Poland

Włocławek or Wloclawek in central Poland and Europe has famous glass bowl - faiance many historical moments, museums, nature parks and clubs. Let's read information for tourists and visit Włocławek! From here one can make a trip to Warsaw, Gdańsk - Gdansk, Toruń - Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poznan or Lodz.

The History of this city stretches for over 3000 years: to the settlement belonging to the Lausitz culture, Pomeranian culture and Roman period. Włocławek received its own Diocese (bishop) in 1123 and town rights in the year 1255. During the 14th and 15th century it was destroyed and also captured several times by the Teutonic Knights. Włocławek prospered afterwards with the grain trade. There were over 27 granaries (!) here, and the city was second best after Gdansk.

After the Second Partition of Poland in 1793 Włocławek became part of Prussia and since 1831 of the Russian Empire. There was a big jewish community in the city. Wloclawek was the area of the battles during the First World War, Polish-SOviet War 1920 and II World War . In 1969 a dam was constructed. It regulates the water level of the Vistula river, forming Włocławek Reservoir.

Many famous persons have lived in Włocławek: Nicolaus Copernicus (astronomer, studied in the cathedral school in in 1488-91, he built probably the sun watch, that we can see on Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Mary), Tadeusz Reichstein (Chemist, Nobel laureate) or Jan Nagórski (first man, who has fly over the North Pole) or Stanisław Zagajewski ("Polish Gaudi", fine-art sculptor).

Copernicus Square (polish Plac Kopernika) - in cathedral school in Włocławek studies Nicolaus Copernicus in 1488-91. Together with his teacher Abstemius, built a sun watch on Cathedral Basilica. This history we can read in The Solar Mystery of Prof. Jeremi Wasiutynski. We can see also:

- the monument of Nicolas Copernicus

- main office of the Higher Seminary, founded in 1569 (first seminary in Poland).

- famous Diocesan Museum (polish Muzeum Diecezjalne) with paintings of Francesco Barbieri (Guercino) or group of Caravaggio

- Seminary Library of Chodynski Brothers with very collection of books, for example missals from 1500

- St. Witalis Curch, 1330

- monument of a famous Pole - primate Stefan Wyszynski.

St. Witalis Curch (polish Kosciół sw. Witalisa), 1330, it is the oldest building in Włocławek. In the interior we see at beautiful works of the Polish 15th century painting.

Basilica Cathedral of the St. Mary Assumption (polish Katedra pw. Najświętszej Marii Panny) - Gothic cathedral was built in 1340-1411. It is one of the oldest and highest (87 m) churches in Poland. The most important monuments are:

- Tombstone of Piotr from Bnin by Wit Stwosz (1493),

- Chapter house dating from 1521,

- Renaissance chapel

- Gothic stain glass windows (1360, the oldest in Poland),

- Painting of Franicsco de Zurbaran - 17th century,

- Largest painting on a single board in Poland - 1470,

- Stain glass windows made by Józef Mehoffer

- Sculpture The Last Supper (1505)

- Painting by Juan Correa de Vivar before 1565,

- Eucharistic Throne - one of the most magnificent silver masterpieces in Europe - 1744.

Municipal Park of Henryk Sienkiewicz

Municipal Park named after Henryk Sienkiewicz (polish Park Miejski im. Henryka Sienkiwicza) - it is one of the oldest municipal parks inEurope. In the central part of the park, we can see a monumental of Henryk Sienkiewicz writer with Nobel Prize for Quo Vadis.

Bishop's Palace

Bishop's Palace (polish Pałac Biskupi) - there is at the bank of Vistula, from 1858-61 and is have a garden.

Vistula's Boulevards of Marshall Józef Piłsudski

Vistula's Boulevards of Marshall Józef Piłsudski (polish Bulwary im. Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego) - here are many import ant building: Old houses on the Old Marketplace, Church of St. John the Baptist, Bridge of Marschall Edward Rydz-Smigły, Art Museum, Ethnographic Museum, high schools, culture center in factory from 19th century Browar B or Marshal Office.

