Things to see and do Poland

Located on the banks of the River Brda in the Old Town, these grain silos are a symbol of the city and its commercial past. Due to their serious deterioration, renovation work began in 1993, and was finally completed in 2006. Today, they house the History Department, the Graphic Art Department, the Ethnography Department and the Music Department, as well as a fine regional museum dedicated to the city and its history.

In this large enclosure in the middle of a nature park, you can see European bison, which in Pomerania disappeared in the 14th century. In 1976, four bison were brought here from Podlaskie, where they still live in the wild, in order to restore the bison population on the island of Wolin. Since then, all the bison present in Wolin were born here (about a dozen). There are also sick deer, wild boar and eagles that are treated by the reserve staff and then released. Access is by foot only (about 1,300 m).

Brochures on the castle in several languages, english-speaking professional welcome.

Tours for individuals or groups of the castles and town of Malbork, the Żuławy region of Poméranie and the. region. In French.

This imposing gateway, obviously remodeled to meet today's needs, was built in brick in the second half of the ^14th century. The gate was part of the city's defensive wall and has five storeys and a four-sided mosaic roof. In front of the building stands a metal model of pre-war Marienburg. The tower is now occupied by a jeweller's shop, a role quite different from the original one, but one that breathes a little life into a medieval ruin. The products sold make nice, inexpensive gifts.

The regional museum occupies the halls of a former monastery and is mainly concerned with contemporary painting. The museum has several branches, including the archaeological and ethnological section (ul. Lubelska 56), which exhibits various objects from the Stone Age onwards and houses temporary exhibitions. The historical section (ul. Lubelska 57) is devoted to the history of the city between 1392 and 1944. The Chapel of St. Nicholas (ul. Św. Mikołaja 4) exhibits religious art from the 18th to the 20th century. Classical music concerts are held here.

Located south of the city, beyond the Szczebrzeska Gate, in a wooded park, this 19th-century circular fort was part of the fortifications and served as a powder magazine. The red-brick fort became the site of mass executions by the Nazis during World War II. About 8,000 people were murdered. Today on the site, a cemetery honors the martyrs, and a museum recalls this painful period in the history of the city.

In the thirteenth century, Princess Kinga had built a convent for the order of the Clarisses, which she became the first ablose to the death of her husband, Boleslas le Pudique. The convent, which represents the city's main attraction, is still dedicated to its founder. In its interior, the church of the Trinity (Kościół Sw. Trójcy), of Gothic style, keeps many relics concerning the life of the princess. It is also rich in baroque paintings.

Nestled within Hel's oldest Gothic church, the museum is housed in a magnificent red-brick structure. Its exhibition traces the evolution of the links between man, fishing and the sea. Visitors explore ancient artifacts, period photographs and illustrations depicting regional history. Outside, a small open-air museum displays a variety of fishing boats. The observation tower offers a breathtaking view of the bay and town.

english translations are all that's missing.

It was rebuilt between 1567 and 1572 in Renaissance style on a ^12th-century Gothic base. In 1595, the tower was added, followed by a clock. On its southwest façade, you can still see the pręt chełminski, 4.35 m long, the town's unit of measurement from the Middle Ages until the ^19th century. Today, it houses a small regional museum(Muzeum Ziemi Chelminskiej). On display are a jumble of ancient crafts and modern art. The exhibition itself is modest, but the rooms are superb, so the museum is a good pretext.

This rare surviving example of authentic city architecture is a former hospital of the Teutonic Order. It was saved from collapse thanks to the efforts of the local authorities, and the support of a German foundation which financed the work. Dating from the late ^13th century, in the pure tradition of medieval religious orders, it was a hospital for the sick and elderly. Today, it houses a cultural center.

The museum is housed in the former Gestapo prison, the "house under the clock". The exhibition is dedicated to the martyrdom of the Poles during the Second World War. It's a small exhibition, partly financed by the European Union. The building was the scene of the cruellest tortures. The cell windows were barricaded and covered with earth, and despite the thick walls, the screams of the tortured reached the cells. It is estimated that two hundred people were murdered in the two years of operation.

