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Tarnów Town Hall – museum and tower visit

Rynek 1
33-100 Tarnów

14 6212149 www.muzeum.tarnow.pl

In a room
Restaurant or bar nearby

Tarnów Town Hall – city history and a view from the tower

In the very heart of Tarnów, in the middle of the Market Square (Rynek), stands one of the city’s most valuable monuments – the Town Hall in Tarnów. It is not only a fine example of Renaissance architecture, but also home to a museum and one of the region’s top attractions – the Town Hall tower open to visitors.

A short history of the Town Hall in Tarnów

The Town Hall in Tarnów has a very long history, going back to the 14th century, when its first version was built in wood.

For centuries the Town Hall served as the seat of the city authorities. In 1931 it was turned into a museum space. Today it is a branch of the Museum of the Tarnów Region and functions as a gallery of old art.

Tarnów Market Square and Town Hall, c. 1800, by Zygmunt Vogel (1764–1826), source

Museum in the Town Hall – what to see?

The exhibitions take you back to the times of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and show the life of the Polish nobility. You can see collections that once belonged to the Sanguszko family – a princely family that ruled the city for centuries. The Sanguszko family, of the Lithuanian Pursuit coat of arms (Pogoń Litewska), owned Tarnów and its estates and shaped its architecture in the 18th and 19th centuries.

As you walk through the galleries you will see Sarmatian portraits (portraits of Polish nobles) and images of the Sanguszko family, as well as historic porcelain, glass, and silverware.

Kontusz and sabre

For centuries, hunting was one of the favorite pastimes of the Polish nobility. One room displays hunting rifles, crossbows, powder flasks, and even a collar for a hunting greyhound. Another highlight is the richly decorated kontusz sashes worn by noblemen – they could be up to 5 meters long (about 16 feet)!

The museum also has unique items, such as an original hussar lance – one of the few preserved in Poland, used by the famous Polish winged hussars.

Above the rooftops – climbing the Town Hall tower

A special attraction is the chance to climb the Town Hall tower. It is about 30 meters high (98 feet) and for centuries served as a lookout and watchtower. After climbing the comfortable glass stairs you reach the viewing terrace with a panorama of the city center and the surroundings – including Saint Martin’s Hill, known locally as "Marcinka".

Another treat is walking underneath the bells, which have marked the rhythm of the city for centuries.

The Town Hall clock mechanism

On the way up you can also see the historic clock mechanism, with parts dating back to the 17th century.

Tarnów: Market Square and Town Hall – printable coloring page for kids (PDF)

Tarnów is one of the most interesting cities in the Lesser Poland region (Małopolska). The Market Square, surrounded by historic townhouses, is considered one of the most beautiful in Poland!

In the middle of the square stands the Town Hall, once the seat of the city councilors. The high tower used to serve as a watchtower. From there people watched the area and warned residents about fires and other dangers.

Tarnów – teaching materials, worksheets, and printable coloring pages for kids

Tarnów is one of the most interesting cities in the Lesser Poland region (southern Poland). Its Market Square, surrounded by historic townhouses, is considered one of the most beautiful in Poland! ...

Tarnów: Market Square and Town Hall – printable coloring page for kids (PDF)

The Maszkaron Trail

After visiting the museum, take a walk along Tarnów’s Maszkaron Trail. It leads you to the city’s main sights in a fun way.

The trail refers to the decorative faces on the Town Hall’s attic (parapet) – stone masks with fantastic, often grotesque features, called maszkaron. Today the trail includes a dozen or so small sculptures placed around the city. They show colorful characters from Tarnów’s history and legends. Each maszkaron has a name, a unique look, and a short story, which makes the walk both playful and a nice lesson in local history.

Easy

Maszkarony Trail in Tarnow - map and coloring pages for children