Medieval Execution Pole

Located in the Polish city of Poznań, about 180 miles west of Warsaw, the Museum of the History of Poznań (or The Town Hall Poznań Museum) traces the city’s history from the 10th century until today. The museum is housed in the city’s historic town hall, which can trace its earliest origins to the early 14th century.

Some of the most important objects housed in the museum are 13th-century Limoges pastoral porcelain, a 1651 goblet that belonged to the shoemakers’ guild, and a 1575 table clock with the Poznań emblem. Additional exhibits feature ancient coins, city documents, important portraits, furniture, and more.

One of the museum’s rooms is dedicated to medieval criminal justice. Here visitors can view the city’s pillory and torture and execution pole, which was used to hang criminals. There are also descriptions of how trials and punishments were carried out in medieval Poznań.