Łódź an Łowicz, a Trip Through Polish Culture

After a hearty breakfast in the hotel, you can start your day with a walk to one of the country's largest renovated factory complexes, Manufaktura, which has been transformed into one of the largest leisure centres in the country.
But on the way you can, for example, pass by St. Joseph's Church, the oldest church in the city, built entirely of wood. It is very beautiful to photograph.
It's usually closed in the morning, but you can see if you're lucky and get in.
Note Try to leave your car in the hotel parking lot during the morning, as after lunch you will need it to continue on your way.

Welcome to Manufaktura. Once the largest textile factory in Europe, it is now home to one of the largest leisure centres in Poland. It is well worth a visit. Its exterior preserves the shape of the factory with its red bricks and inside there are restaurants, shops, a hotel and the Textile Factory Museum, where you can learn about the history of the industry.
Open Hours Manufaktura The complex is always open, but the leisure area is open daily from 10:00 - 22:00.
Open Hours museum Tuesday - Sunday: 10.00-18.00 You can see more information on the website.

Very close to Manufaktura is the palace of the Poznański family. Izrael Poznański was one of the most famous industrialists of the city (and the country), who built the whole industrial complex, which included not only what is now Manufaktura and the palace he used as his residence, but also workers' residences, a school, a hospital, etc. The palace houses the Lodz City Museum, where you can find out what life was like in the city (and in the palace) during the heyday of the textile factory. Open Hours Tuesday- Thursday: 09:00 - 17:00 Friday - Sunday: 11:00 - 19:00.
For more information you can see this website.
If instead of visiting this museum, you would like to take advantage of this time to visit another museum or cultural space in the city, you can check the information on this web site.

You can walk a few minutes to Pomorska Street and enter this place where many go for breakfast, but it is also perfect for lunch or brunch. I can recommend that you order a traditional Polish soup (they usually offer you the one they have in the day), some pasta or meat with potatoes and a strudel for dessert!
Open Hours Monday - Friday: 8:00 - 18:00 Saturday - Sunday: 9:00 - 17:00

Lodz was the site of the second largest Jewish ghetto in Poland. The ghetto was destroyed after World War II, but today you can visit the train station from where people were deported to the concentration camps. It is always good to know about these moments in history so that they are never repeated.
There is a Holocaust memorial and a small museum.
Open Hours Sunday, Monday and Tuesday: 11:00 - 18:00 Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday: 11:00 - 16:00 Friday closed.

Next to the station is the Jewish cemetery, which can also be visited. There is a synagogue and an area where the graves are surrounded by dense vegetation. Always remember to respect and maintain silence.
Open Hours Sunday - Thursday 9:00 - 17:00 Friday 9:00 - 15:00.
Timetables are subject to change, so check this website to find out what they are. The website is in Polish, but you can use a translator.

To end the day and before returning to Warsaw, I suggest you make another detour on the way to the town of Łowicz. There, you can visit the Open-air museum of Łowicz's Folk Culture.
This museum reproduces the typical Polish rural houses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There are not only houses, but also a school, a mill, a church, etc. Therefore, you can enter each place and get to know what life was like at that time.
You can enter all the houses and buildings, there is a small cafe and you can walk through the countryside and gardens.
The part I liked the most was to see the art of Wycinanki, that is, cut paper. The amount of figures of flowers that they manage to make with small cut-outs is incredible. This art is typical of Polish folklore in rural areas and decorates all kinds of objects.
On our visit we were lucky because in one house there were some ladies working magic with paper and scissors.
Open Hours Monday - Sunday: 10:00 - 18:00

Afterwards, you can take a short walk through some of the historical sites of Łowicz, such as the triangular square. A paved market square with several shops around it. You can walk around for a few minutes, take pictures and watch everyday life in the city.
Parking is usually available in the surrounding streets.

From the triangular square, you can walk along the Zduńska shopping street to the city's cathedral.
You will be struck by the imposing Baroque building with its green domes. In addition to the church, there is a museum and one of the towers is a 35-metre observation deck.
You can go up to the viewing platform by stairs (almost 100 steps) or by lift. It can only be visited with a guide, so if you are interested you should make a reservation by mail to find out times and prices. The email address is muzeum@diecezja.lowicz.pl

To end the day and before returning to Warsaw, you can choose a traditional restaurant such as Powroty. There, you will be able to taste quality Polish food. For example, you can choose pielmieni or pierogi, goulash, soups and meats.
Open Hours Monday - Sunday: 11:00 - 22:00

Welcome back to Warsaw!