Karol Szymanowski Museum at Villa “Atma”, A branch of the National Museum in Kraków
 Villa Atma in Zakopane is home to the world's only biographical museum dedicated to Karol Szymanowski (1882–1937). Considered the greatest Polish composer after Frédéric Chopin, Szymanowski spent much of his life in Zakopane and settled here permanently in his later years, living in a villa on Kasprusie Street.
 
The idea of creating a museum dedicated to Szymanowski at Atma was first proposed in 1937 by composer Michał Kondracki. After World War II, efforts continued under the leadership of Szymanowski’s niece, Krystyna Dąbrowska. In 1967, music critic Zdzisław Sierpiński renewed public interest in the project, and soon afterward the renowned writer and music critic Jerzy Waldorff established a civic committee dedicated to purchasing and restoring the villa.
 
In 1974, the building was transferred to the National Museum in Kraków, and on March 6, 1976, it opened to the public. The ground floor exhibition presents the life and work of the composer, his connections with the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane, and includes many personal belongings donated by Krystyna Dąbrowska.
 Villa Atma was built after 1890 as a typical guesthouse, one of many erected in Zakopane at the turn of the 20th century for summer visitors. The name “Atma”, given by its original owner Józef Kaspruś-Stoch, comes from Sanskrit and means “soul.” The building is an excellent example of the Zakopane Style, introduced by Stanisław Witkiewicz.
 The museum exhibition presents key aspects of Szymanowski’s life and artistic achievements, highlighting his fascination with Podhale folklore and Zakopane. Visitors can see personal memorabilia and a reconstruction of the composer’s study.
 Between 2011 and 2013, the museum underwent a comprehensive renovation. Thanks to European Union funding and support from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the building received modern installations, accessibility improvements for visitors with disabilities, and enhanced conservation of its historic fabric.
 
The renovated interiors now include multimedia displays presenting the composer's biography, the history of Villa Atma, and the cultural atmosphere of the era in which Karol Szymanowski lived and worked.
 
Opening Hours
 Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
 
Last admission is 20 minutes before closing time.
The ticket office, museum shop, and cloakroom remain open until the museum closes.
 
Contact
 
📍 Kasprusie 19, 34-500 Zakopane
📞 +48 18 202 00 40
📧 atma@mnk.pl
🌐 www.mnk.pl/oddzial/muzeum-karola-szymanowskiego