Housed in Ostrogski Palace (Pałac Ostrogskich), situated on the Vistula escarpment, it is a baroque-classical jewel of a building. The Museum’s beginnings date back to the 1930s: in 1935, the Chopin Institute (as it was called then), founded by prominent representatives of culture, began to purchase and collect several valuable manuscripts from the composer’s relatives.
As such, the museum’s exhibits make up the world’s richest and most varied collection of memorabilia related to both Chopin as an individual, and his work. The collection includes manuscripts and printed copies of Chopin’s works, his correspondence, autographs, notes, works of art, personal items belonging to the composer and his piano.
The newly-opened museum in the renovated Ostrogski Palace is the most modern biographical museum in Europe. Multimedia exhibitions and touch screens – here the real world meets the virtual. The ticket to enter this magical world is an electronic card; by using it, one may hear commentary and information in several languages, and listen to music.
No matter if you are a tourist, a musicologist, or even a child – everyone will find something to interest them. This museum was specifically designed so that everyone can create their own sightseeing route and itinerary, in accordance with their personal interests.
The entire exhibition consists of 15 rooms, each one creating a separate ‘mini-museum’.