Things to see and do Bydgoszcz

Bydgoszcz's oldest church is a remarkable example of Gothic architecture. Its interiors are exceptional and impressive. Its walls and ceilings are covered in vivid colors, polychromes painted between 1922 and 1925 by Henryk Jackowski, inspired by the modernist ideas of the Młoda Polska art movement. The combination of color, Gothic architecture and Baroque altars is breathtaking. A must-see.

The Old Town of Bydgoszcz, founded in the early 15th century, has retained its medieval elliptical shape despite the damage inflicted by the Swedish invasion in the 17th century. The pedestrian street ul. Długa is the town's main thoroughfare, offering a charming mix of stores and bars. In the 19th century, the city was renovated by eminent German architects, earning it the nickname "Kleine Berlin" (Little Berlin). Don't miss the covered market on ul. Magdzinskiego, which can be visited in an hour and a half.

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.

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!

At the confluence of the Brda River and the Bydgoszcz Canal, in the heart of the city, lies the tiny Ile aux Moulins. Built between 1773 and 1774, the Bydgoszcz Canal provides a waterway link to Berlin. The canal was built by some 6,000 German and Czech workers, a third of whom died of dysentery. Despite its sinister past, Windmill Island today is a haven of peace and greenery, preserving its red-brick buildings and old mills, which have been converted into museums (notably the Regional Museum).