Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory Museum – History, Exhibitions & Visitor Information
Learn about the story of Oskar Schindler, his factory, and the people whose lives were changed here. Explore the permanent exhibition “Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945” and the places that preserve this memory today.
Inside Schindler’s Factory Museum
Located in the original administrative building of Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory in the district of Podgórze, this museum presents one of Kraków’s most powerful historical exhibitions – “Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945.”
It is not a typical biographical museum about Oskar Schindler himself but rather a deeply immersive story of Kraków during the Second World War. Visitors walk through a series of atmospheric rooms and installations that depict how life changed in the city after the German invasion in 1939.
The exhibition leads through narrow streets, reconstructed apartments, a railway platform, and the office of Oskar Schindler, where the famous “list” of rescued Jewish workers was created. Each room tells a different story – from daily struggles and restrictions to acts of courage and humanity that survived in the darkest times.
Visitors can explore authentic photographs, original documents, personal belongings, and interactive multimedia that together recreate the wartime atmosphere of Kraków. The museum also highlights the fate of local residents – both Polish and Jewish – showing how the Nazi occupation reshaped the social and cultural fabric of the city.
A visit to Schindler’s Factory Museum is an emotional and educational journey through history. It invites reflection, understanding, and remembrance of those whose stories are preserved within its walls.
From Enamel Factory to Museum of Memory
Before becoming one of Kraków’s most visited museums, the site was an industrial enamelware factory known as Deutsche Emailwarenfabrik (DEF). During the war, it produced kitchenware and later ammunition for the German army. Thanks to Oskar Schindler’s efforts and connections, over 1,000 Jewish workers were registered as essential employees and thus spared from deportation to concentration camps.
After the war, the factory continued to operate under state management until the 1990s. In 2010, the building was transformed into a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków (MHK) and opened to the public as Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory Museum.
Today, the museum is part of Kraków’s Memory Trail, a route connecting key wartime sites such as the former Ghetto area, the Eagle Pharmacy, and the Płaszów concentration camp site. Together, these places form a powerful museum of memory that preserves the city’s wartime history.
Plan Your Visit to Schindler’s Factory Museum
Find essential visitor information – opening hours, location, accessibility, and entry rules. Learn how to visit the exhibition “Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945” and what to expect during your visit.