One of the most impressive monuments in Chełmno's landscape, these authentic ramparts stretch for just over 2 km (2,270 m) and are a pleasant walk with great views of the city and its surroundings. The fortifications were built in the 13th-14th centuries to replace the old wooden walls. Originally with 25 towers, 17 of them are still perfectly preserved. Finish by walking down the hill to the edge of the Vistula River. The main entrance to the city was through Grudziądzka Street.

Chełmińska Informacja Turystyczna is the tourist office for the town of Chełmno. The office offers guided tours of the city in Polish and other languages, with prices varying according to the length of the visit. It also provides information on cultural events, restaurants, accommodation, as well as outdoor activities such as horse riding, fishing, sailing, kayaking, cycling and hiking trails.

It marks the entrance to the old town. It dates from the 14th century. Around 1620, a Dutch Renaissance chapel with a beautiful pietà was added to it. The gate originally existed as a tower with adjacent defensive walls on both sides (in its side walls you can still see traces of passages to guard porches). There was once a municipal prison here. In 1694, a Renaissance chapel was built, thanks to which the gate avoided demolition in the 19th century.

Not far from the Mill Island, at the Jerzy Sulima-Kamiński Bridge, you can admire the famous sculpture The Man Crossing the River. This work by Jerzy Kędziora was installed in 2004 to commemorate Poland's entry into the European Union. The idea to place the sculpture on the Brda River came from the vice president of Bydgoszcz, Maciej Obremski. The sculpture shows a young man with a loincloth walking on a rope stretched over the river. This sculpture is far from unique in the Polish cityscape, and is a testament to the popularity of its author, who has managed to get himself commissioned in most of Poland's historic centers, for example Lublin and Krakow. In one hand he holds a pole, in the other an arrow, and on his shoulder he wears Roman sandals, the same as The Archer (Łuczniczki) of Bydgoszcz, another iconic sculpture of the city. Under the rope is a swallow. The figure is made of resin composites with brass dust. The height of the figure is 2.2 m, the weight is 50 kg. The pole is 6 m long and the rope is over 100 m long. The figure maintains its vertical position because the center of gravity of the figure is under the rope from which it is suspended. Thus the sculpture maintains its balance.

The young man represents the admirer of the beautiful archer, who carries the arrow released by the bronze beauty across the river.

Bydgoszcz has a tourist office called the Bydgoszcz Information Center. Visitors can obtain information on the city's and the region's tourist attractions, upcoming events and available accommodation. Bydgoszcz offers many tourist attractions, such as the Wyspa Młyńska or the Katedra Bydgoska. Visitors can also enjoy the city's beautiful architecture and museums.

Located on the surprising Windmill Island, this atypical museum houses the world's largest collection of contemporary Polish art, with a large section also dedicated to modern art. All the greatest Polish artists are represented: from Witkiewicz to Kantor, from Hasior to Nowosielski. It is part of the Leon Wyczółkowski district museum complex. An essential stopover when visiting the museums on Windmill Island, we recommend it!

Located on the second floor of the Cloth Hall, this museum, a branch of the National Museum, boasts a fine collection of ^19th-century Polish paintings, including works by Jan Matejko, the national Romantic painter, and Piotr Michałowski, the great painter of horses and riders. There are also paintings by Malczewski, Gierymski, Witkacy and Chełmoński, representing the realist and impressionist currents. A café is located on the panoramic terrace.

The Piast Castle is originally a 13th century Gothic construction that was later remodeled in Renaissance style in the 16th century, and then transformed into Neoclassical style in the 19th century. These styles are mixed, cohabiting as well as possible. In the inner courtyard, you can visit the remains of the 13th century Romanesque chapel (for visits, contact the Copper Museum). The two towers of the castle have recently been restored and are open to the public.

Underground tunnels dug in the chalky rock, spread over five levels and tens of kilometers. Unique in the world, this labyrinth comes from an old chalk mine, whose exploitation started at the beginning of the 13th century and continued for hundreds of years. Forgotten until the collapse of a road in 1960, the labyrinth was soon opened to the public. During the visit, geological, archaeological and historical exhibitions follow one another.

Located north of the Rynek, it has been modified over the ages, losing its Gothic style to become a graceful blend of period styles that is well displayed since its recent renovation with two twin bell towers that tower over the city. It is a monument very dear to the people of the city, who associate it closely with their history, and a place of faith and discreet pilgrimage for its Virgin. It is the burial place of the last of the Piast of Opole, John II the Good.

