In Kraków’s Kazimierz district, the Galicia Jewish Museum uses photographs and personal stories to explore Jewish life in Galicia, the Holocaust and the region’s continuing Jewish heritage. Its permanent exhibition, “Traces of Memory,” pairs images of synagogues, cemeteries and other places with detailed descriptions. Take time to read the captions: a thorough visit can take about two hours. Temporary exhibitions add other perspectives, and there is a café and bookshop on site.
A photographic record of Galicia
The Galicia Jewish Museum is in Kazimierz, Kraków’s historic Jewish district. Its permanent exhibition, “Traces of Memory,” explores Jewish heritage in Galicia, a region that included parts of present-day Poland and Ukraine. Rather than focusing on historic objects, the exhibition uses photographs of places and traces connected with Jewish life.
The images document synagogues, cemeteries and other sites across southeastern Poland. Their accompanying descriptions provide context and invite a slower visit. The exhibition commemorates people killed in the Holocaust while also recording the culture and communities that existed before it, and the traces that remain today.
The stories behind the images
The museum was founded by British photographer Chris Schwarz, who documented Jewish heritage in southern Poland with anthropologist Jonathan Webber. The resulting exhibition connects present-day photographs with the history of the people and communities associated with each place.
The museum also presents personal stories, including material about individual lives and families. Video testimony from Holocaust survivors is part of its exhibitions. Together, these accounts give the photographs a human context and address Jewish life both before and after the war.
Temporary exhibitions and practical details
Temporary exhibitions add subjects beyond the permanent display and may focus on different aspects of Jewish history. Their content can change, so check what is showing before your visit. Some exhibitions have been presented in Polish only; language availability can differ by exhibition.
There is a café in the museum’s main hall, along with a bookshop selling books and souvenirs. The café is close to the exhibition space, so its activity may be audible inside. The museum also hosts lectures, seminars and other cultural events, and runs guided tours of Jewish sites in Kazimierz. Contact the museum for details about tours.
Häufige Fragen
How long does a visit to the Galicia Jewish Museum take?
Allow about two hours if you want to read the descriptions throughout the permanent exhibition.
What is the main exhibition about?
“Traces of Memory” uses photographs and detailed descriptions to explore Jewish heritage and the places associated with Jewish life in Galicia.
Is admission free with the City Pass Krakow Card?
Yes. The museum is included with the City Pass Krakow Card.
Does the museum have a café?
Yes. A café is located in the main hall, near the exhibition space.
Can I take a guided tour of Kazimierz?
The museum runs guided tours of Jewish sites in Kazimierz. Contact it directly for details.
