The Museum of Soap and History of Dirt in Bydgoszcz is probably the most interesting museum in Poland and the only one of its kind in Europe.
Probably the most interesting museum in Poland and the only one of its kind in Europe, i.e. the Museum of Soap and History of Dirt was established in September 2012 after nearly two years of searching for exhibits and a suitable place. The creators and owners are Daria and Adam, enthusiasts of travel and history in love with Bydgoszcz. Daria runs a company dealing with tourism, while Adam produced natural soaps from goat's milk at home. An accidental meeting resulted in a crazy soap business idea.
The idea of the Museum was born out of the need to show tourists and residents the extraordinary history of human hygiene and soap, which changed the fate of the world.
From the beginning, the most important thing was to convey soap knowledge in an interesting way. Therefore, a visit to the Museum always starts with workshops, during which participants create their own commemorative soaps. They choose the colour, smell, as well as the shape and accessories, so that after the visit they can pick up a ready-made souvenir. The exhibition in the museum halls is still growing.
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Initially, in the cellars and apartments, the owners bought and received exhibits. In order to finance this unique undertaking, they first created the Mobile Soap Workshop, which, while driving around schools in the whole region, earned money for the museum.
Evidence of success
The Museum was nominated by the National Geographic in the poll "7 New Wonders of Poland". In 2015 was placed at the top of the list of the most interesting museums in Poland. Also in 2015 joined the TeH2O Water, Industry and Craft Trail. In 2017 the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Tourist Organization awarded the "Certificate of the Best Tourist Product of the Region", and the Certificate of the Polish Tourist Organization. In 2018 won second place in the poll "Company and Businessman of the year 2017".
Potential for learning or transfer
The main goal of the museum is to show the history through curiosities, funny anecdotes and above all through touch, smell and then sight. In the living Soap and Soap History Museum you can touch almost all exhibits. You can also try to wash in the old ways, sit on the "throne", make your own with the washing machine Frania (the most popular washing machine in Poland during the communist era), take part in soap workshops and become an apprentice, and take the handmade soap with you as an eternal memento. Additionally, in the Soap Store you can buy unique goods from the Bydgoszcz Soap Factory.
Tags: Business, Competitiveness, Creative, Cultural, Good practice, Heritage, Learning, Leisure, Local, Private sector, SME, Tourism
