Zinar Castle

The most famous collection of 19th-century Polish painting and sculpture and... a beautiful view of the Krakow market square. When visiting Krakow, this place cannot be missed!

It is the oldest branch and the first seat of the National Museum established in Krakow in 1879. The beginning of the collection was the monumental painting Nero's Torches, donated to the city by the author, Henryk Siemiradzki, today displayed in a place of honor in the room named after the artist. It is one of the largest and most famous collections of 19th-century Polish painting and sculpture. The presentation opens with a room that collects works created in the second half of the 18th century under the patronage of Stanisław August Poniatowski, the last king of Poland before the loss of independence in 1795. Next, the paintings and sculptures of the most outstanding Polish artists of the next partition century, including Piotr Michałowski, Artur Grottger, Jan Matejko, Henryk Siemiradzki, Jacek Malczewski, Leon Wyczółkowski and Józef Chełmoński, are shown. The works of Polish artists - both working in the country and abroad - are not only examples of artistic tendencies characteristic of that time, but also testimony to the independence aspirations of Poles who during the partitions never came to terms with the loss of a free homeland. After visiting the gallery, it is worth relaxing on the terrace of the Cloth Hall, enjoying the unique view of the Main Square.