Muzeum Kurpiowskie w Wachu

Kurpiowskie Museum in Wacha is a private institution established and run by Zdzisław and Laura Bziukiewicz. It operates on the farm "U Bursztyna", which is located in Wachu No. 14 (Kadzidło Commune, Ostrołęka County), while the village of Wach is located near route 53 connecting Warsaw with Mazury, halfway between Kadzidło and Myszyńcem, 30 km. north - east of Ostroleka.

The museum was opened for visitors on 01.04.2009 and originally housed only in an old barn adapted for this purpose. With the expansion of the collection, the exhibition expanded to include a truck and machine park.

The museum collects objects from the Kurpie Greens, depicting the former material culture of this region. The oldest exhibits date back to the late 18th century (passover-crucifixes), and the youngest ones date back to the 70's. They show the changes that take place in this environment through the development of technology, the availability of various raw materials and materials, as well as social and mental changes. The number of exhibits has already exceeded 6,000 and is constantly on the rise, as owners are constantly striving to save the rest of the old culture from the ruin, buying it from their owners, and penetrating scrap metal and antique markets. They try, as far as their financial resources, to survive these things, bearing witness to the future generations of the great wealth of Kurpiowszczyzna and the talents of their creators.

Collections in the Wadi Museum in Kursk have been divided into thematic sections: Weaving, Burial, Carpentry, Coating, Wickerwork, At Home, In the yard, Barmaid, Dress, Stable, Craft. The collection is also supplemented by Kurpiowska Library on regional and amber subjects, with numerous "white crows". The museum, apart from the collection and maintenance of objects, runs a large-scale educational activity. Bziukiewicz tries to bring the equipment and tools to a state of usefulness to help them conduct a number of workshops and museum lessons from the "lost professions". Just watching the show is little more than a modern man, especially a young man living in a city who has little idea about working in the field and in the old farmhouse. Hence the need for practical classes and workshops. It is only living together with old equipment, knowing the work of using it gives an opportunity to know the real old life in the Kurpie. Museum lessons are addressed to every age group and are tailored to the level of participants. They cover a wide range of manifestations of Kurpińska culture and are:

1. Amber digging

2. Kurpiowska processing of amber

3. Amber digging + Amber processing of amber

4. Paper flowers

5. Postcard and greeting cards

6. Lycra lace

7. Len - combing, braking and weaving

8. Easter palm production

9. Easter eggs.

10. Christmas tree workshops

11. Folk herbs

12. Country toys

13. Kurpie dress

14. History of the Green Kurpi and Kurpiowska gwara

15. Laundering and Hygiene - Hygiene in the village of Kurpiowska

16. Agricultural machinery

Crochet lace

18. Country fun and games

19. Manufacture of jewelery

20. Culinary workshops - kurpiowska cuisine

Laura and Zdzisław Bziukiewicz are active folk artists. Zdzislaw is the representative of the next generation of the famous family of Kurpiowskis, while Laura is a lace maker, specializing in making tough frock lace. Due to their skills and the extraordinary nature of their profession, they were and still are invited to conduct museum lessons at various cultural institutions throughout the country. During these meetings, they noticed a great deal of interest in their former technicians and decided to pursue such home-based classes. Since 2002, amber workshops, crochet and lace lace, ritual and Kurpie history have started, and since the Museum was opened the others have joined. In the autumn of 2010 a reconstructed 19th century amber mine was commissioned for the visitors, with lessons from digging the Kurpie gold.

Kurpiowskie Museum in Wach cooperates with various cultural institutions, associations, state institutions, and is covered by the care of the University of Warsaw. Since 2011, cataloging of collections has been conducted. It is performed by a group of students of the Faculty of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Warsaw under the supervision of Dr. Katarzyna Waszczyńska.

In order to promote the Kurpi region more and more, the museum organized folklore events: the Amber Festival, combined with the Amber Cup, the Mayflower and the Bajania Kurpiowskis, during which the Kurpiowska Talk was opened. Tourists, as well as residents of nearby towns, have the opportunity to get to know the local folklore, the achievements of folk artists working here, the Kurpińska cuisine and spend time interacting with the old but still living culture. Due to the great interest in the lessons and workshops - we ask for a lot of advance booking and workshop variants.

And for thirsty homemade food on - Kurpiowska feast "U Bursztyna"

On our site you can also buy our products from amber, lychee and crochet lace and kurpiowskie easter eggs, as well as beautiful jewelery, presented on our website www.kurpie.com.pl and www.frywolitka.pl.

• Visiting time approx. 1 hour with owner as guide, and for connoisseurs much longer.

• Opening hours are not limited. At any time of the day, by telephone or email.

Contact us: Kurpiowskie Museum in Wach 07-420 Wach 14 Tel 0607-676356 or 0607-110393 e-mail: [email protected] www.muzeum.kurpie.com.pl