Poland Inspirations
Diversity of Cultures
Poland for ages was a mosaic of cultures, traditions and religions. It was a crossroad for those who were looking for their own piece of land in the turbulent Europe. In Poland you can experience the variety of architecture, various cultural inspirations, diversity of cuisine and music that makes our country a rich and colourful destination for those who want to experience the richness of the cultural diversity.
Mosaic of Cultures
Visit Lodz, a city where three traditions crossed: Polish, Jewish and German. You cannot omit the Art Museum – one of the most famous and prestigious art institutions in Poland. You will find there a wide selection of the 20-th century Polish and international paintings, including a lot of contemporary artists. There are also works by Picasso, Chagall and Ernst. As the contrast visit the charming Herbst Residence “Ksiezy Mlyn” – now a presentation of typical interiors and how the barons of industry lived in Lodz up till the WW II and the presentation of the art from the 19th century. A must is a visit to Poznanski Palace, that belonged to the Poznanski family, who were among the wealthiest Jewish clans in the city. Nowadays, the Poznanski Palace houses the Historical Museum of Lodz and is proud of its splendid interiors, including the dining room, outstanding wooden stairway as well as special exhibitions devoted the Artur Rubinstein and Jerry Kosinski.
Meet Modern Art
While in Krakow, visit to Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAK). Its two most important aims are presenting the art of the two last decades in the context of the post-war avant-garde and conceptual art as well as clarifying the rationale of creating art by highlighting its cognitive and ethical value, its relationship with everyday reality. The program encompasses presentation of the latest international art, education as well as research and publication projects.
Meeting with one of the leading artists of Polish contemporary art will enrich a visit to the museum and will give an in-deep knowledge of modern tendencies in art.
Sound & Technology
Visit the outstanding interiors of the newly opened National Forum of Music in Wroclaw- the institution of culture, co-governed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. The National Forum of Music operates the state-of-the-art multifunctional concert venue of the same name located in the historic centre of Wrocław. The NFM building was designed by Kuryłowicz & Associates Architecture Studio, selected through an international competition. The architect was inspired by the musical instrument - the shape of the string instrument. The foyer, covered with black and white Corian, brings to mind the piano keyboard.
Enjoy a guided tour of the interiors, such as: foyer with rich art collection, outstanding concert halls, technicians’ rooms which are not opened to the music public. You will also get to know the secrets of the innovative acoustic technics used while designing the building.
Culture Zone
Spend a day in Katowice, one of the most surprising cities with much to offer for both the cultural and architectural reasons. Visit the so-called Culture Zone spreading in the center of Katowice and being a perfect example of the revitalization of the urban grounds. Visit the Silesian Museum that offers one of the splendid exhibitions of paintings by such great Polish artists. Do not omit to go to Nikiszowiec and Giszowiec, two workers’ districts, both built at the beginning of the 20th century, for workers of the nearby mines. It is an outstanding example of architectural revitalization. Nikiszowiec is all made of the red brick and full of tenant houses while Giszowiec was created as a garden city with small, different houses. A must is also to visit the seat of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra that is one of the largest and most modern music venues in Poland and in the world. It is situated in the post-industrial area of Katowice formerly belonging to KWK Katowice coal mine.
Move Your Creativity
Bolesławiec is not only one of the prettiest towns in Lower Silesia but also world famous for its time-honoured tradition of pottery making. Modern ceramic products from Boleslawiec, decorated using the stamp technique, are exported worldwide and constitute the symbol of the town. Here you can learn the history of stoneware, see how pots are made out of clay, and finally you can take up the challenge of making pottery yourself. During the tour we will visit a local stoneware factory Manufaktura that offers over 250 different products in over 150 patterns.
You will have a unique possibility to view the whole production process that has not changed for centuries. Tours and stoneware making workshops are offered by multi-lingual guides and artists.