Located in the center of the Rynek, this building built in the 1860s is a surprisingly central European replica of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. The whole thing is quite successful, even if it lacks some of the graceful form of its inspiration. It is certainly worth a look, as it has been spared by the years and by the Second World War. The disaster of July 15, 1934, when the tower of the city hall collapsed, has since been repaired after intensive work (it turned out that the foundations were affected).

The building itself is a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture, so its museum is a good excuse to visit the place. The beautiful façade is decorated with busts of members of the Piast family who lived there until the end of the dynasty in 1675. The exhibition presents the history of the region and of the Silesian Piast dynasties, as well as a beautiful display of Silesian sculptures and paintings, dating from the 15th to the 18th century.

The museum was founded in 1922 on the initiative of the Society for the Preservation of the Regional Tradition of the City of Zielona Góra. Since then, its aim has been to present the past and the specificity of the city. Today, north of the city center, this museum has a collection of contemporary works, and presents especially the wine history of the region. Finally, it houses the most important exhibition of works by the famous contemporary artist Marian Kruczek (1927-1983).

The ruins of this castle, the largest and most beautiful in the Cracovian Jura, stand 2 kilometers from Ogrodzieniec, in Podzamcze, on the road to Pilica. Built in the ^14th century on the highest hill in the region, it was remodeled in the ^16th century in Renaissance style. Its purpose was to protect southern Poland from Czech and Tatar attacks. Ransacked and pillaged following the Swedish invasion, it was abandoned in 1810.

At the entrance, on the left, are the former stables. In front of the same gates, a small fragment of the moat remains. The château's courtyard is impressive for its size, its protective wall and the huge white boulders built into the wall. A path leads to the ruins, which you enter through a well-preserved gate. You enter the château via a tower that opens onto the inner courtyard. This leads to the kitchen with its well, the bedrooms and toilets, the refectory... The château also contains basements and a tower from which you can admire the surrounding area. Its construction is perfectly integrated into the natural rock. During the high season, the castle hosts knights' shows every Sunday.

The fortress (2 km from the castle) Built of wood, it lets you imagine what a bastion looked like under the Piasts dynasty. It also offers a fine view of the castle. Not an essential visit, but it does offer another view of ^13th-century defense systems.

Opposite the Copper Museum, this baroque church replaced a gothic building. The interior, quite well decorated, is worth a visit. In 1677-1678, the remaining presbytery of the Gothic church was rebuilt to become the mausoleum of the Silesian Piast, which can still be visited. The interior of the mausoleum has the shape of a rotunda, the dome is decorated with a painting of Polish rulers: one of the most valuable Baroque monuments in Lower Silesia.

The museum is housed in a former Gothic church (with stained glass windows from Krakow, characteristic). There is a model of the famous battle, as well as various objects associated with it, with a very pleasant modern museography that recreates the issues and the disaster experienced by the Poles. The church was built on the exact spot where the body of Duke Henry the Pious, commander of the Silesian troops, crushed by the Tatars, lay.

This church is a part of the old Benedictine abbey that used to stand on this spot. It was built in the 18th century in baroque style, and its interior is beautifully decorated with frescoes. The place is normally closed outside of services, but the guard of the Battle of Legnica Museum, located right across the street, has the keys and can let you in if you ask nicely and promise to respect this religious sanctuary.

This imposing brick church, south of the Rynek, was built between 1370 and 1427, but its towers were rebuilt after the Second World War (hence the difference in the color of the bricks). It is one of the largest Gothic churches in the Silesian region. The interior is covered with white stucco, to erase the traces of the fire that destroyed everything in 1945. During the centuries when the region was Protestant, it was transformed into a temple.

Located south of the Rynek, this church dates from the first half of the 14th century, but has been modified several times and was even an evangelical temple. The beautiful Gothic St. Anne's Chapel houses the mausoleum of the Opols, whose family tree is painted on the wall, who ruled the ducal capital and its principality from the 12th to the mid-16th century. Fourteen princes and duchesses of this ruling family found eternal rest here.

This 43 m high tower is the only survivor of the Piast castle. In the 20th century, the authorities of the Opole district considered the castle to be of little use and expensive to maintain and decided to demolish it. Thanks to the strong opposition of the Polish bourgeoisie in Opole and the activists of the Union of Poles in Germany, only the castle tower could be saved. Today it is surrounded by any kind of buildings, but from its top it offers a view over the city.

