Museum of the Fabryka in Lodz

The museum is housed in the mid-nineteenth century small palace (residence) of Karol Scheibler, one of the most important Lodz industrialists of German origin, known as “The Cotton King” because of his wealth and the scale of his production. The palace was rebuilt in 1886-88 in the form of the present neo-renaissance style. Situated in the historic Zrodlisko park, next to the extensive former factory complex and workers’ estate, it exemplifies the city’s multicultural past and its former power as a centre of the textile industry. The quiet harmonious facade of the building is in sharp contrast to the richness of the multiple styles of the eclectic interiors. The elements of the interior which have survived in relatively good condition are the stucco decoration, fireplaces, painted decoration, wooden panelling and furniture, fabric for furniture covering, wallpaper, mosaics, floors and stained-glass windows.

These constitute an authentic exhibition of the city’s industrial historic past in the years of its birth and development and also refer to the history of Polish cinema: in the post-war years the palace often changed ownership and its interiors were often used as film studios. They have appeared in many Polish films such as “The Promised Land”, the masterpiece by Andrzej Wajda. The Film Museum took over the building and its surrounds (together with the carriage house and courtyard) in 1986. This is where it houses its collection of film exhibits and documents the history of Polish cinema – arts, techniques and film production, of which Lodz has been the centre for many years.
As a part of the preservation of tradition the museum is also careful to exhibit and emphasise the history of the palace and the story of the Scheibler family and its considerable part in the development of Lodz as an industrial city In the museum collection are found valuable, often unique equipment of the period immediately preceding the development of cinema:
magic lanterns, stereoscopes, optical games – a true pearl among them is the still working, original 19th century photo-plasticon by the August Fuhrmann company. There are also amateur and professional film cameras (the earliest from the beginning of the 20th century) for various film gauges. Also projectors and screens, a large collection of still cameras and equipment, machines and equipment for the processing of film material and lighting and associated apparatus. The collection of Polish and foreign film posters is among the most important in existence. Posters from this collection are often exhibited in national and international exhibitions (in USA, Canada, Germany, Ukraine, Denmark and the Czech Republic). The museum itself is an organiser of Polish national events: The Festival of Film Music and The Media Festival: “Czlowiek w Zagrozeniu” (Man in Difficulties), which consists of contemporary Polish documentary films on social themes.

Address: 1 Zwyciestwa Square

Opening hours:
Mondays – closed

Tuesdays – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wednesdays – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursdays – 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Fridays – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Saturdays – Sundays – 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.