Building at 2 Pomorska Street was built between 1931 and 1936 on the initiative of the Association for Defense of Western Borderlands. It housed a dormitory and a tourist hostel for Silesian youth studying and visiting Krakow (hence the name of the Silesian House).
On 13 September 1939, the building was occupied by German police formations, and until 17 January 1945, it was the Headquarters of the Security Police and Security Service of the Krakow district.
After the war, the Silesian House was transferred under the administration of the National Defense League, which, over time, became the formal owner of the facility. Since 1981, it has been the only place of national remembrance in Krakow during World War II, which has been covered by museum care.
Cells with prisoners’ inscriptions
Between 1939 and 1945, the Silesian House was the Headquarters of the Security Police and Security Service of the Krakow district, whose division IV was the Secret State Police (Geheime Staatspolizei), Gestapo. In Krakow, Gestapo was the main tool of the occupation terror for the Polish and Jewish population of the city.
Throughout the occupation, the building of the Silesian House was the place of suffering and martyrdom of thousands of Poles and people of other nationalities (the exact number of prisoners is unknown).
Here, in the rooms on the first and second floor, people, most often brought from the prison in Montelupich Street, were questioned. Part of the basement, converted into cells, was used as a detention centre. Gestapo officers subjected prisoners to brutal and sadistic physical and mental torture, which often led to disability or death of the people subjected to questioning.
On the walls of three rooms used as prison cells, inscriptions from 1943-1945, made by the people arrested and questioned here, have been preserved. The prisoners included representatives of all social groups, of different political beliefs, arrested for acts against the occupants and their policy, the German “work of rebuilding the General Government”.
| Day of the week | Opening hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday |  |
10:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 17:00 | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 17:00 | |
| Friday | 10:00 - 17:00 | |
| Saturday | 10:00 - 17:00 | |
| Sunday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Holidays | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| 2024.12.25 (Wednesday) | x |
| 2024.12.26 (Thursday) | x |
| Tickets | ||
|---|---|---|
| normal | 18.00 PLN | |
| reduced | 14.00 PLN | |
| family | 36.00 PLN | |
| group | 14.00 PLN | |
e-ticket platform » |
| when? | name | where? | about what? | for free | for children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2024.07.26-2025.01.12 |
Zmysłowe miasto Temporary exhibition
|
Podgórze Museum ul. Limanowskiego 51 30-553 Kraków Małopolskie |
city, with an idea | yes | yes |
|
2024.11.18-2025.01.31 |
Sztuka okopowa z kolekcji Wiktora Szymborskiego Temporary exhibition
|
Museum of the Scouting Movement ul. Forteczna 30-437 Kraków Małopolskie |
crafts, utility items, weapons and militaria | yes | |
|
2024.02.23-2025.02.23 |
Bunt w systemie. Muzyczne przestrzenie wolności 1945–89 Temporary exhibition
|
Nowa Huta Museum os. Centrum E 1 31-934 Kraków Małopolskie |
yes | ||
|
2024.09.26-2025.03.16 |
Siłaczki Temporary exhibition
|
Hipolit House pl. Mariacki 3 31-042 Kraków Małopolskie |
city, women | ||
|
2024.05.25-2025.06.01 |
Spirala zbrodni. Krakowianie na afiszach śmierci Temporary exhibition
|
Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory ul. Lipowa 4 30-702 Kraków Małopolskie |
city, documents, martyrology, The Second World War, utility items | yes | |
|
2024.11.07-2025.09.14 |
Od wielkiego dzwonu. Świętowanie w Krakowie Temporary exhibition
|
Intangible Heritage Interpretation Centre of Krakow ul. Szpitalna 21 31-024 Kraków Małopolskie |
ethnography | ||
|
2024.11.21 10:30 |
Oprowadzanie kuratorskie po wystawie czasowej Siłaczki – w ramach Muzeum od kołyski Events
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Hipolit House pl. Mariacki 3 31-042 Kraków Małopolskie |
oprowadzanie kuratorskie | yes | |
|
Following the traces of European identity of Kraków Permanent exhibition
|
Rynek Underground ul. Rynek Główny 1 31-042 Kraków Małopolskie |
archeology, art crafts, city, interiors and everyday life, models, numismatic items, toys, utility items, weapons and militaria | yes | ||
|
In the Shadow of Krak’s Mound Permanent exhibition
|
Podgórze Museum ul. Limanowskiego 51 30-553 Kraków Małopolskie |
city | yes | ||
|
Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945 Permanent exhibition
|
Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory ul. Lipowa 4 30-702 Kraków Małopolskie |
city, documents, installations, interiors and everyday life, martyrology | yes | ||
|
Nuclear threat Permanent exhibition
|
Nowa Huta Museum os. Centrum E 1 31-934 Kraków Małopolskie |
city | yes | ||
|
People of Kraków in Times of Terror 1939-1945-1956 Permanent exhibition
|
Pomorska Street ul. Pomorska 2 30-039 Kraków Małopolskie |
city, documents, interiors and everyday life, martyrology | yes | ||
|
Permanent exhibition Permanent exhibition
|
Rydlówka ul. W. Tetmajera 28 31-352 Kraków Małopolskie |
art crafts, interiors and everyday life, literature, painting, theater, utility items | yes | ||
|
State of Emergency Permanent exhibition
|
Nowa Huta Museum os. Centrum E 1 31-934 Kraków Małopolskie |
city | yes | ||
|
Tadeusz Pankiewicz’s Pharmacy in Kraków Ghetto Permanent exhibition
|
Eagle Pharmacy pl. Bohaterów Getta 18 30-547 Kraków Małopolskie |
city, interiors and everyday life, martyrology, utility items | yes | ||
|
The history and Culture of Jews in Kraków Permanent exhibition
|
Old Synagogue ul. Szeroka 24 31-053 Kraków Małopolskie |
art crafts, devotional articles, documents, interiors and everyday life, painting, religions | yes | ||
|
Krakowskie Bractwo Kurkowe i obronność miejska Permanent exhibition
|
Celestat ul. Lubicz 16 31-054 Kraków Małopolskie |
art crafts, city, devotional articles, interiors and everyday life, painting, weapons and militaria | |||
|
Kraków od początku, bez końca Permanent exhibition
|
Krzysztofory Palace ul. Rynek Główny 35 31-011 Kraków Małopolskie |
art crafts, city, painting, utility items | yes | ||
|
Harcerskie Ścieżki Permanent exhibition
|
Museum of the Scouting Movement ul. Forteczna 30-437 Kraków Małopolskie |
history | yes | ||
|
Fort Jugowice. Dziedzictwo miejsca Permanent exhibition
|
Museum of the Scouting Movement ul. Forteczna 30-437 Kraków Małopolskie |
army, city, interiors and everyday life, war - other conflicts | yes | yes |
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