Muzeum Ziemi Wałeckiej [Wałcz Regional Museum]

The Museum is located in a historical building which dates back to the beginnings of the 19th century. It was built by a legal counsel called Dedlow. The building was designed in Neo-Classical style, it had an elegant portico with triangular tympanum in the front façade. The façades were ornamented with rustications and fluted columns with a visible entasis (widening at 2/3 of their height). Renovations which had been done over years caused that some of these decorative elements were blurred. The portico was replaced with a smooth knee wall, the columns lost the fluting, and the entasis is hardly visible. On the other hand, the roof covering gained three oeil-de-boeuf widows both on the northern and the southern side, which added some light to the habitable attic. After the war, several families who came from the Eastern Border, moved into the building. In the 1970’s, the building was predestined for different purposes. Renovation works started in 1978, but unfortunately, in the process, the western wall collapsed, ruining big fragments of the sidewalls. Reconstruction works were finished in 1982. The building preserved its historical feel, although the ancient materials were replaced with modern ones and the whole construction was simplified. Visitors are welcomed by three Ionic columns with volutes which stand on collar-profiled bases. Both, side-columns are mounted into the walls, the middle column divides the portico adding dimension to the main entrance. There are two, rectangular doors with glazed, triple skylights which lead to the interior. The wings of the door are ornamented with rectangular and square door panels of different size inside of which there are rows of rhombus reliefs. Similar door can be found inside, on the first floor. The basements of the Museum, where all the temporary exhibition rooms are located, have a very interesting atmosphere – the floor is covered with clinker tiles, most of the walls are made of natural, decorative stone, and the ceiling is divided by a vaulting.

From the very beginning, the Museum has been presenting the history of this region. The collection of the museum consists of items which depict: the pre-history of Wałcz Land, the beginnings of the settlement, the creation and development of towns, political and cultural development from the 16th century until the 18th century, archival documents on the Starosty of Wałcz from the 17th and 18th centuries, documents portraying the struggle to maintain Polish identity after the partitions and after the process of Germanisation from the period between the middle of the 19th century until the beginning of the World War II, construction and destruction of the Pomeranian Wall in Wałcz Land, settlement and reconstruction of damages after the liberation. There are also numerous objects which belonged to WWII veterans, there are pieces of ornamental furniture and handicraft products. Initially, the main topic of the exhibition was the struggle connected with regaining Wałcz Land. Currently, the history of war and military topics are presented in the GWC open-air museum – the division of the Wałcz Regional Museum, which partially includes fragments of fortifications from the Pomeranian Wall. In the main building, one of the permanent exhibitions, shows items which document the history of the region from the prehistoric times till the 20th century. While looking at the exhibitions, visitors can go back in time: there are archaeological finds and displays with fossils which were found in the area, mainly by Edward Noniewicz – a collector and fossil seeker from Wałcz. A beautiful reconstruction of horn-crafter’s house catches visitors’ attention. The house looks as if the owner had only left for a moment and was about to come back. Here, shows of horn craftsmanship and museum lessons for children and teenagers take place. Other interesting thing that can be seen include: the collection of guild and travel chests, genealogical tree of the Wedel-Tuczyński family, porcelain tableware and porcelain figures, especially the one of two Chinese people, who move their heads and palms and stick their tongues out. The sculpture titled “Bonjuor papa”, which shows a musketeer welcomed by his son and wife, has an interesting legend behind it – it is believed that those who manage to touch it without being noticed, will lead a happy family life.

At least once a month there is an opening of a new exhibition. At the same time, there are usually at least two temporary exhibitions available. The museum offers many educational classes for children and teenagers. Organised groups which have an earlier appointment can take part in museum lessons, workshops and Medieval - folklore shows. The museum organises concerts and science conferences on history, and in the gardens surrounding the museum open-air, historical events are held. Each year, during the European Night of Museums, around 18 May, the museum opens at night and visitors can see all exhibitions and take part in many additional attractions for free

The main building is not adjusted to the needs of disabled people, but there are plans of changing it during future renovation works.