Swarzędz: Furniture Craft and City History

Swarzędz is best explored through its furniture history: from the craft’s beginnings in the city, through the carpenters of the 19th century, to a dedicated furniture trail, it traces a historical arc. A showroom with a permanent, year-round exhibition and the Swarzędzkie Centrum Historii i Sztuki add to this experience. This gives your trip to Poland a specific cultural focus, while St. Martin’s Church provides its own historical highlight.

Craft, City History and Church

Craftsmanship developed in Swarzędz, which received its town charter in 1638, from the city’s earliest days. For a time, the city was also an important textile center. The carpenters of Swarzędz began to prosper in the second half of the 19th century. Furniture from the city was initially made primarily for local markets and later reached shops in Poland and Germany. This shift from local sales to markets in two countries gives the furniture history a clear economic arc.

St. Martin’s Church provides its own historical highlight: it was consecrated in 1656 and recognized as a historic monument in 1968. While the furniture history tells the story of craftsmanship and markets, the church offers a different, clearly dated connection to the city’s history.

Explore the Furniture History for Yourself

You can explore the Swarzędzki Szlak Meblowy on foot at your own pace. A free brochure is available for this purpose. You can get it at the Salon Meblowy Stolarzy Swarzędzkich, the Swarzędzkie Centrum Historii i Sztuki, the publicity department of the Swarzędz Town and Commune Office, and online. You can also explore the trail with a leaflet or using your phone and an audio map.

The Salon Meblowy Stolarzy Swarzędzkich at 41 Wrzesińska Street was originally called Rzemieślniczy Pawilon Meblowy. A permanent furniture exhibition is on display there year-round. In 1995, an oversized chair was installed in front of the showroom to promote furniture from Swarzędz; it has become a distinctive landmark in the city.

Discover the City’s History

At the Swarzędzkie Centrum Historii i Sztuki, you can explore the collections and take a virtual walk through Swarzędz as it used to be. Search for familiar places on a model of the city. You can also build a virtual piece of furniture and step into the role of a firefighter. This brings together the collections, city model and virtual activities in one place.

The offerings differ in practical ways: the furniture trail is designed for independent exploration and can be combined with printed or audio-based materials. The cultural center focuses on collections and virtual activities, while the showroom features a furniture exhibition on display year-round. When planning your stay, you can therefore choose the experience that suits you: walking the furniture trail, exploring the cultural center’s collections and activities, or visiting the showroom exhibition.

Discover more destinations: Chludowo, Sapowice, Glinka Duchowna, Ceradz Kościelny, Przeźmierowo, Złotoryjsko, Sierosław, Luboń.

For the main travel overview: Poznań.