In Ćmielów, details of porcelain meet a church whose history dates back to the 14th century. Visitors choosing the town for a stay can plan their visits around two questions: How was porcelain made and decorated in the past, and what architectural and decorative features define the Church of the Assumption of Mary? From the no-longer-operating kiln to the Gothic church building, there are various ways to explore these topics.

Porcelain from the kiln to the townscape

At the Żywe Muzeum Porcelany, visitors can enter an old, original porcelain kiln that is no longer in operation. A guide explains how the kiln was once used to fire porcelain. The workshops offer another insight: during a guided group visit, a guide leads visitors through specially arranged rooms and demonstrates the stages of production at several stations using a porcelain kitten figurine. The kiln and workshops thus represent two different aspects of the subject: historical firing techniques and the individual stages of production.

Design influences can also be found in various locations. Porcelanowy Rynek is a point of interest; its benches and fountain were designed after the well-known Ćmielów Empire collection. In Aleja Małp, the designs for the bronze sculptures were inspired by the porcelain painting collection “Piękne Małpy Europy.” This collection is shown during a visit to the Żywe Muzeum Porcelany. While a collection inspired the benches and fountain at Porcelanowy Rynek, Aleja Małp focuses on the connection between a collection and the designs for the sculptures.

Practical directions are available for finding the museum: the Żywe Muzeum Porcelany is located directly on the main road, numerous signs point the way, and there is a spacious visitor car park at the museum. You can take its location, signage and parking into account when planning your visit.

Church of the Assumption of Mary: architecture and furnishings

The Church of the Assumption of Mary in Ćmielów was already standing in the 14th century. It is a single-nave Gothic stone church with a narrower, rectangular chancel. Its furnishings include an image of Our Lady of Consolation, created in the 17th century and venerated for its graces. There is also a stone Baroque baptismal font from the first half of the 18th century and a Rococo pulpit. The architecture and furnishings offer different perspectives on the church: its Gothic structure and its individual religious artworks and furnishings.

The complex also includes a tall bell tower with five bells. The oldest bell bears a Gothic inscription dated 1528. The dates refer to different points in time: the church was already standing in the 14th century, the inscription gives the year 1528, the Marian image was created in the 17th century, and the baptismal font dates from the first half of the 18th century. This makes it possible to distinguish the building’s history, the bell and its furnishings without mistaking the inscription for the bell’s date of creation.

Castle history on a self-guided tour

Zamek Ćmielów offers audio guides for self-guided tours covering the castle’s history and architecture. Admission requires a valid ticket, an invitation or a voucher. This visit format differs from the tour at the porcelain museum: there, a guide leads a group of visitors through the workshops; at the castle, an audio guide is intended for a self-guided tour. When choosing visits, you can also consider the type of access you prefer: production stages explained by a guide at several stations, or the castle’s history and architecture via an audio guide.

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