Introduction

THE WARTA BOULEVARD - FOT. B. NOWOSIELSKI A weekend in Gorzów

orzów is a city teeming with life and di- versity. To an external observer it may Gappear to be a rich mosaic of intere- sting places, events and people. Guests and locals alike are entertained with many exci- ting, worthwhile ,often niche initiatives and cultural events. The city has a considerable spiritual potential and it truly enchants visi- REGGAE AT THE WARTA RIVER – FESTIVAL - FOT. Ł. TRZOSEK tors who come to discover it. All because Go- rzów is an expert in special tasks; from festi- vals of the most libertarian music genres in the world (reggae, jazz, Roma music), to unusual kinds of urban furniture (e.g. monuments ho- noring outstanding citizens, the low observa- tion deck, Schody Donikąd - Stairway to No- where), to pioneer and brave actions (Dzwon Pokoju – The Bell of Peace, Summer Stage, garden theaters, brass bands parade), to revi- MOTO RACING SHOW - FOT.M.KAŹMIERCZAK ving craftsmanship and promoting eco-frien- dly farming, supporting city artists and vario- us sport disciplines (speedway, boule, rowing). It all makes Gorzów stand out among other si- milar-sized cities.

ROMANE DYVESA - FOT. M. KAŹMIERCZAK

2 History and legend trail

History and legend trail

ithout a shadow of a doubt Gorzów is Before you do that, take a look at the so- symbolized by its architectural gem: uthern façade of the church; there are small ro- Wgothic St Mary’s Church (currently und holes in it, made in the medieval times the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed when stone was stroke to make fire with a fire Virgin Mary), built on the foundations of a 13th drill. It was believed that if the new fire was ta- century Roman church. The Cathedral boasts ken home on a candle during Easter, it would a 53-meter tower, added in the 14th century, bring prosperity and health for the fire-maker which dominates the city’s skyline; its obse- and his family. However, there is also another rvation deck offers the best views of Gorzów explanation of the round holes: there is a le- Wielkopolski it is open May through October gend, or rather an anecdote, that tells of a sin- each year (at 11.30, 13.00, 14.00, 16.00.) To get ner who had to repent for his sins by drilling there, however, you need to climb up 186 ste- the holes with his finger. On the walls you can ep stairs leading through 7 levels, where you also notice deep notches, made in later periods can learn the history of the city and the church. during sharpening sabers. At the side entran- ce on the southern wall of the main part of the temple there is a beautiful, original gothic en- trance portal with jambs. Before you enter the temple take a look at the nails hammered into the door. They were placed here during World War I as a “confirmation” of payments for the war fund. The more affluent townspeople paid for nails that were even silver- or gold-plated which did not survive the Second World War, however; in 1945 they were picked out by Rus- sians and first Polish settlers. At the entrance to the tower’s porch, you can notice the tombs of bishop Theodor Benesz (1910 – 1958) on the right, and bishop Wilhelm Pluta (1910 – 1986) on the left. There is an in- scription on the latter tomb that recalls the words of bishop Pluta which were always his motto: “A man dies in a man when good deeds

ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL CHURCH - FOT. T. CHWALISZ

3 History and legend trail no longer bring him joy and bad - no longer cau- se pain.” Next, there is a collection of photos ta- CHESSBOARD ken during the visit of John Paul II in Gorzów in 1997 and a polychromed wooden Renaissance Another curiosity in the church is the gra- crucifix from the 16th century. nite quarter placed at the very floor be- th th You can access the upper levels of the to- tween the 12 and 13 Station of the Cross, with a sculpted chessboard (7 rows wer through the entrance in the left aisle. The- and 4 ). Such chessboards can re are, among others, two rooms previously oc- usually be found at entry portals or at cupied by the town watchman. He was there to external walls - only in Brandenburg, Po- ring the bells, watch the town and warn people merania and in the Lubusz Land. The me- in case of a fire. The oldest tower bells were aning and function of the chessboards cast in 1448. One of them (the bigger one) was is still shrouded in mystery. This chess- struck and pierced by a lightning in 1708, and board is exceptional, it is the only one the other (a smaller one), known as “Ave Ma- of the discovered 97 that is located insi- ria” survived until 1945. The clock, made in de a church. Hannover in 1899, is a very characteristic part of the tower. were added. In 1915 however, new 40-rank The interior of the pseudo-basilica organs from “W. Sauer” company in Frank- church is its oldest part: the nave and aisles furt were ordered. In the sacristy two origi- divided by octagonal pillars supporting a gro- nal gothic keystones have been preserved: ined vault. Sunlight seeps into the church one shows a of two birds and the other through stained-glass made in 1966- – “Agnus Dei.” 1967 according to a design by Wiktor Ostrzo- łek and Edward Kwiatkowski for 1000-year an- Right next to the church there is a monu- niversary of the baptism of . The sta- ment of bishop Wilhelm Pluta, made by Cze- ined-glass windows in the chancel depict the sław Dźwigaj. The bishop will always be re- seven Sacraments. In the chancel, closed by a membered as a priest who deeply cared abo- lierne vault founded by Hans Promnitz, there ut his parishioners, and as the one who reno- is a precious renaissance altar from the end of vated the Church of Our Lady the Patient Liste- the 16th century. It is a triptych where you can ner in Rokitno, the closest to Gorzów sanctu- see the Golgotha in the central part, the Last ary of Our Lady, regardless of the problems pi- Supper below and Jonah the prophet in the ling up in front of him. whale’s mouth in the upper part. The apostles If you turn right now, towards Rynek placed on the sides of the triptych come from (Market Square), you can see traces of the now an earlier gothic altar. The stalls along the si- gone chapel of St. Urban (founded before des of the chancel exhibit the busts of 24 elder- 1385.) The place where it once stood is now ly men of the Apocalypse. The nave is separa- marked with red brick in the pavement near ted from the octagonal chancel by a rood beam the church. There is a legend related to the with a gothic Crucifixion group with Holy Mary chapel that tells of a townswoman who was and St. John, and it is the oldest, 15th-century suspected of treason during the Hussite Wars decorative element in the church. Notice also (1431-1435.) She was accused of having shown the three rood beams dating back to the 15th a secret passage from behind the city walls to century and a Pietà from the beginning of the the chapel to a Polish knight Władysław (Po- 16th century. lish reinforcements were at that time suppor- In the upper part of an octagonal ting the Hussites.) To extort a confession of her that supports the ribbed vault (on the right guilt she was subjected to torture, and senten- from the altar), you can see the oldest (14th ced to death by breaking wheel. The horrible century) depiction of the city’s coat of arms; sentence was executed at the Wzgórze Wisiel- it is a red Askanian Eagle holding clover leaves ców (the Hangmen Height, currently the junc- in its claws. tion of Asnyk, Chopin and Konstytucji 3 Maja First organs were introduced to the church Streets), where executions were held. Sin- in the 15th century. In 1617 twelve registers

4 History and legend trail ce then a white ghost has appeared there, to prove her innocence. Having visited the temple, move on so- uth towards the square, where you can notice a butterfly-shaped flower bed. Among the plants growing there you can discern for exam- ple a decorative Dovastoniana species of the European yew, Juniper and Kentucky Coffe- etree with original bi-pinnate leaves. Further down the square you can see a faithful recon- struction of a streetcar, built especially for Landsberg in 1899. The replica is made from mostly wooden elements, on an original Bre- me-type chassis from the 1920s. Today the car is used as a tourist information point. You can purchase maps, guidebooks, souvenirs from Gorzów and its surroundings as well as tickets for cultural events. THE MUNICIPAL INFORMATION CENTRE - E. CHRUŚCIŃSKA-JACKOWIAK If you walk further down south, you will pass the former shop “Arsenał” (Arsenal), na- - you will arrive at a small monument of Ma- med in remembrance of an 18th-century arse- ria Konopnicka, the patron of the first Polish nal that was torn down in 1973. school opened in 1945. At that time the scho- ol was attended by … 183 pupils. Further to You will now reach a pedestrian crossing, your right, on the bank of the Kłodawka river, where you can go to the other side of Bolesław you can admire an astonishing swamp cypress Chrobrego Street to a green square at Strze- (circumference of 238cm.) This long-lived spe- lecka Street, where you can find a sculpture cies of conifer (it can live up to 200 years!) ori- of a speedway rider. This work of art by An- ginally comes from the United States; it was drzej Moskaluk is a monument of Edward Jan- imported to Europe in the 17th century to de- carz sitting on a speedway motorbike. corate parks. It has small, 2-2.5 cm seed cones and older species are surrounded by root struc- You can now move on along Strzelecka tures sticking from the ground (cypress kne- Street, passing by the former building of Gu- es) which help in providing oxygen to the tree. stav F. Gross brewery cold storage (lager) dating back to 1877, towards the bridge across the Kłodawka river. Do not cross the bridge

