Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University Museum

What to expect

The university museum of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University (UKSW) opened on 20 August 2020 on the Dewajtis campus - deep inside the Bielany Forest in northern Warsaw, on the grounds of a former Camaldolese monastery complex. The exhibition occupies a renovated historic chapel and the adjoining museum hall, which the university describes as its historic heart. The museum marks the 20th anniversary of the transformation of the Academy of Catholic Theology into a full-profile university; it was initiated by university chancellor Dr Maria Hulicka and realized by Dr Beata Skrzydlewska.

On display: portraits of the university’s rectors, historic liturgical vestments and vessels, early printed books from the Main Library, and photographs documenting milestone events and student life. Two exhibits stand out. One is the UKSW coat of arms embroidered in byssus - sea silk, reputedly the most precious thread in the world. The other, and historically the most interesting, is the protocol of a 1955 Senate meeting of the Academy of Catholic Theology recording the resolution that concluded the habilitation of Fr Karol Wojtyła - the future Pope John Paul II.

This is a small, intimate display: the university notes that only a fraction of the UKSW archives - over 17,000 photographs and hundreds of volumes of documents - is shown here. The rest lives in a digital museum, presented on site on a multimedia panel.

Tips

• Book ahead - it is a condition of entry. Visits are arranged in advance through the UKSW Communication and Promotion Office: promocja@uksw.edu.pl or +48 22 561 88 00 (the university switchboard).
• No price list is published - visiting arrangements (including any fees) go through the UKSW Communication and Promotion Office.
• The exhibition is compact - realistically about 30 minutes. Treat it as one stop on a Bielany itinerary, not a destination in itself.
• Combine the visit with a walk in the Bielany Forest (Las Bielański) and a look at the neighbouring 17th-century Camaldolese Church of the Immaculate Conception - one of the most atmospheric historic corners of northern Warsaw.
• The UKSW digital museum can be browsed on site on a multimedia panel; as of this profile’s last update (August 2026) the digital museum’s separate website was not responding.

Getting there

The Dewajtis campus sits inside the Bielany Forest, away from main roads, roughly 8 km north of the Old Town. The nearest artery is ul. Marymoncka; from there the narrow ul. Dewajtis leads down to the campus (a 10-15 minute walk through the forest).

Metro: Wawrzyszew or Młociny stations (line M1), then a walk or a bus ride along Marymoncka.

Bus: lines running along ul. Marymoncka, UKSW stop, then walk down ul. Dewajtis to the campus.

By car: ul. Dewajtis is narrow and campus parking is limited - on weekdays in the academic year public transport is the easier option.

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Żoliborz