdansk

• Wybrzeze Theater, Targ Weglowy, tel. (48-58) 311 328
• Baltic State Opera and Philharmonic, aleja Zwyciestwa 15, tel. (48-58) 410563
• Miniature Puppet and Actor Theater, ul. Grunwaldzka 16, tel. (48-58) 410123

Gdynia

• Musical Theater, Plac Grunwaldzki 1, tel. (48-58) 209521
• Dramatyczny Theater, ul. Bema 26, tel. (48-58) 210226

Lódz

• Artur Rubinstein State Philharmonic, ul. Piotrkowska 243, tel. (48-42) 372652, 371506 (booking office)
• Grand Theater, Plac Henryka Dabrowskiego 1, tel. (48-42) 339960
• Musical Theater, ul. Pólnocna 47/51, tel. (48-42) 783511, 781968 (booking office)
• Stefan Jaracz Theater, ul. Stefana Jaracza 27, tel. (48-42) 331533

Poznan

• Stanislaw Moniuszko Grand Theater, ul. Aleksandra Fredry 9, tel. (48-61) 528291; fax 527464
• Musical Theater, ul. Nieztomnych la, tel. (48-61) 521786; fax 523267
• Poznan State Philharmonic, ul. Sw. Marcin 81, tel. (48-61) 522266, 524708; tel./fax 523451
• Polish Dance Theater - Poznan Ballet, ul. Kozia 4. tel. (48-61) 524241; fax 532370

Szczecin

• Szczecin Philharmonic, Plac Armii Krajowej 1, tel. (48-91) 221252
• Opera and Operetta (Pomeranian Dukes' Castle). ul. Korsarzy 1, tel. (48-91) 533855, 489712
• Wspólczesny Theater, Waly Chrobrego 3, tel. (48-91) 322375, 342451
• Pleciuga Puppet Theater, ul. Kastubska 9, tel. (48-91) 335804, 341002

Wroclaw

• Polski Theater, ul. Gabrieli Zapolskiej 3, tel. (48-71) 38633, 38789
• Wroclaw Pantomime Theater, aleja Debowa 16, tel. (48-71) 675280
• Wspólczesny Theater, ul. Rzeínicza 12, tel. (48-71) 38773, 443762
• Wroclaw State Opera, ul. Swidnicka 35, tel. (48-71) 36742, 32753, 30727; fax 36742
• Wroclaw Operetta, ul. Pilsudskiego 72, tel. (48-71) 38051, 35652; fax 444916
• State Philharmonic ul. Pilsudskiego 19, tel. (48-71) 442001/2
   

Warsaw

• National Museum, Aleje Jerozolimskie 3, tel. (48-22) 621 1031, (48-22) 293 093 - Polish and foreign (Flemish and Italian schools) painting and sculpture from medieval times until the present day; ancient art (including the frescoes from Faras, Egypt), graphic art, Polish and foreign artistic handicrafts.
• Royal Lazienki Park Museum, Branch of the National Museum, ul. Agrykola 1, tel. (48-22) 621 6241/5; tel./fax (48-22) 296945 - painting (mostly Dutch school), 18th c. furniture, sculpture.
• Wilanów Palace Museum, Branch of the National Museum, ul. Wiertnicza 1, tel. (48-22) 428101, 420795, 424809; fax 423116 - particularly noteworthy are the Royal Chambers, Polish Portraiture Gallery, and the Museum of Posters with splendid collections housed in the former carriage house and mancge.
• State Museum of Archaeology, Royal Arsenal, ul. Dluga 52, tel. (48-22) 313221; fax 315195 - Polish and Slavic archaeology from the Stone Age to the early Middle Ages'.
• Zacheta National Modern Art Gallery in the building of the former Society for the Arts, Plac Malachowskiego 3, tel. (48-22) 827 6913,827 5854, fax 827 7886 - exhibitions presenting the works of both Polish and foreign artists.
• Kordegarda Art Gallery, ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 15/17, (Ministry of Culture and Art bldg.), tel. (48-22) 620 0231 - contemporary classics.
• Modern Art Center, Ujazdowski Castle, Aleje Ujazdowskie 6, tel./fax (48-2) 625 0522 - thematic exhibitions connected with contemporary problems of modern art, group exhibitions showing new trends in Polish and foreign art, permanent exhibition of modern art collection, individual exhibitions of the 20th century Polish and foreign artists.
• John Paul II Museum Collection, Plac Bankowy 1, tel. (48-22) 620 2725, 620 2181; fax 620 0391 - European painting, mostly of sacral character.
• The Royal Castle. Plac Zamkowy 4, [booking office open Tuesday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., tel. (48-22) 635 3995] - art collections, mostly from the 18th century. Visitors may enter the following interiors: Grand, Royal and Prince Stanislaw Poniatowski Apartments, Diet Rooms, New Chamber of Deputies, Senators' Hall.

   

Zelazowa Wola (53 km. west of Warsaw)

• Frédéric Chopin Museum, tel. (48-22) 22300 - an 18th c. country manor surrounded by a park, Frédéric Chopin's birth-place (22 Feb. í810). Concerts are held on Sundays.

