Przystanek Historia, Warszawa

Przystanek Historia is the Institute of National Remembrance’s Warsaw cultural, educational, and exhibition venue. It presents modern Polish history through discussions, exhibitions, workshops, films, games, and educational walks. Named for Janusz Kurtyka, it also inspired a wider network of similarly focused venues in Poland and abroad.

Przystanek Historia is the Institute of National Remembrance’s cultural, educational, and exhibition venue. Here, modern Polish history and the Institute’s own work become subjects for public learning. The Warsaw centre opened in two thousand seven as an exhibition and conference space on Marszałkowska Street, hosting historical book events, debates, exhibitions, multimedia presentations, and meetings with veterans and witnesses to history.

It adopted the name Przystanek Historia in two thousand nine. After Janusz Kurtyka died in the Smolensk air disaster, the centre received his name in two thousand ten. Its programme reaches teachers, pupils, students, and anyone drawn to Poland’s recent past, through workshops, talks, films, concerts, performances, urban games, and educational walks.

A monthly game club also began here, using board games to explore modern Polish history. This Warsaw venue became the model for a wider Przystanek Historia network across Poland and abroad. When the pandemic disrupted gatherings, its discussions, workshops, lectures, and book events moved online, keeping the conversation about history in motion.