Emeryk Hutten-Czapski Museum, Krakow

Count Emeryk Hutten-Czapski was born on October 17, 1828, in Stankow near Minsk, and he passed away on July 23, 1896, in Kraków. He held the position of Vice-Governor in Saint Petersburg and gained prominence as a significant collector of books, prints, and numismatics. His remarkable collection was curated at his ancestral estate in Stankow, which now lies within modern-day Belarus.

Due to concerns about the collection's safety, considering its proximity to Russia, Count Emeryk Hutten-Czapski took the decision to relocate it to Kraków. In pursuit of this, he acquired a 19th-century palace in 1894, situated on what we now know as 12 Pilsudski Street. This palace was intended to serve as the new home for his collection, but unfortunately, he passed away in 1896 before the construction could be completed.

Following his demise, his wife, Baroness Elzbieta Meyendorff, took charge of finalizing the construction of the addition. Abiding by her husband's wishes, she generously gifted the collection to the city of Kraków in 1904.

The museum underwent a reopening in 1917, only to face closure once more with the advent of World War II in 1939. Subsequently, the collection was safeguarded once again. This closure persisted for an extended period, spanning 70 years, starting from 1939 and keeping the museum away from the public eye.

However, in 2013, a transformation occurred. Thanks to funding provided by the European Union, extensive efforts were directed toward restoring the museum and its accompanying gardens. As a result of these endeavors, the museum was able to fling open its doors to the public once more, marking a new chapter in its storied history.