EDWARD JANCARZ The legendary speedway rider, 11-times Polish re- presentative in Individual Speedway World Cham- pionships. A native of Gorzów, he is presented here wearing a traditional chest protector of Stal Go- rzów, the local speedway club he was a part of throughout his sport career (1965-1986.) He won Individual Polish Championships twice, “Golden Helmet” three times, and bronze medal in Spe- edway World Championships. He is well remem- bered by all speedway fans in Gorzów, and every- one in Gorzów a speedway fan at heart.

EDWARD JANCARZ MONUMENT - E. CHRUŚCIŃSKA-JACKOWIAK

5 History and legend trail

The eclectic building across the street is the former Imperial Post Office built in 1890 and expanded several times. The inner courtyard, which you can see from the side- walk, was in the past used as a cab rank. You should walk through the post office and come out on the other side to take a look at the main façade decorated with two single-axis risalits. The one closer to the main entrance is prece- ded by a portico with a raised polygonal tower closed by an openwork helmet. It is one of the most beautiful eclectic buildings in Gorzów.

Strzelecka Street will lead you to a par- king lot in front of the “Park 111” department store, where you can find probably the only in the world sculpture of a homeless person (made by Andrzej Moskaluk.) SZYMON GIĘTY MONUMENT - FOT. B. NOWOSIELSKI You will now arrive at Sikorski Street, ted to the first Gorzów Starost Florian Kroen- where you can find a classicistic building of ke (1909-2004.) the St. John’s Masonic Lodge of Black Eagle, set up in 1810. Rebuilt in the 1890s, the bu- Move on away from the center, ilding belonged to the Masonic Lodge until along Sikorski Street, pass by the dam 1935. There is a medallion embedded in the on the Kłodawka river and stop in façade, on the right from the entrance, devo- front of a villa in Berliner seces- sion style dating back to 1903, designed by Karol Bengert for a well-known Landsberg engineer Hans SZYMON GIĘTY Lehmann. Today it is an You might be surprised but Kazimierz Wnuk, known as „Szymon Gięty”, was an extraordi- nary person. Many of the jokes and pranks that he played on the local people and on the communist authorities are now legendary. Suffice to say that during the communist era he was often arrested, as a preventive measu- re, because authorities were afraid he would ridicule an official event such as the celebra- tion of the Labor Day on the 1 of May. And the citizens remember that he used to pitch his tent in the center of the city and claimed there was a monkey inside. Those curious to see it paid a small fee to go in; once inside, they saw their own faces in a mirror. Some other time he sho- wed exotic birds, which meant … color pain- ted sparrows. He was an unforgettable person. The creation of the monument was initiated by a Gorzów native now living in Canada, the citi- zens of Gorzów and the local office of the “Ga- zeta Wyborcza” daily. THE OLD TENEMENT HOUSE REFLECTION IN THE OF PUBLIC LIBRARY- FOT. T. CHWALISZ

6 History and legend trail

elegant part of a modern Zbigniew Her- traditional costumes, a hoop-shaped chande- bert Provincial and City Public Library, lier, various paintings and ceiling decorations built in 2008. It has a secession interior with such as rosettes and facets. functional, modernist solutions. All rooms fo- When you have visited the villa, you can cus around a presentable two-story hall and a walk through the to Park Wiosny Lu- staircase. On the ground floor there used to be dów (the Spring of Nations Park, in the past the owner’s bedro- known as Emperor Wilhelm’s Park, covering om with a study 4.78ha), the most beautiful city park. It was set room and a dining up in 1913 when the city purchased Koch’s me- room. The porch adows that surrounded an old mill pond sup- with park view of- plied with Kłodawka waters. When you walk fered a pleasant into the park, you should turn left in front of place to re- the library building, to see the monument of lax. There a Roma poet Bronisława Wajs, also known are many as Papusza. remnants of You can now walk to the bridge (you can the former notice there a rare specimen of Amur Maple, furnishings: originally growing in China, Japan and Ko- staircase with a rea). The bridge offers an interesting view decorative ba- on a small island on the Kłodawski Pond, co- lustrade, wood paneling, bu- ilt-in wardrobes, a PAPUSZA lantern, a tiled fi- replace with a The poet arrived in the area of Gorzów in wicker air gra- 1947 with one of the last wandering Roma groups. She wrote poems about the life of ting, stained Roma, their customs, the wandering tradi- glass depic- tion of this nomadic nation and the beau- ting town- ty of nature. Her poems were published in speople two volumes: “Songs of Papusza” and “Spo- wearing ken songs.”

vered with alders and home to wild ducks. As you walk on, along the chestnut-lined path, and you happens to be there in the summer, you will pass a sundial and hundreds of mul- ticolored roses, which give the park its infor- mal name – “Rose Park” (Park Róż.) It is a per- fect place to sit on one of the benches and rest, watching the swans majestically glide on the water. It is worth spending more time in the park, to stroll along the lanes lined with chest- nut trees, London planes or hornbeams, find yellow catalpa, Japanese barberry, Bearberry Honeysuckle, hedge cotoneaster, yews, seve- ral maple species, Japanese pagoda tree, thu- ja occidentalis, Chinese willow or Chinese nec- klace poplar originating from China. You can leave the park walking along a plane-tree path along the Kłodawka river and exit through the north-eastern gate at the THE OLD TENEMENT HOUSE REFLECTION IN THE WINDOW OF PUBLIC LIBRARY- FOT. T. CHWALISZ

7 History and legend trail

ROSE PARK - FOT. ARCHIWUM UM junction of Wybickiego and Łokietka Streets. Unfortunately strong winds “defeated” the At Wybickiego Street you can drop in to a cosy giant and now you can only admire a part of café, where you can rest from the city noise its knocked trunk. At the other side of the Kło- sipping a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. dawka river you can see an oak tree called “Bi- smarck.” Nearby, you cannot miss two monu- You can then walk towards Łokietka Stre- ments of painters who had strong ties with the et to reach Bolesława Chrobrego Street and an Gorzów. The one closer to Chrobrego Street is old bridge across Kłodawka, with a monumen- the monument of Jan Korcz (1905-1984), a pa- tal specimen of white willow , its branches to- inter symbolic for the first years of Polish Go- uching the water. Right across the river you can rzów, and the monument a little further shows see a beautiful villa built for doctor Carl Bock at Ernest Henseler (1852-1940). the end of the 19th century. On the other side of the bridge there is a green square, set up The building next to the monuments ho- along Kłodawka as early as in 1899. Until re- uses "Mała Galeria” (The Small Gallery) of the cently (till July 2010) the place was even more Gorzów Photography Association. It hosts very beautiful thanks to a large, old (320 years old) interesting photography exhibitions and often black poplar, with circumference of 660cm. shows post-competition exhibitions, partici- pated by artists and amateurs from Gorzów.

