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museumUNESCO World Heritage⭐ 4.8 (1876 reviews)

Pysanka Museum

The world's only museum dedicated to the art of Ukrainian pysanka painting

📍 Kolomyia, Kolomyia•🏛️ 2000

About This Site

The Pysanka Museum in Kolomyia is the world's only museum dedicated to pysanky, featuring a unique building shaped like a giant Easter egg and a collection of over 12,000 exhibits from Ukraine and 35 countries worldwide.

The Pysanka Museum in Kolomyia is a unique cultural institution of world significance. It is the world's only museum entirely dedicated to the art of pysanka painting - traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs. In September 2000, a unique building in the shape of a giant pysanka was constructed for the museum, which has become the calling card of Kolomyia and one of the most recognizable symbols of Ukrainian culture. The museum was created based on the pysanka collection of the Kolomyia Museum of Hutsul Folk Art. The museum's collection includes over 12,000 pysanky and decorative eggs from Ukraine and 35 countries worldwide, including pysanky, krashanky, dryapanky on chicken, goose and ostrich shells, as well as decorative eggs made from various materials. The oldest pysanka in the collection, painted with natural dyes on a goose egg, dates back over 500 years. The museum showcases the diversity of techniques, ornaments and symbolism of pysanky from different regions of Ukraine - from Polissia to Hutsulshchyna, from Podillia to Bukovyna. Each region has its unique motifs, colors and painting techniques. The museum regularly holds exhibitions of traditional and contemporary pysanka art, master classes on pysanka painting, scientific conferences and cultural events. In 2007, during the 10th International Hutsul Festival, the museum was recognized as a landmark of modern Ukraine.

Historical Significance

The museum's history began with the collection of the Kolomyia Museum of Hutsul Folk Art, which for many years collected and preserved pysanky from various regions of Ukraine and the world. In 1987, the Pysanka Museum officially opened in the premises of the Annunciation Church. An important stage was the construction of a new, unique building in the shape of a pysanka. In 2000, architects created a true masterpiece - a thirteen-meter structure in the form of a giant pysanka, decorated with traditional Hutsul ornaments. The building consists of a central egg-shaped part and auxiliary premises. The official opening of the new building took place on September 23, 2000, during the 10th International Hutsul Festival. This day became significant for Kolomyia and all of Ukraine. The museum quickly became not only a cultural center but also the main tourist attraction of the city. Over the years, the museum's collection has been constantly replenished with exhibits from different corners of the world. Today, pysanky from more than 35 countries are represented here, demonstrating the universality of the egg painting tradition in different cultures.

The Pysanka Museum has exceptional significance for preserving and promoting Ukrainian intangible cultural heritage. Pysanka painting is an ancient tradition passed down from generation to generation and carries deep symbolic meaning in Ukrainian culture. In 2000, UNESCO included Ukrainian pysanka painting in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, emphasizing the world significance of this art. The museum in Kolomyia plays a key role in preserving this tradition, documenting the diversity of regional styles and techniques. The museum is not only a repository of exhibits but also an active center for research, education and promotion of pysanka art. Scientific research is conducted here, exhibitions are organized, master classes for children and adults, international conferences. The museum's unique building has become a symbol of Kolomyia and one of the most photographed objects in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. It demonstrates a creative approach to museum architecture and attracts tourists from around the world.