Discover Mława: Culture and History

• The Muzeum Ziemi Zawkrzeńskiej presents art, archaeology and history in permanent exhibitions.
• The historical exhibition covers the period from the 16th century to the end of the German occupation after the Second World War.
• A town hall was built on the main square in the 16th century; its exact date of construction is unknown.
• The historic city park was established at the end of the 19th century.

The art department focuses on a gallery of paintings by Wojciech Piechowski and his contemporaries. Its core also includes objects from the turn of the 19th to the 20th century. The exhibition thus brings together paintings and objects from a particular historical period.

In the historical department, a permanent exhibition spans the history of Mława and the region from the 16th century to the end of the German occupation after the Second World War. Its main themes include national uprisings, especially the Kościuszko Uprising and the January Uprising, as well as the Battle of Mława. If you are interested in the town’s development, this time span provides a chronological framework for the events presented.

The permanent archaeological exhibition covers the period from the Stone Age to the Late Middle Ages. It highlights burial grounds around 2,000 years old, belonging to the Przeworsk and Wielbark cultures. These were discovered in Modła near Mława, Stupsk, Dąbek and Zgliczyn Pobodzy.

The museum’s education department conducts museum lessons and workshops. These activities complement the exhibitions with a dedicated educational programme. If you include the museum in your travel plans, you can decide which areas interest you most based on its art, history and archaeology topics.

A privilege granted by King Zygmunt I Stary on 28 February 1545 authorised the residents of Mława to build a town hall. It was built on the main square in the 16th century; the exact date of the first building is unknown. The Church of the Holy Trinity (pw. Świętej Trójcy) and the town hall burned down in the same fire in 1692. The church’s reconstruction was completed in 1719, when its gables were given Baroque forms.

Later construction phases can also be distinguished around the market square: the townhouses on its eastern side were built in the first decade of the 20th century. The Mławska Hala Targowa was designed by Stefan Usakiewicz, the architect of Powiat mławski, and opened in 1912. It still serves its commercial function. Taken together, these details span the history of the town hall in the 16th century, its reconstruction after the fire and buildings from the early 20th century.

Mława’s historic city park was established at the end of the 19th century at the initiative of Russian troops stationed in the town at the time. In the past, the park was called the “Town Garden” or “Mława’s Salon.” These traditional names offer a glimpse of its earlier designations; its origins place it in the town’s history in the late 19th century.

As a distinct regional context, Mława is shaped by its location in the Wzniesienia Mławskie hills on the Seracz River. The E 65 railway line, national road 7 and provincial roads 544 and 563 run through Mława.

The wider destination also includes Las Mławski. It lies within the Zieluńsko-Rzęgnowski Protected Landscape Area, where nature trails have been designated. A lake in Krajewo, in Las Mławski, has a pine bog woodland habitat on an island. On the northern edge of the forest are also the “Krajewo” fortified group, with two bunkers; “Piekiełko,” with four bunkers; and “Dźwierznia Łysa Góra,” with four bunkers. These nature and history topics add to the picture of Mława, but should be understood as part of the wider destination’s context.

When looking for hotels in Mława, it can help to sort out your interests first: are museum collections and architectural history your main focus, or would you also like to consider the nature and history topics of the wider Mława destination? Compare the location of accommodation with the visits you actually plan to make.

If you’d like to discover more destinations: Zabiele, Marianowo, Dalnia, Strzegowo.

What period does the historical permanent exhibition cover?

It spans the history of Mława and the region from the 16th century to the end of the German occupation after the Second World War. Topics include national uprisings and the Battle of Mława, among others.

What is known about the first town hall?

A privilege dated 28 February 1545 authorised its construction. The town hall was built on the main square in the 16th century; the exact construction date of the first building is unknown.

What nature topics are there in the wider Mława destination?

The wider destination includes Las Mławski, with designated nature trails; a lake in Krajewo with a pine bog woodland habitat on an island; and fortified groups on the northern edge of the forest.

For the wider travel overview: Mława.