Who are the Wilamowians
Wilamowians, as we know, are an ethnic group that inhabits the town of Wilamowice, located near the wonderful city of Bielsko-Biała. They speak their own language and, above all, can boast of having their own traditional folk costume.
Their own traditions
In addition to the aforementioned aspects, the Wilamowians have their own traditions, as well as identity and culture. Customarily, they are called “Wilamowiczanie” or people of the Wilamowian culture. As we can see, they form a distinct ethnic group.
Exhibition theme
The theme of the exhibition in the aforementioned museum, entitled “The Wilamowians and Their Neighbors“, is the history and culture of these people. The first part of this exhibition, entitled is “At the Dawn of History, Development, and Period of Prosperity“. This part of the exhibition is devoted to information regarding the origin of the Wilamowians and the realities of their lives just before World War II. Here you can find a kind of staged old market square, a model of a backyard well, and a reconstruction of a fragment of a “beautiful room” from a traditional wooden house. The second part of the aforementioned exhibition is called “The Wealth of Costume, the Splendor of Folklore“. As we know, it presents various forms of the Wilamowian costume. The third part of this exhibition is named “Difficult Times“, and as we know, it covers three rooms where the issues of Polish and German narratives of the society at that time during World War II are discussed. This exhibition is closed by the fourth part entitled “Revitalization“, which is devoted to the efforts made since the late 20th century towards the revival of the language and other elements of Wilamowian culture.
What we know about the museum building
The building of the aforementioned museum is located in the northern part of the city. It has two floors, with a total area of approximately 800 square meters. It was designed by a team of architects led by Piotr Puszczewicz. In its appearance, the building fits into the current of classical architecture. Its block resembles the old homesteads of wealthy Wilamowian farmers. The rectangular corner tower of this building refers to the work of the local architect Józef Nikel, who lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The brick finish of the ground floor facade evokes associations with Flanders (a historical and geographical region located in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands) from where, according to popular legend, the Wilamowians were supposed to have come. On the other hand, the building refers to the appearance of the old brickyard that once operated in this place.
