Wisła, located in the heart of the Beskids, combines nature, highlander tradition, and history to create a unique space. Visiting museums is a must for those interested in history and highlander culture. Which museums in Wisła are worth visiting?
In the city of Wisła, you can feel the atmosphere of a holiday resort. Walks around the area and moments of rest by the fountain are particularly relaxing experiences. But Wisła offers much more than just an attractive location amidst mountain nature. This charming place in the Beskids, a popular winter sports center, welcomes tourists with open arms, offering a fascinating journey through time and space.
Museums are treasure troves of knowledge, offering a unique perspective on past epochs and events. Today, they don't just store valuable exhibits. They ask questions, inspire reflection on the past, present, and future. Museums in Wisła are an adventure for curious minds and an opportunity to discover the region's richness.
Podżorski Beskid Museum in Wisła
The largest museum in Wisła, the Andrzej Podżorski Beskid Museum, is located in the very center of this resort town, close to Bogumił Hoff Square. Founded in 1964 in an eighteenth-century brick tavern, it once served as a shelter for worshippers coming to services from distant towns.
A visit to the Beskid Museum is a real journey through time, leading through the fascinating world of legends, rituals, and culture of the Silesian Beskids. Among its incredible collection, we find true local treasures. The permanent exhibition presents the life and work of the highlanders, where every detail matters. It covers key aspects of the daily life of the region's population, showing the richness of traditions related to shepherding, weaving, and woodworking. Among many items, original equipment is displayed: a wooden hoist, skis, a shingle-making bench, unique female and male costumes, and stunning examples of folk art. The museum in Wisła is a magical window into the world of highlander traditions, showcasing the past, human creativity, and the uniqueness of these lands.
Part of the museum is a mini-open-air museum. Here you can see a forge, a tenant farmer's hut, a shepherd's hut, a beekeeping apiary, and in the summer – an herbal garden. A particular attraction is the forge.
Pharmacy Museum in Wisła
An interesting place on the map of Wisła is the Pharmacy Museum. It's a real gem offering a unique perspective on the history of pharmacy and traditions related to healing and medicine. It is housed in a traditional, highlander forge reconstructed at the beginning of the 20th century. The exhibition displays memorabilia of the first pharmacist of Wisła – Paweł Cienciała. The pharmacist studied in Vienna, where he also ran a pharmacy, but at the end of the 19th century, he decided to come to Wisła and help the residents here. His family continued to run the pharmacy until the 1950s. In the museum, you can admire pharmacy glass, a collection of medicines, vessels, equipment used in pharmacy, and herb charts. It's definitely worth visiting for the 140-year-old chamber-herbal sauna and a 200-year-old wooden stethoscope.
Adam Małysz Museum
The center of Wisła is crossed by a pedestrian promenade, a meeting place for tourists and residents. Nearby, next to the fountain, stands the nearly hundred-year-old Spa House, a symbol of the city's flourishing. Located on the main square of the resort, it has been harmoniously combined with the building of the Post Office. Although the buildings serve completely different purposes, they present a modern, cohesive style. The Spa House hosts the Tourist Information and features a sculpture of Adam Małysz made from… white chocolate. The previous chocolate pedestal stood in this place for over 20 years but, heavily eroded by the tooth of time, required a worthy replacement.
If someone still feels unsatisfied, they must visit the Adam Małysz Sports Trophy Gallery, where trophies won by the Polish ski jumper at national and international competitions are collected, including medals from the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and Vancouver, as well as Crystal Globes from the World Cup. In a few years, it will be possible to visit a modern Skiing Museum, a joint initiative of authorities, local government, and sports communities.
Wisła: Museum of Magical Realism "Ochorowiczówka"
The Museum of Magical Realism "Ochorowiczówka" is a fascinating journey through the unexplored realms of human imagination. This unique art movement combines the unreal with the real, crosses boundaries, and stimulates the mind to new interpretations of these mysterious realms. Upon entering the Museum of Magical Realism, one is enchanted by the bold visions of artists, their extraordinary works boldly presenting the world of imagination.
In the "Ochorowiczówka" museum in Wisła, the largest collections in Europe of contemporary Polish artists working in the magical realism movement have been gathered. Here you can admire the works of Beksiński, Sętowski, Olbiński, Jaśnikowski, Siudmak, Szołdra, and Szynkarczuk. An attraction and additional value is the permanent exhibition of nearly 100 works by Salvador Dali and the only permanent exhibition in Poland of works by Jakub Różalski. The "Ochorowiczówka" in Wisła also hosts temporary exhibitions presenting paintings, sculptures, and graphics by contemporary Polish artists.
In conclusion, it must be added that not only the museum is unique, but also the building in which it is located. Built at the beginning of the 20th century by the distinguished scientist Julian Ochorowicz, it was the first brick building in Wisła. It served as a laboratory and a creative work home for positivists. The scholar hosted, among others, Prus, Reymont, Konopnicka, and Curie-Skłodowska. The museum houses a memorial room dedicated to Julian Ochorowicz.
Summary
Wisła, with its rich history and highlander culture, offers tourists a diverse museum experience. A visit to the Podżorski Beskid Museum allows for an exploration of the region's traditions, while the Pharmacy Museum reveals the history of local medicine. The Adam Małysz Sports Trophy Gallery celebrates sporting achievements, while the Museum of Magical Realism "Ochorowiczówka" showcases fascinating art. These diverse attractions make Wisła an ideal place for lovers of history, culture, and art.