Hipolit Townhouse

Not all of Cracow's lesser known museums deliver the goods, but this one certainly does. The Hipolit Townhouse brings to life the private world of a typical well-to-do Cracow family - a world that needless to say was rocked to its foundations during the Stalinist era. The museum is based in a fine old building just off the Market Square and it presents classic interiors from a well-heeled Cracovian household. Seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century rooms all compliment each other marvellously, and besides the exquisite furnishings there are also some stunning period details in the fabric of the house itself. Great lengths have been gone to to make the house feel lived in, not least the presence of a friendly cat who takes great pleasure in sitting on all the priceless exhibits.

we visited krakow in early june and had a few drinks in the cafe magia, which is next door to the museum. hipolit the cat kept us company, a real cool cat.

Hi Sam, this is indeed the lair of the black and white cat. He enjoys sitting on all the priceless antiques.

Does anyone know if this is the musuem that has a black and white cat named Hipolit that roams around? My husband and I chatted with a man who works there (if it's the same place), but we did not have a chance to go through the museum. We have some wonderful pictures of the cat that I would love to email to them, but I don't know if this is the same place. I'm rating it high because the person we spoke with was very nice and we really wanted to go through the place.

Thanks in advance for any help!

This was superb and free to visit on a Wednesday! The house is fascinating and gives you a real sense of what life must have been like in previous centuries as a well-heeled Cracovian. It is a real feast for the eyes, as each room has so much to look at. Well worth a visit and convenient as it is very central.