JAN KORCZ The painter with outstanding talent settled in Gorzów in 1945 and it was here that he created hundreds of paintings, often "paying with them” for a doctor’s visit or a dinner. Sharp minded, often very critical towards the reali- ty and people surrounding him, he had a sar- castic sense of humour. He coined the phrase “zgorzowieć” -a wordplay, meaning to beco- me ordinary, uncreative and intellectually dull. Still, he was generally respected and popular. CARL BOCK VILLA - FOT. Z.RUDZIŃSKI

8 History and legend trail

You can now turn right in the Dąbrow- skiego Street, next to the modern building of the fire department. As you walk along the path lined with the Swedish whitebeam, you will pass mecha- nical and electrical vo- cational schools. They are located in the for- mer Social House; since 1920 it housed a sports hall, a library, a reading room, seats of vario- us youth organizations and even a soup kit- chen. Behind it, take a look at a tenement ho- use at 34 Dąbrowskie- go Street, where you can see interesting, se- cession with wrought guard rails with floral motifs. JAN KORCZ MONUMENT - FOT. E. CHRUŚCIŃSKA-JACKOWIAK You will now arrive at a junction with Jagiełły Street, where you Let us now move on across the street to- should turn left to go to the City Baths, a bu- wards a fragment of a stone-brick defensive ilding from 1930. At that time it was a mo- wall dating back to the 14th century; it is dern building, with a swimming pool (20 x 30 130m long, with four half-shell towers (look- m) and space for healing baths, solarium and outs). As early as in 1325 the city was surrounded a gymnasium. You may go inside the baths by a moat filled with water, and by a stone de- to see a bust monument of Max Bahr (1848- fensive wall approximately 2 km long, with 32 lo- 1930), the instigator of the baths, an outstan- ok-outs and three : Santocka, Młyńska and ding and distinguished person. Mostowa. The wall you can see today is what re- mained after the early 14th century construction was rebuilt and expanded. A hundred years later, fearing an expected attack of the Czech Hussites, Landsberg citizen raised the wall and strengthe- ned it. The wall was indeed of use in June 1433, ERNEST HENSELER when Landsberg was besieged for 7 days by the Born in Wieprzyce, professor of drawing at Hussite and Polish forces. The wall passed the test the Berliner Polytechnikum. During his fre- with flying colors - the city was not seized. The quent visits in his homeland he liked to pa- first to seize them, damaging a part of the wall, int numerous Warta river landscapes. He was the Swedish king Charles X Gustav in 1631. also specialized in portraits. He painted e.g. As time went by, in the 18th century the moat was the portrait of Franz Hofman von Fallersle- buried, and the gates and almost all look-outs and ben, the author of the German national an- wall were torn down. A green park Planty took them. His works were shown in Paris, Ber- place of some of the former moat. lin, Vienna and London.

9 History and legend trail

moved from one place to another and almost sent to scrap, when it was finally placed here, where in some ways it takes part in the city’s life, e.g. by putting on a red hat on St. Nicho- las’ Day. He was named after Józef Teofil Fin- ster, a city councilor, who purchased the sculp- ture for the city.

If you walk further down Hawelańska Street, you will find “The Witches’ Well” (Studnia Czarownic), covered with a coni- cal copper roof and a naked witch on a bro- om on the top. It used to be one of many wells supplying citizens with water, and it used to stand at the back of what is now the City Hall. According to a legend the well takes its name after the burning of the last witch in Lands- berg in 1686. After the war the figure of the witch disappeared, but the well survived. The well returned as a tourist attraction in 1997, when a Gorzów sculptor Zofia Bilińska resto- red the witch according to photos and post- TOWN WALLS - FOT. T. CHWALISZ cards, and the then City Mayor Henryk Maciej Woźniak decided to place the well at the Weł- Next to the wall, surrounded by greene- niany Rynek (Wool Market). ry, there is a sculpture called Śfinster which in the past was very controversial among the In Hawelańska Street, the first secession people of Gorzów. An athletic, cast-iron na- tenement house on the right is where a me- ked man made by Zbigniew Frączkiewicz was dieval monastery was located. Later on, in the 19th century, it was rebuilt into an elegant Max Grafling inn.

WŁODZIMIERZ KORSAK As you continue along Hawelańska Street, The author of the hunter’s guide “A Hun- you will pass a bookstore with a plaque on the ter’s Year” (“Rok Myśliwego”, published wall commemorating a great nature lover, wri- in 1922) lived in Gorzów from July 7, 1945 ter, painter, photographer, traveler and hunter to 1969. During Poland’s twenty years Włodzimierz Korsak (1886-1973.) of independence after World War I he held the title of the Polish Master of the You are now reaching Sikorskiego Street Hunt and wrote numerous books for hun- and if you cross it, you will arrive at the Ry- ters, usually in the form of storytelling. nek (Market Square), where the second wal- His passion for hunting (his trophies in- king tour begins. cluded a wolf, a bear, a tiger, an auroch) with time evolved into a need to protect the beauty of nature. He was one of the first to notice the necessity to protect the unique nature of the Warta estuary. His last book “The Forest Told Me” (“Las mi powiedział”), addressed to young people, tells about the laws of nature and abo- ut the Lubusz Land. A bird reserve “Janie” near Lubniewice was named after him.

10 The phantom of the Town Hall

THE OLD MARKET VIEW FROM THE CATHEDRAL TOWER - FOT. T.CHWALISZ The Phantom of the Town Hall

arket Square has always been the heart of the city. It was here that the THE PHANTOM OF THE TOWN HALL Town Hall, the seat of municipal ad- M Here is the story: in the Town Hall, two coun- ministration, was located since medieval ti- mes. This two-story construction with a high, cilors argued about an issue, and when one of them felt he was out of arguments, he pitched roof and a trumpeter’s tower collap- stabbed his opponent right in his heart and sed in 1825 and twenty five years later it was killed him. The perpetrator fled the city but pulled down. However before it disappeared, after some time returned a madman, belie- like all self-respectful historic buildings it had ving he would get away with his deed. That its own ghost, or rather a phantom. is not what happened, however. He was ar- rested, tried and beheaded at the Landsberg In 1897 Herman Paucksch (1816-1899), a Market Square. Since the day of the execu- Landsberg producer of world-renowned steam tion, everyone was scared to stay in the Town boilers, founded a fountain for the city (it was Hall and Market Square at night, because made of 1575kg of bronze.) It was a symbol of the headless phantom of the councilor often the city and of its past we- appeared there. Until one Christmas day at alth. Initially, on a hill dusk, when an elderly lady met the phantom made of Warthauer who asked her to say The Lord’s Prayer for his sandstone there was sinful soul. She was so terrified that she fulfil- a figure of a wo- led his request, but she experienced such fear man holding that she died the next day. Since then howe- two buckets. ver, nobody has ever again seen the phantom Pauckschmaria, of the councilor. today known as Maria or, ten- derly, "bam- girl), was associated with a traditional re- b e r k a ” liability and laboriousness of the German (Bamber citizen, and with the Warta river. Children

