Discover Swarzędz: Furniture History and Culture

• Swarzędz received its town charter in 1638; crafts have developed there since the town's beginnings.
• St Martin's Church was consecrated in 1656 and recognised as a historic monument in 1968.
• Cabinetmaking took off in the second half of the 19th century. Furniture from Swarzędz initially reached mainly local markets and later also shops in Poland and Germany.
• The Swarzędzki Szlak Meblowy (Swarzędz Furniture Trail) can be explored independently. A free brochure is available online and at several locations.
• The Salon Meblowy Stolarzy Swarzędzkich at 41 Wrzesińska Street hosts a permanent furniture exhibition all year round.

Crafts have developed in Swarzędz since the town's beginnings. For a time, Swarzędz was also an important textile centre. Cabinetmaking took off later, in the second half of the 19th century. The market for furniture also changed: it was initially made mainly for local markets and later found its way into shops in Poland and Germany. These stages provide a thread for placing the local craft history in context without reducing it to a single era.

Another historical landmark is St Martin's Church: it was consecrated in 1656 and recognised as a historic monument in 1968. The history of the church and the development of furniture-making thus represent different historical themes that you can consider side by side when exploring Swarzędz.

At the Swarzędzkie Centrum Historii i Sztuki, you can explore the collections and take a virtual tour of Swarzędz as it was in the past. A town model lets you look for familiar places. Other activities include virtually building a piece of furniture and stepping into the role of a firefighter. The activities range from exploring collections and the town's past to virtual design and role-play.

The Salon Meblowy Stolarzy Swarzędzkich was originally called the Rzemieślniczy Pawilon Meblowy. At 41 Wrzesińska Street, it hosts a permanent furniture exhibition all year round. An oversized chair was installed in front of the salon in 1995 to promote furniture from Swarzędz. It became a distinctive landmark in the town. The salon is also one of the places where you can pick up a brochure about the Furniture Trail.

The Swarzędzki Szlak Meblowy is designed for independent exploration. You can get a free brochure at the Salon Meblowy Stolarzy Swarzędzkich, the Swarzędzkie Centrum Historii i Sztuki and the promotional department of the Swarzędz Town and Municipal Office, as well as online. A leaflet, available at the cultural centre or online, and exploring with a phone and audio map are also mentioned as ways to follow the trail. The brochure, leaflet and audio map offer different ways to find your bearings without having to join a guided group.

Discover more destinations: Radzewice, Strykowo, Czmoń, Golęczewo, Tulce, Poznań, Jarosławiec, Stęszew.

How did furniture-making develop in Swarzędz?

Crafts have developed there since the town's beginnings. Cabinetmaking took off in the second half of the 19th century; furniture was initially made mainly for local markets and later also sold in shops in Poland and Germany.

What activities does the Swarzędzkie Centrum Historii i Sztuki offer?

You can explore the collections, take a virtual tour of Swarzędz as it was in the past, look for familiar places on a town model, build a virtual piece of furniture and step into the role of a firefighter.

How can you explore the Furniture Trail independently?

The Swarzędzki Szlak Meblowy can be explored independently with a free brochure. A leaflet, as well as a phone and an audio map, are also mentioned as options.

Where is the permanent furniture exhibition?

The permanent exhibition, on display all year round, is at the Salon Meblowy Stolarzy Swarzędzkich at 41 Wrzesińska Street.

What does the oversized chair mean for Swarzędz?

It was installed in 1995 in front of the Salon Meblowy Stolarzy Swarzędzkich to promote furniture from Swarzędz and became a distinctive landmark in the town.

For the overview of the wider region: Poznań.