Royal treasures go on display at Poland’s Wawel Castle

Poland’s Crown Treasury has reopened to audiences in the southern city of Kraków with the biggest exhibition of royal insignia since 1792.

Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Culture Minister Piotr Gliński (centre) attends the opening of an exhibition of royal insignia at Wawel Castle in the southern city of Kraków on Thursday, June 30, 2022.

PAP/Łukasz Gągulski

The launch ceremony on Thursday was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Culture Minister Piotr Gliński, state news agency PAP reported.

Gliński said: “It’s a very important day for the Polish museum industry. For the first time since 1792, the Crown Treasury will be showcased in all its splendour, prestige and glamour.”

Wicepremier @PiotrGlinski w @Wawel_Castle: To bardzo ważny dzień dla polskiego muzealnictwa. Pierwszy raz od 1792 r. Skarbiec Królewski będzie zaprezentowany w całym swoim splendorze, prestiżu i blasku. pic.twitter.com/QEXVMGg1gU

— Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego (@kultura_gov_pl) June 30, 2022

He told reporters that the government had financed the exhibition to the tune of around PLN 13 million (EUR 2.8 million).

The display features precious monarchical regalia, royal and princely jewels, as well as diplomatic gifts and trophies, among other rare exhibits from Polish history.   

Gliński praised Kraków's Wawel Castle museum for putting up the show in just 11 months. 

“Where arts institutions take action, where there is passion, where there is ethos and a sense of mission, there is nothing more for the politician to do than allocate public resources,” he said. 

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, gov.pl, wawel.krakow.pl/en

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Agnieszka Bielawska.