Tarnów: Old Town, Museums and Maszkaron Figures

Maszkaron Figures and City History

The Szlak Maszkaronów is a tourist attraction in Tarnów. Created in spring 2024, the trail links twenty Maszkaron figures at locations that are important to the city. This gives the city’s history a distinct, figure-focused perspective alongside its historic buildings and museum collections. If this aspect of the city interests you, you can make a point of including it in your plans alongside architecture and exhibitions.

Museums with Different Perspectives

At the Museum of the History of Tarnów and the Region, the exhibition takes visitors through widely varied chapters and themes: it ranges from prehistory to a guild tavern and a tram, then on to the Second World War and the period of the Polish People’s Republic. A figure of a barrel organ player guides visitors through the city’s history; medieval swords are on display in the arsenal. Historical periods, urban memories and individual items from the collections are presented side by side, rather than showing just one facet of Tarnów.

The Ethnographic Museum offers a different focus. The world’s first permanent exhibition on the Roma opened there in 1990. Its contents include handicrafts from different Roma groups living in Europe, magical objects used in fortune-telling, and works by contemporary Roma artists. The museum’s collection comprises more than 5,000 objects. These include exhibits on the traditional folk culture of the Tarnów region and works by women painters from Zalipie. Those interested in regional culture will therefore find a distinct perspective on tradition and art alongside the city’s history.

Old Town and Architectural History

The Old Town has a Renaissance street plan. The Market Square was laid out when the city was founded in 1330; it is lined mainly with townhouses dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The different periods can be seen side by side in the cityscape: the square dates back to the city’s founding, while most of the townhouse façades come from later centuries. The origins of the town hall also date back to the mid-15th century.

The cathedral basilica dates back to the 14th century and was built in the Gothic style. It acquired its present-day Neo-Gothic appearance after extensive renovation and partial reconstruction between 1889 and 1900. Inside are Renaissance tombs of members of the Tarnowski family, as well as a Mannerist tomb of the Ostrogski family. Another stop for architecture enthusiasts is the wooden Church of Matki Bożej Szkaplerznej near the Market Square, consecrated in 1440. Tarnów is also the birthplace of Polish-Hungarian General Józef Bem.

A Taste of Tarnów

“‘Tarnowski Smak’ includes ‘Tarninówka’, a sloe berry tea. This local touch adds a culinary note to the historical and cultural themes, without reducing the city to its buildings and museums.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

When looking for a holiday apartment in Tarnów, your preferred focus can be a good place to start: would you mainly like to explore the Old Town and its architectural history, delve into the collections, or make the Maszkaron Trail a theme of its own? The city offers several points of interest to choose from. If you are planning a trip with a group whose members have different interests, you can weigh these themes against one another when choosing a destination together.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Janowice, Tuchów, Jamna, Ciezkowice, Meszna Opacka, Wola Radłowska, Pleśna, Siedliska.

For the main travel overview: Tarnów.