Church of St. John the Baptist

Church of St. John the Baptist (polish Kościół pw. Św. Jana Chrzciciela) is in Gothic and Baroque style, brick-layered, oriental, built in 1538. We can see an interior in Baroque style:

* - with Guardian Angel painting (1635),

* - baroque font from the 17th century,

* - sculpture of John Baptist from Venice (polish Jan Baptysta Wenecjanin).

All Saints church and Franciscan-Reformers cloister

All Saints church and Franciscan-Reformers cloister (polish Parafia i Klasztor Ojców Franciszkanów), built in 1639-1644 is in Baroque style. We can see lateral aisle and Rococo altars (18th century).

Liberation Square

Liberation Square (polish Plac Wolności) is the town's central square with the monument for soldiers of the II World War, hotel Zajazd Polski (18th century), restaurant, banks and shops. We see also All Saints church, Franciscan-Reformers cloister and Mühsam Palace from 19th century.

The stage of fall on the Vistula river

The stage of fall on the Vistula (polish Tama na Wiśle) river was built in 1970. Here is the biggest unnatural lake in Poland. Here in the Vistula river priest Jerzy Popiełuszko found his death and we can see a big crucifix.

Wzorcownia

This is one of the beautiful shopping centers in Poland in the faience factory of Teichfeld & Asterblum from 1873. There is here many shops, restaurants and clubs.

Diocesan Museum

Diocesan Museum (polish Muzeum Diecezjalne) have paintings of Francesco Barbieri (Guercino) or group of Caravaggio and graphs of Albrecht Duerer.

Museum of the Kujawy and Dobrzyn land

In Main Edifice we can see here 2 stable exposition : "Wloclawek`s Faience" , "The Gallery of polish portraits" with impressionism by Leon Wyczółkowski, symbolism by Jacek Malczewski, secession by Józef Mehoffer, Olga Boznańska and Antoon van Dyck or Marcello Bacciarelli. In the Ethnography Museum we find folc culture and equipment of house and farm of Kujawy. The Museum of the History of Włocławek shows history from archaeological excavations to Liberation of Włocławek 1945. We can see elements of knights, measures and weights, treasure with coins, pharmaceutics uniforms, firearms, weapons, photographs and the archives. The Art Collection shows sculptures by Stanisław Zagajewski - "polish Gaudi" and exhibition of Wacław Bębnowski (ceramic sculptures and objects). Sometimes are open for tourist expositions with paintings of Carlo Cignani, Georg Philipp Rugendas, Francesco de' Rossi, graphs of Rembrandt van Rijn, Albrecht Altdorfer, Parmigianino, Vespasiano Strada oder Lucas van Leyden.

City guide

VisitWloclawek.blogspot.com

Polish- Lithuanian Commonwealth (Republic) was the early form of modern democracy. Commonwealth was ruled by Sejm (lower house of parliament), Senate (upper one) and King (also regarded as an independent "house of parliament"). The nobility was just a little part, from 3 up to 10%,of whole "society", that's why the Most Enlighten Republic (as P-L-C was also called) is described as the Nobles-Democracy or Golden Liberty.

The whole problem was that bordering countries were Absolute Monarchies (Prussian Kingdom (later on German Empire) , Russian Empire, Austrian (-Hungarian) Monarchy). Those two systems of governing (Absolute Monarchy and Nobles- Democracy) have a lot of differences.

In P-L-C the taxes were regulated by Parliament, in bordering monarchies mostly by a ruler him/herself, also gathering of armies was depended of "democratic voting" in P-L-C, and independent for the Emperor\Empress in bordering countries.

As we know democracy is fair but also slow way of ruling while tyranny is very efficient and as dangerous.

Unfortunately the world wasn't prepared for any kind of democracy yet. The aggressive manner of bordering countries couldn't be reflected in efficient self- defense.

enterprises.