Muzeum Dawnego Kupiectwa

In 1966, the Museum was started in Świdnica, it was not a continuation of the German Municipal Museum - existing in the city until the end of World War II. The new establishment, in accordance with the Statute of 1967, was intended to collect, develop, store and preserve cultural assets in the history of Silesian commerce, the measurement systems used in Silesia and the history of Świdnica and the region. This specialization referred to the old, merchant traditions of the city. Great help from the first permanent exhibition was given by the Lower Silesian museums. Thanks to the exhibits borrowed from these institutions, it was possible to make the exhibits permanent for visitors on 13th May 1967. The share of monuments on the museum exhibition was initially small, but gradually, through purchases and gifts, the number of them increased and now they represent the vast majority of exhibits.

In 1976 an attempt was made to change the original statute of 1967, which narrowed the scope of obtaining the collections related to former trade only to Silesia. In 1978, the Ministry of Culture and Arts approved a new statute, which included a proposal to extend the scope of territorial harvesting and at the same time renamed the Museum of Old Merchants. In addition, at the Museum was established at the Department of Grave Art, it was located on pl. Peace in Swidnica. In 1995 another change of statute was made, the Graffiti Department was abolished and a new metrological department was created. At present the Museum has the following departments: History of Swidnica, Department of Old Merchants, Department of Metrology, Department of Science and Education. Labels, money, weights, weights, measures of length and volume and arrangements - a former tavern, a pharmacy, a shop, a weight house, an office of measurements and stalls of wealthy merchants. In the beautiful Gothic City Hall of the City Hall, an exhibition devoted to the history of the city with the layout of 17th century Swidnica was prepared. Go with history ... The Old Merchants Museum welcomes you!