The Museum of the X Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel
Historical Overview
[Featured image: Kapitel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons] The X Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel is one of the most important sites of Polish martyrdom from the period of the partitions. It is located within the grounds of the Warsaw Citadel, which was built by the Russian partitioning power between 1832 and 1836 as a form of repression following the suppression of the November Uprising of 1830–1831. The Tsar ordered that no civilian buildings were to be constructed within a 500-meter radius and that the Old Town should be destroyed in the event of further unrest. These orders remained in force until 1915, when the Russians left Warsaw and handed the provincial capital over to the Prussians. From the city center, the museum can be reached in about 30 minutes by metro and bus.
The X Pavilion housed the central investigative prison for political prisoners. Thousands of fighters for freedom passed through this prison – members of secret conspiratorial organizations, participants of national uprisings, activists of the Polish workers’ movement, participants of the 1905 Revolution, patriotic demonstrations, workers’ strikes, and activists of various political and social organizations. Among them were many Polish national heroes and well-known figures such as Romuald Traugutt, Józef Piłsudski, Roman Dmowski, Father Piotr Ściegienny, Jarosław Dąbrowski, Józef Montwiłł-Mirecki, and many others. Here, before investigative commissions and military courts, their fates were decided. From here, thousands of the convicted were sent deep into Russia for forced labor or exile in Siberia, while hundreds of others began their final journey to execution sites on the slopes of the Citadel.
Place of Remembrance
Due to its past, the X Pavilion is an exceptional site. It is certainly one of the few places – outside former royal residences and later state institutions – through which so many important historical figures have passed. Not only political activists and conspirators, but also many outstanding Polish artists, scientists, and writers were imprisoned here because of their involvement in opposition activities. Among them were figures of great importance such as the poets Gustaw Ehrenberg, Adam Asnyk, Apollo Nałęcz-Korzeniowski, the writers Wacław Sieroszewski and Tadeusz Gałecki (Andrzej Strug), the painter Aleksander Sochaczewski, as well as scholars like Benedykt Dybowski, Ludwik Krzywicki, Bolesław Antoni Dobrowolski, and many others.
Warsaw Citadel @ Kapitel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Warsaw Bastille
The X Pavilion is inseparably linked to the struggle for independence. During the period of the partitions, it was known as the “Warsaw Bastille” and stands as a testament to the attitude of the Polish elites during times of oppression. For these reasons, it deserves special remembrance and recognition. This was acknowledged shortly after independence in 1918 by the then head of state Józef Piłsudski, who decided in April 1919 to establish a museum and a military-historical archive in the former prison building. At that time, similar demands were also raised by representatives of other circles. However, due to the extremely difficult situation of the reborn state – including uprisings, plebiscites, the war with Soviet Russia, and later political and economic crises – these plans were not realized.
In 1923, the building of the X Pavilion was severely damaged by the explosion of a nearby ammunition depot. After repairs, a small exhibition of memorabilia from former prisoners was created in the eastern wing, where the cells of some of the most famous inmates were located, including Romuald Traugutt and Józef Piłsudski. Commemorative plaques were also installed for Romuald Traugutt, Józef Piłsudski, Stefan Okrzeja, and Józef Montwiłł-Mirecki.
Exhibition
The first museum exhibition in the X Pavilion was created in 1963. Its opening on January 22, marking the centenary of the outbreak of the January Uprising, had a highly ceremonial character and was attended by representatives of the highest party and government authorities.
Until 1989
The Museum of the X Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel became a branch of the Museum of the History of the Polish Revolutionary Movement. In 1969, a permanent exhibition was opened to visitors. It was divided into several sections and included 87 reconstructed prison cells, numerous artifacts from the years 1863–1864, banners, patriotic jewelry, weapons, documents, and prison memorabilia. Three art galleries were also prepared: one dedicated to the January Uprising, one to the Great Proletariat, and one to the paintings of Aleksander Sochaczewski.
Warsaw Citadel @ Walking Warsaw
The creators of the exhibition aimed to present the prisoners who fought for a free and just Poland. The focus was mainly on left-wing activists and revolutionaries. The exhibition depicted the realities of prison life between 1834 and 1914. Although revolutionary themes were emphasized over independence themes, the exhibition was well received by many visitors, as reflected in its high visitor numbers. Created during the era of the People’s Republic of Poland, it inevitably had a propagandistic character but still conveyed many truths about the dramatic Polish-Russian relations of the 19th century. In this form, it remained largely unchanged until 1989.
