Rzeszów: City History, Museums and Special Discoveries

City History and Collections

At the Muzeum Historii Miasta Rzeszowa, the city’s history spanning several centuries is presented from the granting of Magdeburg town rights in 1354 to the Second World War. This provides a historical framework for exploring Rzeszów without narrowing its history to a single era. The Muzeum Etnograficzne depicts the lives of former villagers in the Carpathian foothills, including the Rzeszowiacy, Lasowiacy and Pogórzanie.

The collections at the Muzeum Dobranocek and the Muzeum Techniki i Militariów also offer their own distinctive focus. The Muzeum Dobranocek displays original puppets from animated films and objects featuring popular characters from bedtime stories. The Muzeum Techniki i Militariów has 32 MZ vehicles, as well as historic cars manufactured in Poland and France in the 1950s. The models mentioned include Warszawa, Syrena and Citroen. Different interests are represented side by side: animated-film characters on the one hand, and vehicle history on the other.

Architecture and Religious Tradition

The parish church of Saints Adalbert and Stanislaus dates back to the 15th century. The Bernardine monastery is a pilgrimage destination; devotion to Mary there is associated with a limewood statue of Our Lady of Rzeszów. It is considered miraculous and is attributed to the Kraków school of Wit Stwosz. Those interested in religious art and tradition will encounter a different facet of the city here than in the history and ethnographic museums.

Another important building is the former Piarist monastery, a nationally rare architectural and urban ensemble in Classical and Baroque forms. The Muzeum Okręgowe has been housed since 1954 in a former Piarist monastery building erected in the mid-17th century. A visit to the museum and the building’s history offer two different ways to appreciate this historic site: through its present-day function as a museum and its former history as a monastery.

Different Ideas for Your Stay

In addition to theatrical performances, the Teatr im. Wandy Siemaszkowej organises the nationwide Rzeszowskie Spotkania Teatralne and Rzeszowskie Spotkania Karnawałowe festivals, as well as the internationally oriented Biennale Plakatu Teatralnego competition. If theatre is one of your interests, this programme is another cultural aspect of Rzeszów to consider when planning your stay.

For a different kind of outing, the municipal Żwirownia outdoor swimming pool has a sandy beach and a designated shallow-water area for small children. This is a practical option for families who want to include time by the water as well as cultural activities. At the “Marysieńka” shelter, visitors can explore several underground rooms in the nuclear shelter bunker. Original equipment and military gear from the Cold War era are on display there. The outdoor swimming pool and the shelter offer very different visitor experiences; which one suits your stay depends on your interests.

Getting There and Choosing Where to Visit

Rzeszów is accessible by numerous rail connections. Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport makes it possible to travel from Poland and abroad. When planning your stay, you can choose activities based on what interests you most about Rzeszów.

Discover More Places

For more ideas on where to visit, you can also view the pages for Trzebownisko, Budziwój, Nowy Kamień, Świlcza, Głogów Małopolski, Bratkowice, Nienadówka and Strażów.

For the overarching travel overview: Rzeszowski.