Poznan Croissant Museum – a must-see here

Learning about the city’s history, its legends, the local dialect, and at the same time preparing a local baked good with a large dose of humor? All of this is possible, and in one place, during an approximately 50-minute show…. Interested? Welcome to the Poznan Croissant Museum, where cool things are happening!

The Poznan Croissant Museum was the first such interactive museum we had been to and it totally absorbed us. Since then, wherever we go and find shows combined with workshops, and with a lot of knowledge and humor, we necessarily go there!

But before about the museum itself, two words about the hero of today’s entry – the famous St. Martin’s croissant. Its popularity is growing every year! For several years now, we have been getting it without problems in bakeries and even supermarkets across the country, and not just in November.

Original St. Martin’s croissant

However, you need to be careful with its names, because you will not always end up with the “original” croissant…. yes, yes… as with many other regional products, it is no longer the case that every bakery in Poland can prepare a sweet croissant with white poppy seed filling and call it a świętomarciński croissant. The croissant has been certified as a “Product with Protected Designation of Origin in the European Union” since 2008, which means that it can only be baked from local raw materials, according to a given recipe and in a specific region (in this case, Poznan and several additional counties)^[source].. It also means that even in Poznań you can find croissants that do not have this certificate.

Also, we already know something about the original croissants, which are traditionally baked on St. Martin’s Day, or the 11th. November. Why exactly then? At the end of the 19th century, it was on November 11 that parish priest Rev. Jan Lewicki appealed to the faithful to do something for the poor, and one of the faithful (Jozef Melzer) in response baked many croissants, which were distributed to the needy.

In subsequent years, the number of baked croissants grew, because many residents joined the campaign and there was no shortage of those willing to eat (the poor got free, and the rich bought) ^[source]. Other sources say the story is significantly older and dates back to pagan times, when offerings, including a horn-shaped cake, were made to the gods in autumn ^[source]. Whatever the origin of this tradition, it must be admitted that croissants have already become a permanent fixture as a traditional delicacy, not only in Poznań and not only on the 11th. November.

At the Croissant Museum of Poznań you can learn all year round not only the secrets of baking these original St. Martin’s croissants, but also a lot about the history of the city.

Demonstration at the Poznan Croissant Museum

Although a museum in name, there is no walking between exhibitions and exhibits locked in display cases here. A visit to the Poznan museum is actually a participation in a show, in which the participants also take part.

After buying the tickets, the participants are let into the hall with rows for seating, and after a while the show begins ;) It is conducted by the charismatic: Horned Master and Uncle Bin. For the next 50 minutes, participants are guided through the ins and outs of baking the St. Martin’s croissant, interspersed with city history, local legends and trivia. And this is by no means a mere argument. The whole thing is conducted in a very attractive way, full of engagement, humor and interaction with the audience. Something that charmed us was that whether the show was viewed by seniors or toddlers, everyone was interested and smiling.

We wouldn’t want to go too much into the details of the show itself, because you simply have to experience it for yourself :)

It is worth adding at this point that once a day (and twice a day during the season) there is a show with goats. No, no… It’s not that the goats are in the room ;) Through the windows of the workshop room you can simply see the famous Poznań goats, and on top of that the show is enriched with a local legend.

Practical information

Who is the Croissant Museum for?

We would love to write that for everyone, but still no ;)

Although the place is great for families with children, we do not recommend the show with toddlers…. While an infant can still fall asleep and sleep through the whole thing, such a 1.5-year-old child will not want to sit still, and this will already disturb other participants. In our opinion, it is good for the child to be at least 3 years old.

Older children will wear chef’s hats and aprons during the show, and will be involved in preparing croissants.

Besides, we’ve written it above but we’ll emphasize it again – children, adults and the elderly alike will have a great time here.

Adaptation of the facility

People with limited mobility may have problems getting to the showroom. The shows are held on the second floor without an elevator.

Opening hours of the Croissant Museum in Poznan

The Croissant Museum is open daily, but shows are held every hour and a half and seats are purchased for specific shows.

The first show is at 11 a.m., and the last show is at 5 p.m.

The exact schedule is available here.

Ticket prices Poznan Croissant Museum

Ticket prices vary depending on whether you choose a traditional horn show or a combined horn show with goats (prices for the show with goats are listed in parentheses).

• Normal ticket – 35 PLN (39 PLN)
• Discounted ticket – 31 PLN (35 PLN)
• Family ticket (per person) – 28 zł (33 zł)
• Children under 3 years of age enter for 1 PLN.

With the Large Family Card, discounted tickets can be purchased for all family members.

Getting to the Croissant Museum

The museum is, of course, located in Poznan, just off the Old Market Square, the entrance is from Klasztorna Street. There is no dedicated parking for guests of the Museum on site, spaces must be sought in public parking spaces in the area (we recommend, however, to let go of the car entrance and walk :) ). A larger paid parking lot from which you can easily walk is the ZDM Chwaliszewo parking lot.

If you want to get there by public transportation, there are several options, and there are several stops within 400 meters: Great, Grobla and Small Garbary.

Exact address:
Poznan Croissant Museum (Rogalowe Muzeum Poznania)
Stary Rynek 41/2
61-772 Poznań

See also the Poznan Croissant Museumin the app for kids »

Accommodation in Poznan

Here are some suggestions for accommodation in Poznan. We stayed at the first facility on the list, but the others are also recommended and have very good reviews.

• Hotel Mercure Poznan Centrum
  Address: Ul. Roosevelta 20, Jeżyce, 60-829 Poznań
  Prices: from 300 PLN for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-mercure-poznan
• Ibis Poznan Centrum
  Address: Plac Andersa 1, Old Town, 61898 Poznań
  Prices: from 280 PLN for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-ibis-poznan
• Srodka Boutique Hotel
  Address: ul. Śródka 6, Nowe Miasto, 61-125 Poznań
  Prices: from 280 PLN for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-srodka-poznan
• City Solei Boutique Hotel
  Address: ul. Wenecjańska 10, Old Town, 61-101 Poznań
  Prices: from 405 PLN for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-city-solei-boutiqu
• Wozna 11 Old Town
  Address: Wozna 11, Old Town, 61-777 Poznań
  Prices: from 190 PLN for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-wozna-11
• B&B Hotel Poznan Old Town
  Address: 16 plac Wolności, Old Town, 61-738 Poznań
  Prices: from 244 PLN for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-bb-poznan
• Hotel Włoski Italia Boutique Old Town Poznan
  Address: Dolna Wilda 8, Wilda, 61-888 Poznań
  Prices: from 350 PLN for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-wloski
• Park Inn by Radisson Poznan
  Address: Szyperska 22, Old Town, 61-754 Poznań
  Prices: from 280 PLN for a double room
  Link: https://r4b.link/booking-park-inn-by-radisson-poznan

Our opinion about the Poznan Croissant Museum

We absolutely recommend it! We adults enjoyed it very much, 5-year-old Olive too! It was a very nice time, and very educational at the same time.

A great job is done by the employees, who are able to talk about the city and the production of St. Martin’s croissants in a fun and interesting way.

Other “living museums”

Did we interest you in such museums? See what other facilities of this type are in Poland:

• Living Gingerbread Museum in Torun
• Onion Museum in Lublin
• The Living Museum of Obwarzanka in Krakow (we haven’t been here yet)
• The Living Porcelain Museum in Ćmielów (we haven’t been here yet either)
• Museum of Hygiene and the History of Dirt in Bydgoszcz