Museum of Bells and Pipes
Medals available in the museum shop!
The shop opened in September 2001, initiated by the Museum and local Przemyśl pipe makers and bell founders. It is located in the historic late Baroque Clock Tower, built between 1775–1777, standing 38 meters tall with eight floors and two observation terraces. Its central location in Przemyśl’s Old Town makes it ideal for museum functions, especially since its exhibits attract many tourists visiting the city.
Since at least the late 19th century, Przemyśl has been a center of pipe production, and it also became home to the Felczyński bell foundry, relocated from Kałusz. Both collections—pipes and bells—are displayed in this architecturally unique building, showcasing the city’s craftsmanship. Recent renovations and an expanded collection have modernized the pipe exhibition, with minor updates to the displayed bells.
The pipe collection, skillfully integrated into the tower’s architecture, has gradually evolved due to new acquisitions and donations. The first floor features museum pipes, including simple yet historically valuable clay pipes from the famous Schlesis Fabrice workshop in Zborowskie, as well as “lulki” (pipe bowls), such as “selmeczanki” (also called “szczawniczki”), Viennese coffeehouse pipes from Kolín near Prague, “stambułki”, and 19th-century “Galician” pipes. The largest group consists of artistic meerschaum pipes, mostly made in the 19th century within the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany. Notable are porcelain pipes decorated with hunting scenes and portraits of women, as well as a rare wooden pipe shaped like a mysterious animal’s head. Hunting pipes (“hubertówki”) and smoking accessories are also displayed. A tourist attraction is the collection of hookahs (nargiles).
Pipe-making is a rare craft, and Przemyśl remains the only center of professional pipe production in Poland. Tourists are often curious about the manufacturing process, and since visiting workshops isn’t always possible, the exhibition includes a replica of a traditional pipe-making workshop with old tools.
Pipes were also brought by soldiers defending the Przemyśl Fortress, and recent research confirms that amateur pipe-making occurred within the fortifications. The exhibition includes informative panels.
The penultimate floor, surrounded by the lower terrace, serves as a space for temporary exhibitions. At the top of the tower, the observation deck offers the highest vantage point in the city center.
