Set in a neo-Renaissance villa designed by Italian-born Mary Lanci the Museum of the Polish People's Movement is an absolute must for museum diehards – just try to find any other English-speaker whose been here (though recently the museum has added some English brochures to help non-Polish visitors). As the title suggests, everything here is focused on Polish people/peasants, with the oldest exhibit being a 17th century manuscript approved by King Jan III Sobieski granting serfs a tax reduction. Most of these scrolls, documents and papers will be lost on the foreign visitor; making more sense are the printed materials, which include election posters from the interwar years, as well as decrees, ration cards and purchase vouchers supplied by the occupying Nazis during WWII. Times under communism are particularly well represented, and number stirring Soviet chic posters encouraging hard work and high production. Very Socialist Paradise indeed.
Patriotism plays a large part in understanding this oddity, and art fans will be pleased to find a series of paintings depicting peasants in full battle, including of course Tadeusz Kosćiuszko doing his bit against the Russkies. Stamps, flags, medals and caricatures, they’re all here, as well as a great little war-themed section which presents bayonets, armbands worn by peasant fighters during WWII, first aid kits and a typewriter and printing contraption used in the creation of subversive press.

Admission 2/1zł. Thu free.