Attraction in Poznań

Enigma Cipher Centre

An interactive museum in central Poznań telling the story of the three Polish mathematicians who first broke the German Enigma cipher, shown alongside a genuine Enigma machine and hands-on cryptography displays.

Reviewed and updated July 2026

The Enigma Cipher Centre (Centrum Szyfrów Enigma) is an interactive multimedia museum in central Poznań dedicated to Marian Rejewski, Henryk Zygalski and Jerzy Różycki, the three Polish mathematicians who first broke the German Enigma cipher. People come to see a genuine Enigma machine up close and to follow, through hands-on displays, how a piece of 1930s mathematics done in this city helped shape the outcome of the Second World War.

What you will see inside

The exhibition pairs original artefacts with interactive stations that trace cryptography from antiquity through to the digital age. The centrepiece is a real Enigma machine, and around it the displays explain how the device scrambled messages and how the Polish team worked out its wiring using pure mathematics rather than captured hardware. Hands-on multimedia lets you try encoding and decoding for yourself, which makes the abstract idea of a cipher easier to grasp for both adults and older children.

Why these three mathematicians matter

Marian Rejewski, Henryk Zygalski and Jerzy Różycki all studied at Poznań's university, and it was here that their codebreaking work began. In 1939 Poland shared its methods and results with France and Britain, and that handover was crucial to the later Allied effort at Bletchley Park. The museum makes the case, clearly and without overstatement, that the breaking of Enigma started in Poznań well before the war and that the British achievement built on Polish foundations.

Who it suits and how to visit

The centre works well for anyone interested in wartime history, mathematics, puzzles or spy stories, and the interactive format keeps families and school-age visitors engaged. It opened in September 2021 and quickly became one of Poznań's most popular modern attractions, so it can be busy at weekends. For current opening hours, ticket prices and any timed entry, check the official website before you go.

Fitting it into a Poznań trip

The museum sits in the Collegium Martineum building on Św. Marcin Street, a short walk from the Old Town, so it slots easily into a day in the centre. You can pair it with the main square and the daily noon display of the mechanical goats on the Old Town Hall, then return to the codebreaking theme afterwards. See our Poznań guide for more on what to combine it with nearby.

Good to know

The museum is in the Collegium Martineum building on Św. Marcin Street, a short walk from Poznań's Old Town, and opening hours and ticket prices are best confirmed on the official website before visiting.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The exhibition includes a genuine Enigma machine alongside original artefacts and interactive displays that explain how the cipher worked and how it was broken.

Marian Rejewski, Henryk Zygalski and Jerzy Różycki, three mathematicians who studied at Poznań's university and first broke the German Enigma cipher in the 1930s. Their work was shared with France and Britain in 1939.

Yes. The hands-on multimedia stations, where you can try encoding and decoding, make it engaging for older children and families, not just history and maths enthusiasts.

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