THE PAUCKSCH’S FOUNTAIN - FOT. D. ADAMSKI

11 The phantom of the Town Hall playing at her feet symbolize the domains the city was known for: the boy with a hammer, WALK OF FAME which was previously accompanied by a co- gwheel, symbolized machine industry, the Commemorative plaques honoring emi- girl with a fishing rod - fishing industry, the nent artist from Gorzów were placed in the ground of the Market Square. You girl with a boat - trade and river transporta- can find plaques with the names of Wie- tion. Supposedly Paucksch’s granddaugh- sław Strebejka (1945-1994), a gra- ter posed for the figure of the girl with a high phic artist and stage designer, Jan Korcz braid. The fountain was designed by Cuno von (1905-1984), a painter, Andrzej Gordon Uechtritz. During World War II the sculpture (1948-1992), a painter, Bolesław Kowal- was removed and most probably in 1945 taken ski (1941-2001), a fine artist, Waldemar away towards Stalingrad, where on the kurgan Kućka (1932-1981), a photographer, Je- of khan Mamai they planned to set up a Monu- rzy Szalbierz (1947-1997), a photogra- ment for the Glory of the Red Army. A hundred pher, Zdzisław Morawski (1926-1992), years after the original was founded, the foun- a playwright, poet and writer, Henryka tain’s replica (made by Zofia Bilińska) was pla- Żbik-Nierubiec (1944-2001) - a fine ar- ced here thanks to the efforts of Landsberg au- tist and a weaver. There was another pla- thorities and citizens. que, commemorating Bronisława Wajs, Gorzów Internet bench is an important “Papusza”, a Roma poet. The Roma com- part of the Market Square. To show yourself to munity asked however, that it be mo- your friends online, you need to find a bench ved to Kosynierów Gdyńskich Street, whe- marked as “WEBSTREFA”, sit on it and in- re it was placed in a façade of a building form someone they can see you on the web. (across Mieszko Hotel), where the poet li- Tell them to go to www.gorzow.pl, open the ved. The facade of an edifice on the so- tab “Kamery internetowe” (Web cameras) and uthern frontage of the Market Square de- then click on “ławka WEBstrefy” (WEBstrefa picts the panorama of the old Landsberg Bench.) In a matter of seconds you can wave by Bolesław Kowalski, and a plaque de- “hello!” to your friends! Other web cameras voted to Jan Korcz, as the building for show the Paucksch’s fountain, the bridge on many years housed his study. the Warta, a view on the Boulevard, Hawelań- ska Street and e.g. the city panorama. From the Market Square you can walk along Obotrycka Street towards the junction with Pionierów Street, where you should take a look at two tenement houses. One of them, a four-story building with a beautiful eclectic façade, was built in 1867 by a baker Carl Beker. It was later expanded and rebuilt in 1892 by his son Carl Ernest Becker. Notice the beauty of the on the corner, covered with a hel- met with a pinnacle. In 1936 German athletes on their way to Olympic Regatta from Ameri- ca to Hamburg tasted the bread baked by the Beckers and claimed it was the best in Germa- ny. The family’s descendants continue the tra- dition in Germany; they own a confectionery factory in Uelzen.

On the other side of the junction you can see the oldest in town two-story tenement ho- use, built at the end of the 18th century. In its cellar you could find the remains of an even THE TENEMENT HOUSE OBOTRYCKA STREET/PIONIERÓW STREET CROSSING - FOT. E. CHRUŚCIŃSKA-JACKOWIAK older, late gothic medieval structure. At the

12 The phantom of the Town Hall end of the 19th century the building belonged to the Steingke family, the manufacturers of exquisite wines and liqueurs. You should now turn left into Pionierów street and pass by a very interesting portal of a side entry (currently an ATM), decorated with images of frogs and pelicans.

FROGS AND PELICANS Stop by and take a look at the pelican that holds a coin in its beak. Supposedly, it symbolically refers to the banker's abi- lity to tear out money from his own chest should the client need it. Some snide that the face of the frog above it reflects the face of a borrower when he pays the first THE PELICAN HOLDING A COIN IN THE BEAK installment. - E. CHRUŚCIŃSKA-JACKOWIAK

You should now reach the City Hall (Ra- The seat of the Landsberg Credit As- tusz, 3-4 Sikorskiego Street), located in the bu- sociation (Landsberskie Towarzystwo ilding of the former City Savings Fund (Miej- Kredytowe), a late secession building dating ska Kasa Oszczędnościowa.) The façade bears back to 1925, is particularly impressive looking a proud insription “Pro publico bono" or “For from Sikorski Street. Its four-story façade with the good of the public." It is a long forgotten a portal made partially in sandstone has a qu- anecdote that due to the lack of a stamp, the adrangular risalit with an oval medallion de- first document issued by the Polish authorities picting mayor Lehmann, an accomplished was sealed with an imprint of a silver pre-war member of the Credit Association. There is a 5-zloty coin. The building’s cellar was former- small and a triangular above. ly used as a town hall wine bar. Today city co- Continue along Sikorski Street; you will uncilors’ sittings take place here. The first Po- pass by a bank, erected on the site where until lish city mayor, Piotr Wysocki (a participant the night of 16/17 July 1945 there was a bo- of the Wielkopolskie uprising) was a laborio- okstore and house of Wilhelm Ogoleit (1869- us and thrifty man. Gorzów pioneers still re- 1953), a humanist, bookseller and collector. member that he started the day by putting out He had a collection of souvenirs after German gas street lights, still used at romantic poets Goethe and Schiller that was that time. unequalled in quantity in northern Germa- In 2002 a plaque ny. The collection was partly plundered by So- made by Zofia Bilińska viet soldiers and partly perished in fire. A small was affixed to the part of the collection was rescued by art sensi- façade of the bu- tive Polish settlers together with bishop Kurt ilding, comme- Scharf, Wilhelm Ogoleit's godson, and was la- morating the pa- ter given to the Lubuskie Museum. tron of the stre- et, Władysław Si- You will now walk by the “Lamus” Cre- korski. It is a bust ative Thinking Club (Klub Myśli Twórczej monument of “Lamus”), with a colorful façade by Joanna Sikorski and Bubienko and a very unusual interior, whe- the words re you can have a cup of coffee and see an art “ G e n e r a l exhibition. Władysław

13 14 15 The phantom of the Town Hall

Sikorski 1881-1943, Polish Prime Minister, Com- Move on towards the junction with mander in Chief of the Polish Armed Forces, a Dzieci Wrzesińskich Street towards a beau- Great Pole, a fervent patriot, fought and died for tiful, architecturally interesting seces- our freedom.” The plaque was funded by ve- sion tenement house from 1905. Here, terans, Siberian exiles, Rodzina Katyńska and right behind the medieval Santocka gate, Gorzów citizens. At noon the city bugle-call, the Santockie suburb began. After the gate composed by Jan Kupczyński, is played from was torn down, the Square of Parades was the Town Hall’s roof. plotted out, but it was not recreated after 1945; out of many elegant buildings which Cross the street now to the concrete coat of stood around the square only the existing arms of Landsberg/Gorzów. It used to be one tenement house survived. of two coats of arms fixed in the middle of the lon- gest span of the Warta river bridge. On 30 Janu- Continue along Dzieci Wrzesińskich Stre- ary 1945 retreating German troops blew up the et to the underpass which will take you to the bridge and the coats of arms fell down to the ri- St. Anthony of Padua and St. Stanisław ver. After several years one of them was recove- Kostka church. red and placed in front of the City Hall. Next to the entrance there is a monumen- tal specimen of a large-leaved linden. 25m tall with 420cm of circumference, it is the largest linden in the city. Usually the species grows in THE WHITE CHURCH the mountains and in the uplands of southern The church was built between 1696-1704 Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus.A bit fur- by the town council, together with the Elector of Brandenburg, later Frederick I king of Prussia, as the Church of Harmo- ny - harmony between Lutherans and Ca- lvinists. Until their own church was bu- ilt, also Catholics prayed here. Less than a hundred years later, the church was re- built and expanded by a Romanesque Re- vival tower. On the night of 23 July 1911 the tower was struck by a lightning and fire broke out. After a reconstruction in the 1980s the interior of the church was remodeled; electric bells added in 2000 play such tunes as “The Angelus” and “Apel Jasnogórski.” If you go inside, take a look at the Stations of the Cross by Ry- szard Kaczor, and in particular at Sta- tion 2 depicting Jesus carrying the cross; among those looking at Jesus you can see … John Paul II. It was in this temple that on the 29 of January 1995 Landsberg and Gorzów citizen prayed together for the first time, sharing the sign of Christ’s pe- THE WHITE CHURCH – THE CHURCH OF HARMONY ace and inaugurating the new tradition of the Memorial and Conciliation Day, re- placing the Liberation Day. Perhaps soon ther up you can see a magnificent London Pla- the time will come to restore the former ne of similar, monumental dimensions. name of “The Church of Harmony”? To- day it is called “the White Church.” Now take Warszawska Street, which is an extension of the Sikorskiego Street, and on

16 The phantom of the Town Hall your left you will see the Capuchin monaste- ry. Its glass corner holds an illuminated waysi- de shrine with a replica of Our Lady of Fátima. Across the PZU building, next to a kiosk, you can now see another exotic tree, Gingko tree or Maidenhair Tree.

You will now pass by a square, where “Ko- pernik” cinema used to be located (until 2007).

