Kashubian Ethnographic Park in Wdzydze

The Kashubian Ethnographic Park in Wdzydze (Kaszubski Park Etnograficzny) is an open-air museum at ul. Gulgowskich 1 in Wdzydze Kiszewskie, on the shore of Lake Wdzydze in the Kashubia area of Poland's Pomeranian region. It was founded in 1906 by Teodora and Izydor Gulgowski and is usually described as the oldest open-air museum in Poland. The park collects and shows the architecture and crafts of Kashubia, bringing together relocated wooden farmhouses, a windmill, a church, a school and other buildings from villages across the region, set out in groups that resemble Kashubian settlements among fields, orchards and trees. Visitors walk along paths through the sectors of the park and can enter many of the buildings, where interiors are furnished with period furniture, tools, textiles and household items. The exhibits include the colourful Kashubian embroidery and painted furniture, the pottery and the folk art for which the region is known, and in summer, craft demonstrations and events present traditional skills such as weaving, pottery and blacksmithing. The wooden church and the windmill are favourite photograph subjects, and the lakeside setting adds to the atmosphere. The park is large and spread over several hectares, so a visit typically takes two to three hours, and more for those who stop at demonstrations. Tickets cost about 25 PLN for adults and about 15 PLN reduced, and the park typically opens from 9AM to 5PM in summer, with limited hours outside the season; the current timetable should be checked. Weekday mornings are the best time, when the park is peaceful and the light is good, while weekends and school holidays in July and August bring families and groups. The park is reached by regional bus from Kościerzyna, about 15 km away, or by car. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes for the unpaved paths. A cafe on site serves regional food, and the lake nearby offers a place to rest after the walk.