Collection of the Armament

We kindly inform that in order to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus The Castle is unavailable November 7th–29 th, 2020.

Collection of the Armament of the Royal Castle in Warsaw – Museum

The Room in the Justice Court Tower

For the first time since its reconstruction, the Royal Castle in Warsaw presents  a permanent exhibition of militaria. The exhibits come from the collections of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the Ciechanowiecki Foundation, the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw, the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów and from private collections. The collection comprises an interesting selection of cold weapons, firearms and armour from the 17th and 18th centuries.

From the late Middle Ages to the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, as the seat of Mazovian dukes and afterwards kings of Poland, the Castle was equipped with cold weapons, firearms and armour. Like every fortress, it was prepared for defence against enemy attacks. Not only the simple weapons carried by regular soldiers were used for this purpose, but also the more extravagant arms of courtiers, royal officers, and even those of rulers. The 17th-century history of the Warsaw residence shows that the fortunes of a fortress are inextricably linked with its arms and practical use thereof. Apart from their intended use in war, arms and armour also fulfilled ceremonial, decorative, social and duel functions. Furthermore, arms were an indispensable part of attire for rulers, knights and noblemen. They were a fundamental element of the Middle Ages and the early modern period.

The exhibits include a unique Pappenheim-hilt rapier featuring the motif of a crowned eagle as well as the first pair of pistols to leave the Royal Gun Works in Kozienice. They are the only copies of pistols from Kozienice in the world. The Castle is also in possession of two beautiful sabres of the Polish Hussars as well as “karacena” scale armour from the time of the Battle of Vienna. The greatest military victories of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth are the work of magnificent commanders, gallant soldiers and use of arms, which the Royal Castle in Warsaw has the opportunity to present.

Admisson based on a ticket for the Castle Tour