GINGKO BILOBA The tree species had its best years 100 million years ago, when it covered a big part of our planet; hence Charles Darwin referred to it as “a living fossil”. It is a long-lived plant - it can live for as many as 2000 years with 1200cm of circum- ference. Ginkgo survived till our times JAN DEKERT MUSEUM OF LUBUSKIE REGION - FOT. B. NOWOSIELSKI thanks to buddhist monks in China and Japan who considered it holy and often floor, marble fireplace with a mirror in a sty- planted it near their monasteries. In Chi- lish oak frame add charm to the interior. Visi- nese medicine it is used as an aphrodi- tors often wonder why the mirror was placed siac and an effective medication against so high that it is not possible to see one’s re- forgetfulness. flection in it. The answer is simple: the mirror is there to reflect the chandelier’s light, ma- king the room lighter. Soon, behind the square, the Gorzów Artistic Before you enter the museum, you should Education Center (Centrum Edukacji Ar- take a walk around the Arboretum (Ogród tystycznej) will be completed. The main bu- Dendrologiczny), open from 10.00 to dusk, ilding of the complex will house the Philhar- which spreads across an area of 3.32ha. Take a monic with a concert hall (600 seats) and ano- walk along its nature trail where you can see ther room for rehearsals and smaller events around 150 species of trees and shrubs. (approx. 120 seats.) Go back to Warszawska Street and find the You are now at the entrance to the Lubu- historic Catholic church of the Feast of the skie Museum. It is located in a 1904 eclectic Cross, built of red clinker brink between 1905- villa, formerly owned by a cable factory owner 1907 in a Romanesque Revival style. The gro- Gustav Adolf Schroder (1838-1916.) The two- und for both the church and the cemetery was story building and the annex was designed donated by Klaudiusz Alkiewicz, a Pole of Ta- by Reimarus & Hetzel architecture office from tar origin, whose tombstone can be found on Charlottenburg, Berlin. The front of the buil- the right side of the main lane. ding is decorated with a risalit with a splen- The basilica-like temple, with a tower co- did . A covered terrace with glass walls vered by a pyramid-shaped helmet and a sanc- on the park side allowed to look at the park tuary closed with a semicircular apse, was de- also on rainy and chilly days. A hexagonal to- signed by a Berlin architect Konrad Nuon. The wer was added on one of the sides. Each wall is body of the building is made up of eight com- richly adorned with architectural details made bined elements of different sizes. These are: in sandstone. Permanent art exhibitions are the nave, two aisles, two half-towers, the tran- shown in the palace interior. Elegant stairca- sept, the sacristy and the sanctuary. The in- se is decorated with an openwork balustrade terior is decorated with wall paintings made and an oak, formed handrail. On the ground between 1907-1915 by Theodor Nuttgens,

17 The phantom of the Town Hall

with attics and a quadrilateral tower make us ARBORETUM admire the architect’s vision. You should now be at Teatralna Street, The atmosphere of the park is shaped by where you can see the most magnificent London planes, yews, oaks, maples, elms example of classicistic architecture in Gorzów. and a collection of magnolias: Kobushi ma- The three-story edifice with a 24-axis façade, gnolia, Magnolia soulangeana and magno- covered with a pitched roof, is currently the lia stellata. Moreover, you can see here such seat of the Higher Vocational State Scho- exotic trees and shrubs as the Oregon-gra- ol. The structure, built in 1802 at the order of pe, Kerria japonica, White Fir, Korean Fir, se- veral juniper species, Chinese willow and the King of Prussia Frederic Wilhelm II, origi- Catawba Rhododendron. You can also find nally had a different function. It was the Natio- here the ruins of what was believed to be nal House of the Poor, established to care abo- an early medieval settlement; research pro- ut the disabled and to rehabilitate minor of- ved however that it was a military fortifica- fenders and vagabonds, offering them work in tion from the Napoleonic wars. Notice also a spinning mill and in a loom. In the first year the reconstructed megalithic tomb of the of operation, the House accepted 252 poor, 33 globular amphora culture, approximate- prisoners and 14 mad people, altogether 299 ly 4000 years old. It is made of splitted sto- people. Apart from the guests’ bedrooms, the- ne slabs, weighing up to 3 tons each. Inside re were also employees’ apartments in the bu- the tomb the remains of 17 people were fo- ilding . The eastern bloc where prisons were lo- und, probably members of one family, toge- cated was added in 1804 and the western one, ther with a hatchet, a chisel, a flint chopper, for the administration offices, in 1879. After two boar tusks, remainders of an amber je- the National House of the Poor was closed in welry and a clay cup. 1920, the building was given to the Prussian Agricultural Research Institute and after World War II its work was continued by the Institu- referring to early Christian compositions. In- te of Farming, Fertilization and Soil Science. terestingly, in the paintings’ background you Continue along Teatralna Street to the en- can see the Warta river landscape, the Cathe- trance of a former hospital; from there you will dral church and the church of the Feast of the see a remarkable, octagonal neo-gothic cha- Cross itself. In 1912 the church was equipped pel dating back to around 1850, covered with with pipe organs made by Orgel-Anstallt com- a conical roof. pany of B.Grunberg. The organs have survived Soon you will reach the junction of Te- to the present day in a perfect condition and atralna and Ogrodowa Streets. When you get are played on by outstanding musicians during there, notice the tenement house at the organ concerts organized by the Organ Music corner, with its antique-type pseudo ba- Friends’ Association. In 1919 a sexton from s-reliefs (above the top level) of various pro- Berlin began to create polychrome decoration fessions’ attributes: a hammer, a chisel, a hat- on the vault. The only original elements of the chet, an anchor, a trowel and a cogwheel. church are the main altar depicting Abraham Next, you will arrive at a neoclassical bu- offering Isaac and Jesus Christ on the Cross. ilding of the Juliusz Osterwa Theater (29 Te- Another preserved element is a wooden, qu- atralna Street.) It was completed in 1873 from adrilateral pulpit with scenes of the life of Je- the funds paid by France as war reparations sus carved on the sides, decorated confessio- after it lost the war with Prussia in 1870. The nals and benches. theatre opening performance took place in After you leave the church, go towards 1886. In 1917 a Theatre Association was esta- Santockie roundabout and just before it turn blished and it took over the theatre. Thanks to right into Szpitalna street. You will pass an ec- their efforts such famous artists as e.g. Enrico lectic two-story building from 1848 that was Caruso, King of Tenors, performed here. The a former city hospital. The symmetry, rhy- building’s renovation began in 1923, under thmic arrangement of the corner projections the supervision of Meyer, the city’s construc- tion advisor. The front façade was decorated

18 The phantom of the Town Hall

JULIUSZ OSTERWA THEATRE - FOT. M. KAŹMIERCZAK with four Doric columns supporting a triangu- to show performances (not only during the lar pediment, closed by an arcade extension Theatre Meetings) of such renowned Polish with jerkin heads. Also the interior was redeco- actors as Zbigniew Zapasiewicz, Jerzy Ze- rated by Sandforth. When warfare ceased, on 8 lnik, Kazimierz Kaczor, Krystyna Feldman, September 1945 the theater resumed activity Anna Seniuk, Wojciech Pszoniak, Piotr Fron- by an amateur staging of Aleksander Fredro’s czewski, Krzysztof Tyniec, Leonard Pietra- “Ciotunia.” An artist's life at that time was ne- szak, Piotr Machalica, Marian Kociniak, Ma- ither easy nor safe. It is best proved by the fact rek Perepeczko, Andrzej Grabowski. The that in 1945 a showgirl Maria Didur-Załuska theatre’s Summer Stage, including ope- was shot in the leg during her performance in n-air and small audience events, is some- the “Polonia” restaurant. In 1946 a permanent thing out of the ordinary. Apart from dra- actor company was established, led by Leonia ma performances, sometimes the theatre and Henryk Barwiński. It staged 13 premieres hosts excellent music concerts, such as the that year, playing in total 163 shows, including world renowned pianist Michael Ponti’s per- 89 guest performances away from Gorzów. formance of Ludvig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, op. 58, accompa- The theatre was equally active in 1947 nied by the Brandenburg Philharmonic Or- and 1948, when it was managed by Aleksan- chestra. The activity of the theatre and its der Gąssowski. Unfortunately, it all chan- head Jan Tomaszewicz (since 2003) were ged later when theatre plays were suspen- appreciated and awarded by both the Mi- ded and the stage was given to boxing nistry of Culture (awarding a medal „Zasłu- and wrestling or even circus shows. Final- żony Kulturze – Gloria Artis”) and by the Mi- ly, a permanent state-owned theatre was nistry of Education (medal of the Comission created in 1960. Its complete revival took of National Education). It was also apprecia- place under the management of the famo- ted by the Mayor of Gorzów from whom the us Polish actress and director Irena Byrska theatre received the “Motyl” cultural award. (1963-1966.) It is proved by the awards the theatre won at national competitions, and The theatre building houses also a the- by the fact that its staging of “Don Alvares” atre-themed café “Art Caffe Teatralka” whe- by Herakliusz Lubomirski was shown on the re you can have a refreshing drink or relax over Polish TV. 1967 was the birth year of Kon- a cup of coffee. frontacje Teatralne (Theatre Confronta- tions, since 1983 known as the Gorzów The- Continue along Teatralna Street and you atre Meetings.) The theatre had the honor will reach a secession tenement house (no.

