Racławice Panorama Museum In Wrocław Is An Epitome Of Art & A Must-Visit Attraction

Sometimes we are so occupied fancying distant fascinations that we fail to take cognizance of outstanding masterpieces thriving in our neighbourhood. Things that prevail as one absolute classic creation! Wrocław in Lower Silesian region of Southwestern Poland is the city with plenty of such remarkable attractions that are a must-visit when you are travelling to the eastern part of the European Union. And it’s a fine museum that I’m going to discuss today.

Racławice Panorama or the Panorama of the Battle of Racławice as it is called is a legendary work of art, one of its kind! When I managed to behold this beauty, as real as an ongoing battle taking place out there in the open fields with peasants and soldiers pounding on each other, it left me quite fascinated, way beyond my expectations.

Racławice Panorama Museum – History & vital information

The battle of Racławice was fought between the Russians and Polish peasants under the able leadership of Tadeusz Kościuszko. The battle, that took place towards the end of the 18th century was also one of the most important events of the Kościuszko in Poland and an unforgettable tale that every Polish is proud of.

On the eve of battle’s 100th anniversary, the famous Polish painters Jan Styka and Wojciech Kossak – a veteran in battle painting, decided to turn the historic event into an unparalleled work of art and thus begun the panoramic painting. Altogether it took 9 most qualified Polish painters 9 months (1893-94) to complete the Panorama of the Battle of Racławice.

About the Panorama of the Battle of Racławice painting

The oil on canvas painting stands 114-meter long & 15-meter wide with a viewing deck right in the centre. It is the raised platform that offers the viewers a complete 360-degree view of the breathtaking artwork. Back then, during the 19th century, the painting was composed in Lviv (Ukraine) and was brought to Wrocław, Poland, post World War II.

How to reach the Racławice Panorama Museum

15-20 minute of a pleasant walk from Rynek (City Centre) should take you there. Also, if you start walking from Pasaz Grunwaldzki(Mall & Tram Station), the time taken is more or less the same.

Entry fee: Regular – 30 pln, Discounted – 25 pln
Opening hours:
Winter Season – (1/11 – 31/03)
(Please note that the museum remains closed on Monday)

Tuesday to Friday – 0900 hours to 1630 hours
Saturday – 0900 hours to 1730 hours
Sunday – 0900 hours to 1630 hours

Summer season – (1/04 – 31/10)
All days – 0800 hours to 1930 hours

Find more information about the museum on their website

*Please note that the ticket once purchased for the Panorama of the Battle of Racławice museum remains valid for the National Museum which is located 100 meters far.

My experience of Racławice Panorama Museum in Wrocław

Let me tell you in the first place, the museum isn’t too popular among the tourist but don’t judge it already! Because it’s way more extraordinary you could ever think of, all you need is a good guide who could tell you about the battle and describe the particularities of the painting at once.

If it goes with me, I found the museum quite well managed and almost hassle-free, right from the ticketing process to the entry to the museum. To the right side of the entrance, there lies an exhibition room on the ground floor with the miniature depiction of the battlefield, the position of the armies, and models of the renowned people from that battle.

Also, in this part of the museum, you’ll find the authentic photographs of the painters and the original museum which was raised in Lviv for the first time.

Soon after I approached the viewing deck of the museum, which is a raised platform entirely girdled by the painting, it seemed to me as if everything around that lay before my eyes was a real-life visual. Only after I took a few steps closer to the periphery, I realised that it was one massive painting, all around, finely complemented by some real-life props!

It took me a while to differentiate the trees that are painted on the wall and further conjoined by the ones felled on the ground to complete the frame, everything blended and matched to perfection.

While it remains one of the most popular things to do in Wrocław, it is also one of the major tourist attractions in Poland. Moreover, the Museum of Racławice Panorama is the oldest one in Poland and the most distinguished among renowned panoramic paintings in the world today.

Make sure that the Museum of Racławice Panorama is on your check-list when you are in Wrocław!