Thanks to the list of 21 places to go in 2021 compiled by The Guardian, we got some of the new inspiration for travel destinations. And one of them is the city of Łódź in the centre of Poland.
Many people might tend to visit the big cities like Warsaw and Krakow on their first trip to Poland, but a visit to Łódź will show a completely different side of the country.
Located 120 kilometers south-west of Warsaw, Łódź is the third-largest city in Poland and famous as the former textile industrial center that grew fabulously wealthy in the 19th century. The wealth differences between rich and poor are still noticeable in the architecture of the city, where luxurious mansions stand in stark contrast to redbrick factories and old tenement houses. Over time the city boomed again after World War II and has been transformed into a modern, pluralistic and avant-garde city, which was named the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a “City of Film“ in 2017. Many of its former industrial spaces are now bars, restaurants and shops, one of the most famous of these is Manufaktura, which is the biggest shopping center in Central Europe and was built in an old factory complex that belonged to Izrael Poznanski, one of the richest businessman in Łódź. Besides, the city also features the longest promenade in Poland and one of the longest shopping streets in Europe, where people can find the best cafes, bars, and clubs in town.
Apart from its fascinating industrial heritage site, Łódź is also a multicultural city in which Polish, Jewish, German and Russian nations lived and worked together here. In an atmosphere of acceptance and tolerance, they left their mark on the early development of Łódź and become part of this beautiful city they were building together. For years Łódź had been a melting pot of four cultures and nationalities, where synagogues, tserkvas, as well as Catholic and Protestant shrines got along well with each other in peace.
Today, known for its Film School, Łódź is also a significant cultural center and aptly described as the country’s top cultural hotspot in Poland. With the distinct characters of buildings and the abundant art activities, there is no shortage of exciting things to do in Łódź.
? Check out our ? Lodz City Break? to find more multicultural heritage and charming attractions with us.
