Tucked inside the headquarters of the Greater Poland National Park in Jeziory, the Natural History Museum proves that natural history museums can be rather more engaging than rows of dusty display cases and mysterious cabinets no one is allowed to touch. Opened in its current form in 1998, the museum continues a much older tradition dating back to the early 1950s, when local foresters and scientists recognised the need for a place that could explain and celebrate the natural richness of the future national park.

Spread across several exhibition halls, the displays guide visitors through the region’s geological past, ecosystems and wildlife, from Ice Age mammals and forest communities to lake environments and local birdlife. Aquariums filled with native fish, detailed dioramas and an impressive butterfly collection keep things visually varied, while bird migration displays and ecological exhibits add plenty of educational value without feeling too classroom-like. Housed in a building with its own intriguing history—once the residence of wartime governor Arthur Greiser—the museum offers a worthwhile introduction before heading out to explore the lakes and forests beyond.