On the top of the castle hill (Góra Zamkowa) stands this graceful 17th century basilica. It acquired its Baroque style during its reconstruction in 1735-1756.

The buildings surrounding it are part of a religious complex, formerly a bishop's palace (built in 1771) and monastery (1640-1649). At the foot of the basilica, on the right, you will see the ruins of a medieval fortress from the 10th century, which disappeared a long time ago.

The National Museum of Warsaw is one of the largest in Poland. It boasts a rich collection of ancient art, including Egyptian, Greek and Roman art, as well as a gallery of Polish and foreign paintings. Some of the paintings on display are from Adolf Hitler's private collection. The Oriental Art Department includes the country's largest collection of Chinese art. There is also a gallery dedicated to Polish and European medieval art.

Originally a small wooden fortress that tradition associates with a valiant Polish crusader knight, its stone version dates back to a project by Casimir the Great (again and again) in the 13th century. Seat of several conflicts, it took part in many fights before falling into ruin after a fire in 1790. Still undergoing rehabilitation and open to the public since 1996, the castle is open to the public. The visit is worthwhile especially for the magnificent panorama which offers a view on the lake below as well as on the Tatras and the Pieniny.

Built between 1610 and 1638 in the Lublin Renaissance style, it belonged to the Franciscans. After the departure of the Franciscans from the monastery to which it belonged in 1783, military barracks were set up in the adjacent buildings and in 1812 a hospital was built. In 1888, the church was transformed into an Orthodox church and was run by nuns before being returned to Catholic hands. Today the church has a beautiful and imposing interior. The decorations are numerous, especially the frescoes.

The present Gothic building was built by King Casimir the Great in 1360. The exterior facade has retained its authenticity, but the interior has been redone several times. The interior is decorated with rococo altars, in black or pink marble. On the walls of the nave, paintings represent the destruction of the city by the Tatars and the Swedes. Others, grouped under the name of Kalendarium predicts in twelve parts the way in which everyone will die.

Nicknamed the "Red Granary", this former medieval residence belonged to the Esken family in the ^mid-15th century. At the end of the 16th century, it was modified and transformed into a Renaissance palace. At the end of the ^19th century, it became a granary, then a reserve for the Prussian army. Today, it houses the history and archaeology department of the Regional Museum. There's an exhibition on life in Toruń from prehistory to the Middle Ages, and a display tracing the various stages of German rule in the ^19th century.

This is one of Toruń's most beautiful houses, where, in the late ^15th century, Filippo Buonacorsi, tutor to the sons of King Casimir Jagiellon, lived. When it was restored in the ^17th century, it lost its original Gothic appearance and became the Baroque edifice with a richly decorated facade featuring floral motifs that we see today. Today, it houses a fine little museum of Far Eastern art, whose collections include Japanese prints and ceramics, Chinese porcelain and paintings.

The palace was built in the years 1736-1742 and features a lavish French-style park, perfectly preserved baroque interiors and a beautiful rococo façade. The museum also has a fantastic collection of socialist realism paintings and sculptures, with representations of the great figures of world socialism, led by Stalin and Mao Zedong, but also scenes of everyday life under communism. It is an amusing contrast that is played out in the best preserved noble residence in Poland.

Built in 1253 on the banks of the Vistula, it was the seat of the Teutonic authority. Today, only the ruins remain, spread over a rather suggestive green space, enclosed by the old ramparts. However, the pits and the lower part of the castle are still preserved. They are located at the base of a large octagonal tower, which gives a good idea of the imposing old brick fortress. The best preserved part is the Gdanisko tower, which was originally used as a latrine and is accessed through a suspended gallery. Sometimes cultural events are held in the cellars, which are still in good condition. From the system of walls that surrounded the city in the Middle Ages, fragments remain along the Vistula River. This system included nine gates, of which only three remain. The Monastery Gate (Brama Klasztorna), built in the 15th century in the Gothic style, takes its name from the Benedictine monastery that was located here. The Bridge Gate (Brama Mostowa) was built in 1432. Previously, there was a bridge in front of the gate that connected the two banks of the Vistula, hence the name. The Sailors' Tower was built in the mid-14th century of red brick, which is typical of Toruń architecture. It is located at the end of Żeglarska Street, which leads to the banks of the Vistula River, where before there was the port. In addition to its defensive role, it was in this tower that Polish kings visiting the city were welcomed.

