Silesia at a glance
Photographs
Gigapanoramas
Landscapes and cities
Room 1 of the permanent exhibition is where the tour begins for museum visitors. It offers an initial introduction to Silesia and provides an overview of the topography of this diverse landscape, the towns and cities from tranquil little villages to the metropolis of Wroclaw, as well as the country's chequered history, its economic sectors and its rich culture.
Silesia’s landscape enchanted its visitors early on and surprised them with its diversity. In 1790, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe called Silesia a “tenfold interesting country”. The Oder runs through the landscape from the slopes of the eastern Sudetes through hilly country, wooded lowlands and the fertile plain to the heathland in the north-west. The importance of shipping is illustrated by ship models, miniature steamers and depictions of Oder barges.
The mountains are just as characteristic as the river. Three in particular are important as excursion destinations, sites of historical events, memorials and symbols of a contradictory history: the Zobten south of Wroclaw, the pilgrimage site of Annaberg not far from Opole and the Schneekoppe, the highest mountain in the Sudeten Mountains. The Giant Mountains as a wild and romantic landscape are also depicted in paintings and symbolised by sculptures of the forest spirit Rübezahl.
Glass and porcelain from the 19th and early 20th centuries provide an insight into the arts and crafts and the most important branches of industry in Silesia. Carvings made from a special type of coal, which can be worked like soapstone, point to the high level of craftsmanship of the artisans and the strong identification of the Upper Silesians in particular with mining. Aerial photographs and plans as well as a model of Wroclaw’s Gothic town hall provide an overview of the cities.
See similar attractions!
On a 2000 m2 exhibition space, visitors can explore approximately 1000 exhibits from the history of Silesian culture.
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