19 The phantom of the Town Hall

35) beautifully decorated e.g. with the figures of sitting eagles. Further down on the left you can see a pseudomedieval wall and a gate. This decorative neo-gothic wall was built of burnt cellular bricks in the 1890s. In the left part of the wall there is a suspended semicircular pin- nacle, based on a pyramid-shaped . The- re are two towers above and below the top bric- ked up window. On the right there is a quadrila- teral brick gate pole, terminated with a profi- led cornice with a lambrequin . Com- mon ivy climbing up the wall is considered to be the thickest in Poland (40cm of circumfe- rence, 5.5m tall.)

You should now turn right, take Sikor- skiego Street again and go towards Zbigniewa Herberta Street (former Fornalska Street), where you can find a four-story building of the THE BUST MONUMENT OF FRIEDRICH DANIEL ERNST SCHLEIERMACHER - FOT. Z. RUDZIŃSKI former Town Hall, built in 1923-1924. Its en- trance is decorated with a columned portico originally decorated with allegorical figures of e will start our journey from visi- children that you can now see in the park of the ting a secluded part of the town Lubuskie Museum. W– the garden of the Centre for Eu- roregional Studies in Gorzów in Kazimierza Now turn right and take Obotrycka Stre- Wielkiego Street – to discover a bust monu- et. On your left you can see a kindergarten; in ment of a philosopher Ernst Daniel Schle- the 15th century there was a Teutonic castle iermacher (1768-1834), designed by Michał here, and later a middle school that perished Bajsarowicz. during the Second World War. On your right there is a classicistic building, formerly the Orphan’s House, probably designed by an ar- FRIEDRICH DANIEL ERNST chitect David Gilly. Built in 1824, it was loca- ted on the site of an older building founded a SCHLEIERMACHER hundred years before by captain Meier. The Or- This eminent philosopher and Protestant phan House was here until 1891, when it was theologian served as a preacher between moved to another building, and municipal tre- 1794 and 1796 in the Landsberg Church of asury and police moved in here. Concord. The bust monument of this clergy- man stood near the church since 1848 until Just a few more steps and you are again the end of the Second World War. He was a in front of the Steingke tenement house, de- curate and spent his free time translating scribed in earlier part of the tour. such works as the writings of the English preacher Blair. When he lived in Lands- berg Schleiermacher never severed relations with the world; he exchanged many letters, views and kept track of what was changing in sciences. He must have felt at home here since after leaving Landsberg he dedicated a collection of his own sermons to his pre- decessor in our town. Thus the word of God preached at the Church of Concord was the first result of his research work.

20 In search of the dragon

In search of the dragon

Coming back to Kazimierz Wielki Stre- et, you are now he- ading towards the Carl Bahr’s seces- sion villa situated in the same street. The building, designed by Karl Edward Bengert from Berlin, was erec- ted in 1903 in the Ber- lin secession style. Abo- ve the main entrance in THE WEDDING HALL SURROUNDED BY A SMALL PARK - FOT. D. ADAMSKI the front façade there is a large ornamental stained-glass window. The porch was altered in Gorzów secession. The artistic style (domi- 1911 by adding another storey topped with a tur- nant from 1880 to 1914) combined artistic vi- ret. A year later a small wine cellar was added. sion, aesthetics and functionality as no other The hall and a fine, impressive wooden staircase before. To fully grasp its atmosphere you will are the remaining elements of the former furni- have to turn right and walk about 50 metres shings. The building is surrounded by a small park to reach the office and storage building of the with a fountain. Currently it serves as a Wedding former Newmarchian Artificial Stone Company Hall and it is also the seat of the MG-6 Commu- (19/20 Mickiewicza Street.) The façade of the ne Association. The north-west part of the park building designed by Bruno Krischker in 1908 and windows on this side overlook a small lake was decorated with a fancy little dragon. called „the Russian Pond” („Ruski Stawek”.) The Let us go back to the intersection of Mieszka name was based on a rumour which said that the- I and Mickiewicza Streets and turn to the latter re was a sunk Russian tank at the bottom of the and reach the tenement house no 30. What pond. The tank supposedly sank in 1945 when a splendor! There is a balcony over the gate with in darkness it drove into ice which broke under windows decorated with the head of a bearded its weight. man and profiles of two young boys. Further abo- Pass Roosevelt Street and you will reach a ve there is the building construction date “1909”. courthouse in Mieszka I Street, where artillery The higher stories in this pivot have triangle-sha- barracks were formerly located. This thre- ped windows ornamented with a rose and shell e-story brick building was put at the disposal motifs, the head of a young lady and two owls of the 18th Field Artillery Regiment in 1895. After the end of the World War I the unit was dissolved and the building was taken over by the police. After World War Two it was used by a Soviet army unit. Currently it is the seat of the District Court. The next intersection with Mickiewicza Street will begin your adventure with the MICKIEWICZ STREET NO 19-20 - FOT. T. CHWALISZ

21 In search of the dragon nearby. Somewhat higher there is a small dragon and a solid vase. The neighboring buildings faça- des (also those with balconies) are equally lavishly decorated with geometrical and floral motifs. Se- cession was a beautiful but costly style.Its nume- rous examples in the Landsberg architecture give us an idea of how wealthy the citizens were at the turn on the 20th century. Its numerous examples in the Landsberg architecture give us an idea of how wealthy the citizens were at the turn on the 20th century. You are now approaching a small park (2.1 ha) founded in 1882 by Friedrich Klose, a Lands- bergian decora- THE LIGHT FOUNTAIN ON THE GRUNWALD SQUARE - FOT. B. NOWOSIELSKI tive painter and There is a part of the park with a playgro- a member of the und, and it abounds in specimens of intere- then town coun- sting trees: the exotic yellow catalpa, baldcy- cil. Let us spend press, native oak trees or the European whi- THE TENEMENT HOUSE NO 30, MICKIEWICZ STEET - FOT. T. CHWALISZ some time here te elm and impressive black poplars growing before you move along the Kłodawka river. on. The small bridge modeled after constructions fo- Now we are just a stone’s throw from the Grun- und in Paris or Rome is accompanied by two pedun- wald Square, the largest of Landsbergian squares culate cone-shaped oak trees. This part of the park surrounded by beautiful London plane alleys. A for- abounds in small-leaved and large-leaved lime tre- mer drill ground for the artillerymen stationing ne- es, European ash, Italian poplar, London planes and arby, the square with time became a place where common Douglas-fir trees. Among the trees you will special events were organized. Currently the domi- find a commemorative stone with a medallion de- nating element of the square is a Szydłowiec sand- voted to Irena Dowgielewiczowa, a poet and a wri- stone monument of the Polish-Soviet Brotherhood ter who lived in Gorzów. in Arms designed by Leszek Krzeszowski. Nearby we can see a modern bell tower erected by the city au- thorities and ornamented with the Bell of Peace founded by the former Landsberg citizens. The com- IRENA DOWGIELEWICZOWA memorative plaque has the following inscription ta- The poet’s debut was a collection of stories „A ken from “The Song of the Bell” by Friedrich Schiller: Better Dinner” devoted to those struggling “To this city Joy revealing, Be Peace the first note of with illnesses, pain and suffering. She is also its pealing.” The bells rang for the first time on 2 Sep- the author of the poem “About the City of Go- tember 2006 during the official inauguration of the rzów” from the volume “This is where I live”. celebration of 750 years of Gorzów, initiated by Urszu- This is an excerpt from the poem: la Hasse-Dressing (the president of the BAG Lands- “Can one love walls? One can. berg/Warte Association) and Tadeusz Jędrzejczak But not the Capitol or the Gothic of Cologne, (the Mayor of Gorzów Wielkopolski). And so we have Only that niche of the corner wall, two symbols here: the first of the past we should ne- A rough defiance of a weakened hand.” ver forget and the second of the future worth living The writer lived in Gorzów for forty years. for. A recent reconstruction of the square gave it a be- She gained recognition as the author of a autiful light fountain. novel “A View with a Poplar” and short sto- Another element of this impressive square is ries “Uncle Snep and Friends” with animals the Time Capsule. as protagonists.

