Czartoryski Museum
Opposite the Piarist Church, at the intersection of ul. st. Jan and Pijarska, in an elegant yellowish building with brick inserts (nr 17) the interesting Czartoryski Museum is located, whose true pride are two priceless paintings: Leonardo da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine and a Landscape with Rembrandt's Samaritan.
The Czartoryski Museum was established in Puławy in 1800 r. on the initiative of beautiful Princess Izabella Czartoryska née Fleming, gathering national souvenirs and works of art with passion and patriotic dedication. Before the collections were delivered to Krakow, in 1870 r “they passed a turbulent road through Paris, where they were stored at Hótel Lambert, Władysław, prince Czartoryski, bringing the collection to Krakow, he placed it in a building specially converted from the houses standing in this place and from the City Arsenal. The first museum of European caliber was opened in Krakow. The last war has largely thinned the harvest, because from Sieniawa, where they were hidden, a large part was irretrievably stolen by the Nazis.
Despite the complicated fate and irreparable damage, the Czartoryski collections presented today are among the most interesting in Krakow or even in the country. Above all, the wonderful picture gallery is dazzling, among which you can admire, among others. Madonna and Child of Wincenzo Catena, Landscape from Abraham Govaerts' escape to Egypt, Lucas Cranach's miniature series, depicting the family of Zygmunt Stary, or the aforementioned works by Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt.
