Opened in 1986 and housed inside Karol Scheibler’s extraordinary 19th-century palace, the Cinematography Museum offers visitor two indulgences in one. The museum itself offers a really well presented history of Polish cinema and takes plenty of hats off to the multitude of Polish film greats who’ve studied in the city and who all went on to greater things as well as numerous changing exhibitions. This is the only museum of its kind in Poland, and though extremely badly signposted (don’t be surprised to find yourself directed to blind alleys or opening secret doors to reveal private offices), it represents a rewarding experience for fans of Polish cinema. The collection features over 50,000 items including over 12,000 film posters, art exhibits and projectors and camera equipment of every kind. Standouts include the fotoplastikon, a giant drum-like contraption popular in the early 20th century for showing 3D films, and the excellent exhibit devoted to animated photography featuring plenty of vintage stop-motion characters and accompanying clips. The newest permanent exhibit lets visitors see the evolution of film over time via recreated film sets from different eras.
Outside a garden has been rebuilt in film-set style, and features a mock Iron-Age settlement as well as a giant shoe and mobile phone – though currently the grounds are being renovated and aren’t open to tourists. The palace itself is a dream, featuring room upon room of delights, including the city’s first electric lift, some beautiful tiled stoves, a Turkish smoking room and many other treats besides. Built in 1856 to serve as residence for industrialist fat cat Karol Scheibler the palace contains interiors designed in Venice, Berlin and Dresden, including ceramic tiled stoves and dramatic oak panelling. Even if film is not your scene, this place deserves visiting just to see how the other half once lived.

Admission 10/7zł. Tue free.