22 In search of the dragon

THE TENEMENT HOUSE, CHROBREGO STREET - FOT. B. NOWOSIELSKI 5th Infantry Division of the Polish Second Army many of whom decided to settle in Gorzów after the end of World War Two. The monument Hailed be the Heroes which was here earlier (until 1978)

THE LIGHT FOUNTAIN ON THE GRUNWALD SQUARE - FOT. B. NOWOSIELSKI

KAPSUŁA CZASU (TIME CAPSULE) Bożydar Bibrowicz who revived the idea of the As- sociation for the Adornment of Gorzów was its ori- THE TENEMENT HOUSE, KRZYWOUSTEGO STREET - FOT. B. NOWOSIELSKI ginator. A year after Landsberg/Gorzów Wielko- th polski celebrated its 750 anniversary, the citizens commemorated the soldiers of the 5th Shock Army put into the capsule old and modern maps, pho- of the First Bellarussian Front. tos, a guidebook of the city, coins and many other small objects. It will all help those who open the The walking routes were planned and described by Zbi- capsule in a hundred years understand and get to gniew Rudziński (born in Gorzów 12.24.1960.) He is a know the current citizens. member of the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society-Go- rzów division (www.pttk-ziemiagorzowska.pl.) He or- ganized over a hundred sightseeing trips in Gorzów and Before you leave the square and turn left to in the region for schoolchildren and teenagers. He is also a Mieszko I Street, you can stop by at the Polish Tourist traveler and a mountaineer who organized over 30 expe- ditions, from Iceland, Lofoten (Norway) to Sierra Neva- and Sightseeing Society (PTTK, open between 12.00 da (Spain), and the Crimean mountains. He has climbed, and 16.00) to buy a map or a Gorzów Wielkopolski among others, Mont Blanc in the Alps, Mount Marmolada travel guide. Later you can head to the centre of the in the Dolomites, Aneto in the Pyrenees, Mount Etna in Si- city to admire the beautifully renovated secession te- cily and Bobotov Kuk on Durmitor mountain. A tourist and a hiker, author of several travel guides “Zamki Sudetów nement houses which are indeed a feast for the eyes. Polski” (“Castles of the Polish Sudetes”), “Chojnik i okoli- The gate of number 64 tenement house is a no- ce” (“Chojnik and the area”), “Gorzów Wielkopolski i okoli- teworthy architectural element on your way. Abo- ce – szlaki rowerowe” (“Gorzów Wielkopolski and the sur- roundings - biking trails”, German version available), “Gmi- ve the gate you can see a sea shell woven in the flo- na Kłodawa zaprasza do Puszczy Gorzowskiej” (“Kłodawa ral and geometrical motifs supplemented with the Commune welcomes to Gorzów Primeval Forest”, German bowls of fire and the head of a woman in a bonnet. version available), „Rowerowy szlak Królewski” (“Bike the Still immersed in secession, take Bolesława Chrobre- Royal Route”), “Gorzów Wielkopolski – miasto na siedmiu wzgórzach” (Gorzów Wielkopolski - a city on seven hills”, go Street to marvel at beautiful balconies with Corin- German translation available), „Rowerowy szlak zakonów thian columns or pseudo-caryatids (female figures rycerskich na Ziemi Lubuskiej” (“Biking trails around kni- supporting another row of balconies). ghts’ orders in the Lubuskie region”), “Chronione obszary przyrodnicze powiatu gorzowskiego” (“Protected natural We have reached the Tomb of the Unk- areas of the Gorzów poviat”, German translation available), nown Soldier commonly referred to as “the as well as several descriptions of maps of the northern Lu- Square”. This monument situated amidst the tre- buskie province. The author of a multimedia presentation es and bushes was designed by a visual artist Jerzy “Gorzów known and unknown.” The originator and creator of walking trails in Czechówek Park and Wieprzyckie Hills. Koczewski. It commemorates the soldiers of the

23 GUIDE GUIDE

I CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS • Jan Dekert Museum of the Lubuskie Region • “Pod Filarami” Jazz Club www.muzeumlubuskie.pl www.jazzfilary.pl "The Villa and Garden Complex” 7 Jagiełły Street 35 Warszawska Street Ph. 0048 957 228 780 Ph. 0048 957 323 814, 0048 957 322 843

• “The Granary” (Spichlerz) JACKOWIAK 1-3 Fabryczna Street - Ph. 0048 957 225 468, 0048 957 226 709

• “Zagroda Młyńska”, Bogdaniec

22 Leśna Street, 66-450 Bogdaniec CHRUŚCIŃSKA EWELINA

Ph. 0048 957 510 007. FOT.

• “Gród Santocki”, Santok • “Lamus” Creative Thinking Club 4 Wodna Street, 66-431 Santok www.klublamus.pl Ph. 0048 957 316 108. 5 Sikorskiego Street Ph. 0048 957 226 796

• The Small Gallery of the Gorzów Photo- graphy Association www.gtf.cba.pl 4 Chrobrego Street Ph. 0048 957 367 667 ADAMSKI D. D. FOT. FOT.

• Juliusz Osterwa Theatre www.teatr-gorzow.pl 9 Teatralna Street

Ph. 0048 957 289 930 UM ARCHIWUM

Box Office: Ph. 0048 957 289 939, 0048 957 289 940 FOT.

• Galleries and the 60 Chairs Cinema in the City Cultural Centre www.mosart.pl 73 Pomorska Street Ph. 0048 957 332 550

• Civic Cultural Centre www.emceka.pl • Artistic Education Centre - Gorzów 26 Drzymały Street Philharmonic Ph. 0048 957 202 911 www.cea.gorzow.pl I SPORTS AND WELLNESS • “AzylArt” Culture Centre and Gallery • Capri Medical Day Spa www.kultura-gorzow.pl www.caprispa.pl 36/37 Wał Okrężny Street 14 Słowiańska Street Ph. 0048 957 225 582, 0048 957 224 427 Ph. 0048 957 338 538

24 GUIDE

• Play squash in Super 24h Recreation Centre www.super24h.pl 25 Walczaka Street • Quad rides (upon reservation only) www.quady-gorzow.pl BARTEK NOWOSIELSKI BARTEK

FOT. FOT. 38a Kobylogórska Street Ph. 0048 509 548 847 • “Słowianka” Sport and Rehabilitation • Paintball Centre www.micegroup.pl swimming pool, sauna, tennis court, bow- 4/2 Spichrzowa Street ling, ice rink, boule Ph. 0048 957203040 www.slowianka.pl 14 Słowiańska Street Ph. 0048 957 338 500 BARTEK NOWOSIELSKI BARTEK FOT. FOT. ŁUKASZ TRZOSEK ŁUKASZ

