The Volyn Regional Museum of Local Lore is the main museum of the region, located in Lutsk at 20 Chopin Street. Its exposition occupies 32 halls with an area of over 2 thousand square meters in a three-story building from the 1920s–1930s, which is itself an architectural monument. Here, you can travel through the entire history of Volyn in just a few hours — from ancient times to the present day.
History of the museum
The museum was opened on June 16, 1929, under the Society of Local Historians and Protection of Monuments of the Past. By 1938, in four departments — nature, prehistoric past, art, and ethnography — there were already 9 thousand exhibits. The collections were gathered by archaeologist Tadeusz Sulimirski, museologist and ethnographer Aleksander Prusewicz, archaeologist Jan Fitzke, botanist Stefan Macko, and local historian Anatoliy Dublyansky.
In 1940, a regional historical and local lore museum was created on its basis. During the war, the museum operated, but during the retreat of German troops, the collections were looted. On June 17, 1944, it resumed its work. From 1958 to 1984, the museum was located at 7 Chopin Street, and since 1985, it has been in the reconstructed building at 20 Chopin Street.
Branches
The museum includes the Lesya Ukrainka Literature and Memorial Museum in Kolodiazhne, the Lutsk Art Museum in Lubart's Castle, the Museum of Volyn Icon, the Vyacheslav Lypynsky Memorial Museum in Zaturtsi, and the Museum of the History of the Lutsk Brotherhood. During the pandemic, the museum introduced online exhibitions and open-air displays.
What to see
The exposition is built chronologically: the archaeology of Volyn from the Stone Age to the princely era, medieval Lutsk, Cossack times, the everyday life and ethnography of the Volyn and Polissian countryside, and the history of the 20th century. Separate halls are dedicated to the nature of the region. The museum often holds temporary exhibitions, so even a repeat visit can be interesting.
Tip
Allow two hours for the main exposition. The museum is located in the new part of the city, and old Lutsk is a 15-minute walk from here.
How to find
20 Chopin Street, Lutsk.