After 1989
After the political changes of 1989, the exhibition was fundamentally expanded and enriched with numerous themes and personalities that had previously been absent or only marginally represented. The focus remained on the prisoners of the X Pavilion within their historical context.
In 1990, the Museum of the Polish Revolutionary Movement was dissolved, and the X Pavilion became part of the newly established Museum of Independence. At the same time, a comprehensive redesign of the permanent exhibition began.
It was decided to retain and update key sections. These included the history of the Warsaw Citadel, the January Uprising, and the living conditions of the prisoners. The gallery of paintings by Aleksander Sochaczewski remained unchanged, while the section on the Great Proletariat and the Revolution of 1905–1907 was significantly reduced.
A new permanent section was dedicated to Józef Piłsudski and his imprisonment in the X Pavilion in 1900. In the following years, several major temporary exhibitions were also developed, including topics such as Polish exiles after 1863, the clergy during the January Uprising, and the various paths of Poland to independence.
An additional complement to the main exhibition was the exhibition “Siberians 1940–1956”. It documents the fate of Poles deported to the Soviet Union during the Second World War and highlights similarities between the experiences of different generations.
Changes
The X Pavilion, which served as a museum for more than 50 years, was not thoroughly renovated for a long time. Instead, only ongoing repairs were carried out, leading to a gradual deterioration of the building’s condition. It was not until 2015 that extensive renovation works were completed thanks to EU funding. This large-scale project included the revitalization and modernization of several parts of the Warsaw Citadel, including the X and XI Pavilions, the Bielany Gate, and the courtyard.
A further step toward modernization and improving the attractiveness of the exhibition followed with a project aimed at increasing access to culture and preserving national heritage. As part of this, the permanent exhibition “Prisoners of the X Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel” was redesigned and expanded. It was enhanced with multimedia elements and opened to the public in 2018, marking the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining independence.
Prisoners of the X Pavilion
The main exhibition “Prisoners of the X Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel” is dedicated to the individuals who were imprisoned here. Their stories is placed within the broader history of the Citadel and Warsaw. It highlights not only the fortress’s role as a military structure and prison but also its significance within the wider historical context of the Kingdom of Poland, which influenced the number and profile of prisoners over time.
Particular attention is given to key political figures, while also including individuals from science, culture, literature, and the arts who were imprisoned due to their engagement. This approach creates a multi-layered picture of individual lives set against the background of Poland’s struggle for independence under Russian rule. The exhibition demonstrates how widespread resistance to the Tsarist regime was across different social groups.
The multimedia stations integrated into the permanent exhibition significantly expand its content and provide deeper insights into each historical period. They include numerous photographs of prisoners, detailed biographies, historical context, a timeline of key events, and engaging audio and video materials.
As a result, the redesigned exhibition at the Museum of the X Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel serves as an ideal place for historical education. It is suitable both for school groups participating in museum programs and for individual visitors who wish to explore this difficult chapter of Polish history in a calm and focused environment.
Outside the Museum
Closely connected to the indoor exhibition are the memorial sites located outside the museum building. The execution path leads visitors to the execution gate, where prisoners were put to death. Nearby are the graves of freedom fighters from 1863 and 1905/1907.
Why visit the museum?
Every museum has an educational mission, and this one fulfills it fully. It is not a place full of optimism, yet it is certainly worth a visit. To understand Polish history and mentality, one must consider all aspects of its 1,000-year past. Why did Jarosław Kaczyński and his Law and Justice party win the 2015 parliamentary elections? Why does eastern Poland tend to vote “right” and western Poland “left”? Why is Romanticism so influential in Poland, and what does this prison have to do with it? These are not easy questions. You can read interpretations in the media or discover answers on site. Anyone who explains Poland only through recent events has not fully understood it.
So don’t just visit the Chopin Museum or the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. The X Pavilion, the Katyn Museum, and the Museum of the Polish Army also offer valuable insights into Poland’s unique place in Europe.