This place of worship built at the beginning of the seventeenth century has known degradations and humiliations common to the period of the Second World War and the Nazi hatred. The synagogue was even burned before the conflict ended and is now a shadow of its former self. The local authorities made the effort to restore and renovate it, partially, during the 1960s. Although it is not open to Jewish worship, the community having disappeared like everywhere else, it now houses the city's cultural center.

Wilanów, 6 km south of Łazienki, shines like a jewel on the Royal Way. This charming ^17th-century castle, surrounded by a romantic park, was the summer retreat of kings and noblemen. The park, with its Baroque Italian and English gardens, is captivating in its detail. The ^18th-century orangery hosts concerts and exhibitions. The palace is a Baroque masterpiece housing the royal apartments and a collection of portraits. Also worth a visit are the neo-Gothic mausoleum and the church of Sainte-Anne.

This imposing statue was installed in 1853, almost two centuries ago. This work of art cast in bronze was made by the German sculptor Fryderyk Abraham Tieck. On its pedestal is the Latin inscription "Nicolaus Copernicus of Toruń stopped the Sun and the Sky and set the Earth in motion," a famous phrase that reminds us of the scholar's contributions to modern science. Today the statue is the classic meeting place of the people of Toruń.

Erected in the ^14th century, the Penchée tower takes its name from its almost 1.50 m inclination, visible to the naked eye. Built in the ^14th century, it was originally used as a defensive wall for the town. In the ^18th century, it lost this function and became a women's dungeon. In the ^19th century, it was used as a forge and apartments for gunsmiths. Its subsidence is due to the weight of its weight on the sandy soil, although some see it as divine punishment inflicted on the city of Copernicus, the astronomer with heretical theories.

Installed in one of the three old gas tanks from 1860-1890, built in the city center, it opened its doors on February 18, 1994, for the 521st anniversary of Copernicus' birth. It can accommodate 150 people. Under a dome of 15 meters in diameter are projected documentary films on the universe and astronomy. It has a brand new interactive installation, the Mars Base, which is very modern and fun to learn about the challenges of space colonization, but is for now only in Polish.

A gourmet journey through a ^16th-century gingerbread(pierniki) production workshop. After unveiling the secrets and history of gingerbread, the MUSEUM's master pastry chefs will help you make your own gingerbread, which you'll take home after baking in the MUSEUM's own oven, according to your preferred mold. An unmissable visit to the gingerbread capital, and a must for those traveling with children. The MUSEUM regularly organizes workshops in English, so we recommend you make a reservation by e-mail.

This vast building in Flemish Renaissance style is located between Długa and Długi Targ streets. Originally built in the ^14th century in Gothic style, it was gradually transformed, particularly after the fire of October 1556, into a unique construction. Its tower is topped by a long golden spire with a statue of King Sigismund II Augustus. Completely destroyed in 1945, it now houses the main part of the city's Historical Museum. Here, in superb interiors designed by leading Polish and Flemish artists, you'll find an exhibition on the fascinating history of this thousand-year-old city. Its ceremonial halls are especially worth a visit for their frescoes. Notably, in an oval in the center of the ceiling of the great Council Chamber (Wielka Sala Rady), you can admire the superb fresco of Gdańsk's Apotheosis (1608). Hidden during the war, it depicts the city of Gdańsk atop a monumental triumphal arch. The Creator's right hand grasps the spire of the city hall tower, to symbolize the divine presence, embodied on earth by the city council. The headwaters of the Vistula appear alongside the Tatras, Krakow's Wawel Castle and the fortress of Wisłoujście on the Baltic. Below, the river bathes the Long Market street where, in front of the Artus courtyard are gathered members of the various communities that once made up the city. In summer, you can climb to the top of the tower.

Housed in a castle dating back to the ^16th century, it exhibits both ancient and more recent objects significant to the society and art of this region. Among the exhibits are tin sarcophagi from the Dukes of Pomerania, and Poland's largest collection of works by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, known as Witkacy. Not far from the museum, you'll discover the Mill, now an annex, with its two permanent exhibitions on Pomeranian culture. The White Granary also houses other museum exhibitions.