The Galicia Jewish Museum showcases several collections of photographs about Jewish cultural sights, Holocaust locations and interpretations on modern Jewish life in Krakow. As a cultural centre, the museum hosts Klezmer (traditional Jewish music) concerts, traditional Jewish dance performances, workshops and many other cultural events.
The museum is located in an old Jewish factory. It is a modern museum that opened in 2004 and was the idea of photojournalist Chris Schwarz. Schwarz wanted to commemorate Jewish life in Krakow. Rather than displaying old photographs or artefacts, Schwarz has curated exhibitions that present Jewish culture and historical events in the city through a modern perspective. The displays consist of more than 1,000 photographs that have been taken over a 12-year period since the early 1990s.
The exhibitions are organised in five chronologically ordered sections. The first section looks at historical Jewish culture using images of ancient sights and relics. The next series of photographs depict places that are related to the Holocaust. The following two sections display images about Jewish culture in Krakow today.
After your visit, relax in the café and enjoy something to eat or buy a book or memento from the bookshop. The museum is also a lively cultural centre where you can see a Klezmer concert or traditional Jewish dance, listen to a cultural discussion or watch a film. Visit the museum’s website for a detailed timetable of events. If you want to find out more about the life of Jewish families in Krakow, combine a visit to the museum with a tour of other Jewish sights throughout the city.
The Galicia Jewish Museum is south of the Old Town (Stare Miasto), one block from the Remuh Cemetery. To get to the museum, you can walk from the Old Town or catch a bus or tram, which stop nearby. The museum is open daily except on Yom Kippur and Christmas Day. There is an admission fee.
