The 30th edition of the Archaeological Festival in Biskupin
When Walenty Szwajcer discovered the settlement in Biskupin in 1933, he did not expect it to become the most popular place of its kind in Poland. Today, several hundred thousand tourists a year walk the paths of the archaeological reserve, taking advantage of the rich calendar of events. This Saturday (13 September) will see the start of the 30th anniversary edition of the Archaeological Festival organised by the Biskupin Museum. The programme includes lectures, demonstrations of combat and ancient crafts, and concerts.
This year’s festival is dedicated to art – from the Stone Age to the early Middle Ages. Visitors will be able to learn what the oldest cave paintings looked like, how pottery was made and decorated in the past, where jewellery came from, and what was considered fashionable in different eras. Guests will be able to visit the Academy of Fine Arts zone with creative activities, including painting, sculpture and graphic arts, as well as the opportunity to obtain a special diploma.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy permanent and temporary exhibitions, demonstrations of ancient crafts and workshops. The festival will last until 17 September.
The Archaeological Museum in Biskupin is a cultural institution run by the Marshal’s Office. It is one of the largest archaeological reserves in Europe (covering an area of almost 40 hectares). Its grounds contain rich traces of settlement from the Stone Age to the early Middle Ages, including the exceptionally well-preserved remains of a defensive settlement from the transition between the Bronze and Iron Ages. With the support of the regional government, the reserve is gradually implementing projects to reconstruct and stylise further buildings.
A new pavilion will be built at the Archaeological Museum in Biskupin. The competition for the design of the new building, organised by the museum, was won by the PROLOG studio from Wrocław. The investment will start in 2025. The budget for the preparation of the construction design is PLN 2.8 million. The construction of the building itself is expected to cost PLN 40 million.
There will also be lectures by academics from three academic centres – the University of Warsaw, the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.
As usual, the programme will include concerts and combat demonstrations. This year, ancient gladiators, Roman legionnaires and early medieval warriors will showcase their skills, and Kapela ze Wsi Warszawa, Żniwa, Huskarl, Lity Taler and Ażdaja will perform on stage.
Beata Krzemińska
Press Officer of the Marshal’s Office
10 September 2025