Czartoryski Museum

The Princes Czartoryski Museum, often called the Czartoryski Museum, is a historic museum in Kraków, Poland. It is one of the country's oldest museums. The collection began in 1796 in Puławy by Princess Izabela Czartoryska. The Museum officially opened its doors in 1878 and is now part of the National Museum in Kraków.

Unfortunately, some of the early collection was lost after the November 1830 Uprising. However, most of the items were saved and taken to Paris, where they were kept at the Hôtel Lambert. In 1870, Prince Władysław Czartoryski chose to bring the collection to Kraków, and the items arrived there in 1876.

One of the most famous paintings in the museum is a well-known work by Leonardo da Vinci called the Lady with an Ermine. The museum also has two pieces by Rembrandt, along with many interesting sculptures, Renaissance tapestries, and decorative arts. There are also paintings by several famous artists, including Hans Holbein the Younger, Jacob Jordaens, and Luca Giordano.

The main building of the Museum closed for restoration work in 2010 but reopened in December 2019. While the building was being fixed, some of the museum's treasures were shown in other places.

Royal collections

Princess Izabela Czartoryska started the museum in Puławy to keep important Polish treasures safe. She believed in sharing the past with the future. The first items were trophies from a big battle against the Turks in Vienna long ago.

The museum’s collections include special items from places like the Wawel Cathedral and the Royal Castle, given by noble families. Izabela also added treasures from the Duke of Brabant, like books and meaningful objects that told stories of both happy and sad moments in history. These included items connected to famous people such as Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, and others.

In 1798, Izabela’s son, Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, brought famous paintings like Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci and works by Raphael from Italy. After political troubles, the collection moved to Paris, where it grew even more. Later, Prince Władysław added many beautiful items, including a famous carpet and ancient treasures from many places around the world.

Move to Kraków

In 1871, after the French lost a big fight, Prince Władysław packed up all the museum's treasures and moved them to safety. In 1874, the city of Kraków gave him an old building to use as a museum. He asked a famous builder to fix it up, and in 1878, one hundred years after the first museum started in Puławy, the new museum opened its doors.

Prince Władysław kept adding more treasures to the museum until he passed away in 1894. Then his son, Prince Adam Ludwik, took over. He got some property from the Emperor Franz-Joseph and looked after both museums, making sure they stayed special and important.

Dresden and back

After some time, the museum's leader went to Japan and brought back special vases and bronzes that are still shown today at Goluchow Castle. In 1914, he joined the Austrian Army, and his wife, Princess Maria Ludwika Krasinska, took charge of the museum. She moved many important artworks, including pieces by famous artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Rembrandt, to Dresden.

After World War I ended in 1918, the person in charge of royal collections in Germany did not want to give the artworks back because he was worried about problems in Poland. After talking for two years, all the artworks were brought back to the Family Museum in Kraków in 1920. Later, many important books and objects taken from Puławy by Russian forces were also returned.

When Prince Adam Ludwik passed away in 1937, his son Prince Augustyn became the new leader. As Europe faced World War II in 1939, the museum prepared for the difficult times ahead. Some of the most valuable items were moved to a safe place called Sieniawa, while others were stored in the museum's basement. Sadly, German forces took some of the valuable items, but the famous paintings, including the one by Leonardo, were not damaged.

Closure

During World War II, many important treasures from the Czartoryski Museum were taken away. In 1939, a prince moved some of the museum’s treasures to a safe place, but they were later found and taken back to Kraków by officials. In 1940, the most valuable items were sent to Dresden and planned to be part of a special collection.

In 1945, when German forces left Kraków, some paintings were taken by a German leader to his home. After the war, many artworks, including a famous painting by Raphael, were missing and have never been found.

After World War II

After World War II, the museum reopened and was run by Poland’s government. Thanks to the hard work of Professor Marek Rostworoski, the museum’s collections were preserved. In 1991, the museum was returned to its owner, Prince Adam Karol Czartoryski, along with its nearby library.

The museum’s library holds many important historical documents from Europe, including books, manuscripts, and early printed works. From 1991 to 2016, the museum was managed by the Princes Czartoryski Foundation. During this time, it welcomed many visitors and held exhibitions in places such as the United States, Italy, Sweden, Turkey, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In 2010, the museum closed for repairs and showed some of its treasures in other locations. The museum reopened in 2019 after being restored.

The Czartoryski Museum Building Complex

The Czartoryski Museum is made up of three special buildings. The main one is called Czartoryski Palace, located at 17-19 św. Jana Street and also at 15 Pijarska Street. There is also a small building called Klasztorek, or the Small Monastery, found at 6 Pijarska Street. Lastly, there is a building that used to be a Municipal Arsenal at 8 Pijarska Street.