It Was Here That Poland Was Born

Can historical events from over one thousand years back have any meaning for a modern Pole? They surely can, because at that time Poland first emerged in Europe as an important political subject. That was overwhelmingly due to our rulers, but Greater Poland played a major part as well, since it was this region that provided support for their activities whose aim was the creation of a state. If later the term Polonia denoted both the whole country and the original domain of Mieszko I, it also meant commemorating the area where all had begun – since it was here that Poland was born.

The exhibition invites guests to participate in an archaeological journey into the Middle Ages, to meet the people and events of the period. The guides of that particular trip will be the eyewitnesses – old chroniclers and travellers whose reports illustrate the subject in question on panels placed on the walls of the exhibition rooms. More detailed information can be found on pulled-out boards – there guests will find a description of various aspects of the medieval life, a result of many years of scientific research. Boxes next to the display cases contain additional information and collections of source materials relevant to the topic. In Room II you can make use of numerous multimedia presentations, and at the end of the visit you are invited to try on a replica of a late mediaeval suit of armour and play a game of chess. Each section of the exhibition is accompanied by sound effects: sounds of nature and music from the Middle Ages.