FOT. FOT. • Askana Shopping Center and Helios Cinema www.galeria-askana.pl • A carriage ride 102 Konstytucji 3 Maja Av. (upon reservation only) Western boulevard I RESTAURANTS Hieronim Piela, ph. 0048 69356504 • Barge Ana (open April through September) Docks at the western boulevard ARCHIWUM UM ARCHIWUM FOT. FOT. CHWALISZ . • “Kuna” icebreaker cruise T FOT. FOT. www.kuna.gorzow.pl Eastern boulevard • Bella Toscana Jerzy Hopfer Ph. 0048 602 599 536 Nadbrzeżna Street (niche no. 5, eastern boulevard) Magdalena Sierocka Ph. 0048 693 434 634 • Don Vittorio www.donvittorio.com.pl 21 Sikorskiego Street CHWALISZ

T. FOT. FOT. CHWALISZ . • Browar Witnica (Brewery in Witnica) T www.browar-witnica.pl FOT. 1 Marii Konopnickiej Street, 66-460 Witnica • Futerał Ph. 0048 95 751 51 14 www.restauracjafuteral.pl Brewery tour and beer tasting, entrance fee: 15 zł. 5 Spichrzowa Street

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• Hong Kong Bar I A CUP OF COFFEE 24 Kosynierów Gdyńskich Street • Art Caffe Teatralka • Il Forno www.teatr-gorzow.pl Nadbrzeżna Street (western boulevard) 9 Teatralna Street • La Dolce Vita www.dolce-vita.pl 16 Wełniany Rynek Street • Living Room Nadbrzeżna Street (western boulevard) E.CHRUŚCIŃSKA-JACKOWIAK FOT. FOT. • Cafe Batavia www.donvittorio.com.pl 21 Sikorskiego Street • Cafe Club - Askana Gallery T. CHWALISZ T. 102 Konstytucji 3 Maja Av. FOT. FOT. www.cafeclub.eu • Long Play Pizzeria • Cafe Costa 7 Chrobrego Street www.cafecosta.pl • Łubu Dubu www.lubudubu.com 7/1 Wybickiego Street 32/33 Łokietka Street • Pasja www.restauracja-pasja.eu 32 Chrobrego Street • Republika Róż 13 Pocztowa Street CHWALISZ T. T. FOT. FOT.

• Corto Caffe 20G Kosynierów Gdyńskich Street www.cortocaffe.pl • Śnieżka

T. CHWALISZ T. 12 Obotrycka Street FOT. FOT. 29a Chrobrego Street • Santa Fee 136 Sikorskiego Street www.santafee.pl 70 Słowiańska Street Nadbrzeżna Street • Red Coffee (niche no. 12-15, eastern boulevard) 10b Wełniany Rynek Street • Sante • Zaścianek www.sante-restauracja.pl 36 Borowskiego Street 5 Lutycka Street • Smażalnia Ryb u Pirata I NIGHT CLUBS AND BARS 3 Herberta Street • Sofra - Turkish Restaurant 11a Obotrycka Street • Sushi Bar www.sushigorzow.pl 4 Spichrzowa Street

• U Bartosza NOWOSIELSKI 35 Łokietka Street BARTEK BARTEK FOT. FOT.

26 GUIDE

• Pod Zielonym Abażurem 14-15 Chrobrego Street • Pub Fahrenheit www.fahrenheit.com.pl 7 Chrobrego Street

NOWOSIELSKI • Santa Fee www.santafee.pl BARTEK BARTEK Nadbrzeżna Street (niche no. 12-15, eastern FOT. FOT. boulevard) • AQQ • Silver Club Garbary Street www.clubsilver.pl • Bulwar Cafe 9 Sikorskiego Street Nadbrzeżna Street (western boulevard) • Bulwar Żywiec Pub www.bulwarzywiecpub.pl Nadbrzeżna Street (western boulevard) • Cafe Music Club Mana Mana Mieszka I Street

• City Pub & Cafe ADAMSKI Nadbrzeżna Street (western boulevard) DANIEL DANIEL FOT. FOT.

• Studnia Pub www.studnia-pub.pl 7 Obotrycka Street • Tawerna Bosmana

NOWOSIELSKI 1 Zaułek Street

BARTEK BARTEK

FOT. FOT. I ACCOMMODATION • HOTEL AZYL** • Doors www.hotelazyl.prv.pl 8 Obotrycka Street 45 Chopina Street • Hades Club Ph. 0048 95 7227276 www.hades-klub.za.pl [email protected] 14 • HOTEL DWORCOWY* • Garappa 1 Dworcowa Street 11 Zabytkowa Street Ph. 00 48 95 722 85 91 • Grand Club www.grand-club.pl 9 Obotrycka Street • Light Cafe www.light-cafe.pl Pod Info Globem • Matnara www.matnara.pl 4 Mostowa Street T. CHWALISZ T.

• Metronom-Club FOT. www.metronom-club.pl • HOTEL FADO *** 2 Chrobrego Street www.hotelfado.pl • Hell Club 12 Konstytucji 3 Maja Av. 82 Kosynierów Gdyńskich Street Ph. 0048 95 7388800 • Piwiarnia Warka [email protected] 5 Chrobrego Street

27 GUIDE

• HOTEL GORZÓW • METALOWIEC www.hotelgorzow.pl www.osir.gorzow.pl 20 Walczaka Street 25 Szczecińska Street Ph. 0048 95 7221133 Ph. + 48 95 728 76 28 [email protected] • MŁYN • HOTEL GRACJA*** www.mlyn.gorzow.pl www.hotelgracja.pl 111 Wyszyńskiego Street 20b Dąbrowskiego Street Ph. 0048 95 7350315, 0048 605 447993 Ph. + 48 95 720 28 15 [email protected] [email protected] • Motel Pintal** • HOTEL HUZAR** www.pintal.eu www.hotel-huzar.pl 24F Os. Bermudy 2 Husarska Street Gorzów-Wawrów Ph. 0048 95 7224407 Ph. 0048 95 7263230 [email protected] [email protected] • HOTEL MIESZKO*** • Szkolne Schronisko Młodzieżowe - Youth Hostel www.hotel-mieszko.pl www.schroniskogorzow.eu 82 Kosynierów Gdyńskich Street 8 Wyszyńskiego Street Ph. 0048 95 7205051 Ph. + 48 95 722 74 70 [email protected] [email protected] • HOTEL MCM GORZÓW** http://www.schroniskogorzow.eu/ www.hotelmcm.pl • Dom Studenta – Student Dorm 4 Grobla Street www.awf-gorzow.edu.pl Ph. 0048 95 7369292 36 Myśliborska Street [email protected] Ph. 0048 95 7279114 [email protected]

I ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • Bimba - city information centre It is located in the pedestrian zone at Wełnia- ny Rynek Street (next to the Arsenał) You can purchase souvenirs related to Go- rzów, tickets for cultural and sport events.

WWW.QUBUSHOTEL.COM There are also interesting books about the

FOT. FOT. city, its attractions and history. • HOTEL QUBUS**** Opening hours: www.qubushotel.com Low season ( September through May): Mon- 3 Orląt Lwowskich Street Fri 13.00 – 17.00, Sat 11.00 – 15.00 Ph. + 48 95 735 07 35 High season (June through August): Tue-Sun [email protected] 10.00 – 18.00 • HOTEL U MARII** During the high season the Centre also serves www.umarii.pl as a Tourist Information Centre. 16 Walczaka Street Phone number: Ph. 0048 95 7366656 +48 697 523 375 [email protected] www.emceka.pl/mci

Written by: Zbigniew Rudziński Wydział Rozwoju i Promocji Miasta Introduction: Izabela Grygiel-Guła Urząd Miasta Gorzowa Wlkp. Content assistance: Ewelina Chruścińska- Ul. Sikorskiego 3-4 -Jackowiak, Tomasz Chwalisz 66-400 Gorzów Wlkp. Proof-reading: Małgorzata Pera T: +48 95 7355 784 Cover: Façade of a tenement house at 19-20 F: +48 95 7355 744 Mickiewicza Street (photo: T.Chwalisz) E: [email protected] Translation: Paulina Dzwonnik I: www.gorzow.pl

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