The Museum brings to life the age of communist Poland, socialist command economy, rations, and chronic goods shortages, a time when people queued for hours to buy toilet paper, and essentials like meat, sugar, and coffee were only available to ration card holders. That time had its dark side, marked by one-party rule, political repression, censorship, and strict travel restrictions that prevented citizens from going to the West. But for some, it was also a time of stability, with social security, mass housing projects, and virtually no unemployment, all aspects they nostalgically recall as "the good old days." The good, the bad, and the downright absurd aspects of life in socialist Poland are now on display at this new Poznań museum. A visit is not just a history lesson but also a trip down memory lane for those who remember the 1970s and 1980s. Visitors get to play board games, watch the faded, grey-toned cartoons of the era, and view black-and-white episodes of Polska Kronika Filmowa, a newsreel once broadcast before every cinema screening, offering a heavily censored take on world events. For younger visitors, the real novelties will be everyday objects from the communist era, such as Pollena shaving cream, unfiltered cigarettes, metal glass holders, a two-channel television set, a wall unit and a fold-out sofa bed, chocolate imitation products, and the iconic crystal fish figurine-a staple of living room display cabinets and bookshelves across the country.

Written by the Editors

translation: Krzysztof Kotkowski

Museum of the Polish People's Republic (Muzeum PRL-u), ul. Żydowska 4, Poznań
Tickets: individual: PLN 31-35, family: PLN 27 per person

© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2025