Mlawa: Art, City History and Architecture

Art, History and Archaeology at the Museum

At the heart of the art department at the Muzeum Ziemi Zawkrzeńskiej is a gallery of paintings by Wojciech Piechowski and his contemporaries. It is complemented by objects dating from the turn of the 20th century. The paintings and objects from this period give the department a clear chronological focus, while Piechowski’s works also connect the art collection to a specific artist.

The history department’s permanent exhibition explores the history of Mława and the region from the 16th century to the end of the German occupation after the Second World War. Its key themes include national uprisings, especially the Kościuszko Uprising and the January Uprising, as well as the Battle of Mława. Political and military events are thus presented alongside the broader history of the city and region.

Another permanent exhibition in the archaeology department takes visitors from the Stone Age to the Late Middle Ages. It focuses in particular on burial grounds of the Przeworsk and Wielbark cultures, dating back around 2,000 years. They were discovered in Modła near Mława, Stupsk, Dąbek and Zgliczyn Pobodzy. The exhibition places the burial grounds discovered at these sites within a chronological span from the Stone Age to the Late Middle Ages.

The museum’s education department runs museum classes and workshops. These educational activities are part of the institution’s profile alongside its exhibitions. If you are planning a trip around a range of interests, you can treat art, archaeological periods and city history as distinct themes for your visit, rather than limiting your stay to just one historical perspective.

Town Hall, Church and Townscape

The history of the town hall begins with a privilege dated 28 February 1545: King Zygmunt I Stary authorized the residents of Mława to build a town hall. It was built on the main square later in the 16th century. The exact construction date of the first building is unknown. This distinction is revealing: the authorization is dated, the construction can be placed in the 16th century, but no exact year for the first town hall has been recorded.

A fire in 1692 changed the townscape: the Church of the Holy Trinity (pw. Świętej Trójcy) was destroyed, and the town hall also burned down. The church was rebuilt by 1719, and its gables were given Baroque forms on that occasion. The two buildings are linked by the same event, while the rebuilt church also has its own architectural character.

The buildings around the market square also reveal different facets of the city’s history. The townhouses on its eastern side were built in the first decade of the 20th century. The Mławska Hala Targowa was designed by Stefan Usakiewicz, architect of the Mława County, and opened in 1912. It continues to serve its commercial function. The townhouses and market hall thus represent different building purposes from the same period: homes on the one hand, a market hall on the other.

The Historic City Park

The historic city park offers a different perspective on Mława. It was established at the end of the 19th century on the initiative of Russian troops stationed in the city. It was once called the “City Garden” or “Mława’s Salon.” Its former names and the period in which it was created also make the park part of the city’s history: alongside the exhibitions and buildings, a green space shaped by history contributes to the character of the place.

These different themes may help you choose a holiday apartment: perhaps you would like to plan your trip mainly around the museum collections, or perhaps the town hall, church and buildings around the market square interest you more. The city park adds another dimension to these cultural and historical highlights.

Discover more destinations: Marianowo, Dalnia, Strzegowo, Zabiele.

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