Celestat is a museum at Lubicz 16 in Kraków, set in a Neo-Gothic palace in Strzelecki Park. It tells the story of the Kraków Fowler Brotherhood, a historic association of marksmen, through paintings, weapons, photographs, costumes and other keepsakes. The collection also includes Kraków nativity scenes, known locally as szopki, with colourful architectural details and handmade figures. Come for an unusual look at the city’s civic traditions, and allow time to explore both the Brotherhood’s history and the craft on display.
The Kraków Fowler Brotherhood
Celestat traces the history of the Kraków Fowler Brotherhood, an association of marksmen whose roots are thought to reach back to the 14th century. The Brotherhood began as a form of civic self-defence, a tradition found in medieval towns. It still exists, and its members choose a fowler king each year.
The collection brings that story into view through portraits, photographs, old documents, costumes and personal and institutional keepsakes. Paintings and firearms sit alongside less expected objects, including teapots. Together, they show different aspects of the association’s history and its place in Kraków’s civic life.
A palace and former training ground
The Neo-Gothic Celestat Palace stands at Lubicz Street, within today’s Strzelecki Park. The Brotherhood once used the site for training. Its earlier locations included an area near the Mikołajska Gate and a palace in Łobzów.
The Brotherhood’s activities were suspended from 1794 until the 1830s. After they resumed, a manor house with a garden on Lubicz Street was acquired. The museum’s setting links the present collection to that longer history, including the association’s connection with training and marksmanship.
Kraków’s nativity scenes
Celestat also displays Kraków nativity scenes, or szopki, a local craft tradition built around intricate, colourful structures. The works combine nativity imagery with architectural details inspired by Kraków. Their handmade construction and variety give this part of the collection a different focus from the Brotherhood’s weapons and documents.
The museum has hosted the Kraków Nativity Scene Contest, including its 77th edition. Around Christmas, the displays are a seasonal reason to visit. If you are mainly interested in the Brotherhood, allow time for the historic objects too; the museum brings both subjects together.
Preguntas frecuentes
What is Celestat in Kraków?
It is a museum dedicated to the history of the Kraków Fowler Brotherhood, an association of marksmen with medieval roots.
What can you see at Celestat?
The collection includes paintings, firearms, photographs, costumes and documents connected with the Brotherhood, as well as Kraków nativity scenes.
Where is Celestat?
Celestat is at Lubicz 16 in Kraków, in Strzelecki Park.
Should I book before visiting Celestat?
Check the museum’s current visiting arrangements before you go, as advance booking may be required.
