Maria Leszczyńska. A Polish woman on the French throne
Who was Maria Leszczyńska? What was the fate of the daughter of the last owner of Leszno, of the Leszczyński family? What was the truth and what was the legend about her life? A new temporary exhibition tries to answer these questions.
The exhibition, with the help of objects owned by the District Museum in Leszno, the National Museum in Poznań, the Royal Castle in Warsaw – Museum, the District Museum in Toruń and the Polish Academy of Sciences Kórnik Library in Kórnik, tells the life story of Maria Leszczyńska.This younger daughter of the Polish King Stanisław Leszczyński became Queen of France, the wife of Louis XV, and was the longest reigning ruler on the French throne. Her reign lasted 43 years.
The exhibition presents portraits of Maria, her parents and her husband, as well as objects of artistic crafts related to the queen.Part of the exhibition is dedicated to the legend of Maria Leszczyńska. The ruler became a heroine of popular culture as early as the nineteenth century. This part shows graphics, publications and souvenirs about her life.
The exhibition, with the help of objects owned by the District Museum in Leszno, the National Museum in Poznań, the Royal Castle in Warsaw – Museum, the District Museum in Toruń and the Polish Academy of Sciences Kórnik Library in Kórnik, tells the life story of Maria Leszczyńska.This younger daughter of the Polish King Stanisław Leszczyński became Queen of France, the wife of Louis XV, and was the longest reigning ruler on the French throne. Her reign lasted 43 years.
The exhibition presents portraits of Maria, her parents and her husband, as well as objects of artistic crafts related to the queen.Part of the exhibition is dedicated to the legend of Maria Leszczyńska. The ruler became a heroine of popular culture as early as the nineteenth century. This part shows graphics, publications and souvenirs about her life.
Worth seeing
A special place in the exhibition is occupied by objects directly belonging to the Queen. One of them is the almsgiving, which is a bag for money distributed to the poor, decorated with the embroidered coat of arms of the ruler.
Aim
The aim of the exhibition is to popularize knowledge about the history of Maria Leszczyńska – an educated, eloquent, music-loving ruler who, while reigning in Versailles, did not forget about the poor and was called the "good queen".
Information
Place: District Museum in Leszno, 31 G. Narutowicza Street
Duration: November 18, 2025 – February 28, 2026
Exhibition curator: Małgorzata Gniazdowska
Contact: malgorzata.gniazdowska@muzeum.leszno.pl
Duration: November 18, 2025 – February 28, 2026
Exhibition curator: Małgorzata Gniazdowska
Contact: malgorzata.gniazdowska@muzeum.leszno.pl
Accompanying events
- 18 November (Tuesday), 5:00 p.m. - opening of the exhibition
- 30 November (Sunday), 3:00 p.m. – curatorial tour of the exhibition by art historian Małgorzata Gniazdowska
- "Maria Leszczyńska – Cinderella at the French Court?" - museum lesson, details in the Education and Marketing Department: 65 529 61 40 ext. 3.