Gdansk

• National Museum. ul. Torunska 1, tel. (48-58) 316804 - Gdansk art, Gothic art, Polish and foreign painting (mostly Flemish and Dutch).
• Central Maritime Museum, ul. Szeroka 67/68, tel. (48-58) 316938 - historical exhibition of shipbuilding, port constructions, fishing and sailing.

Cracow

• State Art Collection on Wawel Hill, Wawel 5, tel. (48-12) 221950, 222529, 225155 - richly furnished castle interiors; the valuable art collections contain Dutch tapestries from the late 16th century, regalia, and armory with exhibits from the í 6th to the 18th century.
• Branch of the National Museum, Main Bldg., aleja 3 Maja 5, tel. (48-12) 343377, 343526 - Weapons and colors in Poland', 20th century art, Polish art since medieval times.
• National Museum - Gallery of Polish Painting and Sculpture in the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), Rynek Glówny 1/3. tel. (48-12) 221166 - collection of painting spanning the period from the end of the 18th century up until the beginning of the 20th century.
• Collection of the Czartoryski Family, ul. Sw. Jana 19, tel. (48-12) 225566, 226137 - among other exhibits the museum's collection contains European painting, ancient art, and historical mementos connected with eminent Poles.
• Stanislaw Wyspianski Museum, ul. Kanonicza 9, tel. (48-12) 228337

Oswiecim (approx. 50 km. east from Cracow)

• Oswiecim-Brzezinka State Museum, ul. Wiezniów Oswiecimia 20, tel. (48-381) 31934 - the Museum of Martyrdom on the grounds of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Wieliczka (14 km. southeast from Cracow)

• Museum of the Cracow Salt-Works, Park Kingi 6, tel. (48-12) 221947, 783266 - historical museum of Wieliczka and a collection of salt-shakers on the ground-floor level of the museum.
• Wieliczka Salt Mine, Tourist Services Dept., ul. Danilowicza 10, tel. (48-12) 782653 - UNESCO-listed site of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Lublin

• Lublin Museum (in the castle), ul. Zamkowa 9, tel. (48-81) 21743 - furnished castle interiors (furniture, paintings).
• The State Majdanek Museum in Lublin, Droga Meczenników Majdanka 67, tel. (48-81) 42648, 42646 - martyrdom museum on the site of the former Nazi concentration camp.
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Lódz

• Central Museum of Textile Industry, ul. Piotrkowska 282, tel. (48-42) 846115 - historical development of the textile industry in Poland, the oldest mechanically operated mill, called the White Factory.
• Art Museum, ul. Wieckowskiego 36, tel. (48-42) 339790 - Polish and foreign art from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Malbork

• The Castle Museum (in the former defensive castle of the Teutonic Knights, 13th-15th c.), ul. Hibnera 1, tel. (48-55) 3364, 2405 - old weapons, china, ceramics, and a magnificent collection of amber.

Poznan

• National Museum, aleja Marcinkowskiego 9, tel. (48-61) 528011; fax 515898 - sculpture, foreign painting (works of Dutch, Flemish, Italian, French, Spanish, and German artists), Polish painting (works from the late 18th century up to the end of World War I).
• Museum of Musical Instruments, Stary Rynek 45, tel. (48-61) 520857 - a collection of musical instruments from all over the world, including a valuable set of works by Polish and Italian violin makers.
• Kórnik (20 km. southeast from Poznan), the Kórnik Library of the Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Zamkowa 5, tel. (48-61) 170081; fax 171930 - a 19th century castle with original interior decorations (the museum is closed between 15 Nov. -15 Feb. )
• Rogalin (20 km. south from Poznan), a branch of the National Museum in Poznan, tel. (48-61) 132030 - a palace complex from the late 18th century containing a gallery of painting from the late 19th century and the early 20th century, furniture and artistic handicrafts from the 18th and 19th centuries; the coach-house houses a collection of period coaches.

   

Szczecin

• National Museum, ul. Staromlynska 27/28, tel. (48-91) 335066, 336070 - sculpture, Polish painting from the 17th to 20th century, treasures of the dynasty of West Pomeranian Dukes.

• Historical Museum of the City of Szczecin, Plac Rzepichy 1, tel. (48-91) 347249 - interesting exhibits from the Slav settlements of the period between the 8th and the 12th centuries, objects made of bronze and brass from the 17th century.

Wroclaw

• National Museum, Plac Powstanców Warszawy 5, tel. (48-71) 38830 - medieval and modern Silesian art, painting, graphic art, numismatic collections, artistic handicrafts.
• Post and Telecommunication Museum, ul. Krasinskiego 1, tel. (48-71) 444034, 36735 - historical development of the post and telecommunications, valuable collection of postage stamps.
• Archdiocese Museum, ul. Kanonia 12, tel. (48-71) 221755 - collections of sacral art.
• The Panorama of Raclawice, ul. Purkyniego 11, tel. (48-71) 442344 - a monumental painting (120 m x 15 m.) made in Lvov in 1894, depicting the battle of Raclawice of 1794; it is exhibited in a specially designed rotunda.