Łódź | ||
Voivodeship | Łódź | |
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Residents | 690.422 (2017) | |
height | 278 m | |
Tourist info web | *de.turystyka.uml.samozycie.pl | |
no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
location | ||
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Łódź (spoken: Wudsch; German: Lodz or Lodsch) is a city in Poland in the homonymous voivodeship at the sources of the Ner and Bzura and thus on the watershed between Warta/Or and Vistula. Łódź developed in the 19th century from a small town with less than 1000 inhabitants to a city of millions, which is shaped by the industrial age, historicism and Art Nouveau (Secession). Łódź is also the center of Polish cinema, hence its nickname HollyŁódź. The tourist center is on Piotrkowska Street.
Districts
background
The Polish name Łódź becomes Wudsch pronounced (with a 'w' as in English window) and translates as "boat". The city is called in German Lodz or Lodsch (both pronounced the same). The traditional spelling, even among the German-speaking population, was always Lodz, however, came Lodsch It did not come into wider use until the 1930s and became official in 1939. In any case, you should avoid the pseudo-German name Litzmannstadt. Different to Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznanthat have been in use for centuries and are therefore politically unsuspicious Litzmannstadt used exclusively during the German occupation in World War II 1940–45. This was to honor Karl Litzmann, general in World War I and later NSDAP politician. This name can therefore be clearly assigned to the Nazi language and arouses associations of war, ghetto and Holocaust.
The first written mention of Łódź comes from the year 1332. Already in 1423 the place got the town charter. But it remained an insignificant small town until the 18th century. With the second division of Poland, Łódź became part of Prussia in 1793, during the Napoleonic period it belonged to the Duchy of Warsaw, after the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to Congress Poland, i.e. H. the part of Poland ruled by Russia.
During the period of industrialization, Łódź developed into a center of the textile industry - called the Manchester Poland - and experienced rapid population growth. In 1806 the place had only 767 inhabitants, in 1830 there were already more than 4,000, in 1850 more than 15,000, in 1880 more than 77,000 and in the 1897 census, Łódź was the fifth largest city in the Russian Empire with 315,000 inhabitants. Among the newcomers were initially many Germans (1839: 78% of the population), but their proportion fell later (1897: 40%; 1913: 15%), instead the proportion of Jews (1897: 31%) and Poles (1913 : 50%). Magnificent commercial buildings and manufacturers' villas documented the wealth of the city's industry, but at the same time there was great poverty and misery among the masses of the workforce: Łódź only got a sewer system very late, child and infant mortality was at times 70% and around 1900 it was 80 % of the population illiterate. The novel “The Promised Land” by Polish Nobel Prize Laureate Władysław Reymont from 1897/98 is a testimony to this time.
In independent Poland (1918–1939), Łódź was one of the largest cities, industrial and cultural center. Education and health care have improved significantly. During the Second World War, the city was occupied by Nazi Germany. The large population group of the Łódź Jews was imprisoned in the “Ghetto Litzmannstadt”, where they had to do forced labor. Those who did not already die of the miserable living conditions were deported from here to extermination camps. The war destruction in Łódź was far less than in most other Polish or German cities. Since Warsaw, on the other hand, was almost completely destroyed, Łódź served as Poland's seat of government until 1948. It was even considered moving the capital here permanently, but the decision was made to rebuild Warsaw.
Łódź has been the seat of the State University of Film, Television and Theater since 1948. It is one of the most important film schools in the world. The directors Andrzej Wajda and Roman Polanski, for example, studied here. The Łódź industry continued to play an important role, but the facilities were hardly modernized. The population continued to grow and large-scale prefabricated housing estates were built for the new residents. In 1971 the first successful strike in the history of the People's Republic of Poland took place in Łódź, followed by hunger protests in 1981. The population peaked in 1988 at just under 855,000.
After the end of communist rule, the textile industry collapsed and the city experienced severe economic decline and mass unemployment. The population fell below 700,000 in 2016. However, since the turn of the millennium, the city has been experiencing an exciting development. Many fallow factory sites have been converted into lofts, event venues, museums and shopping centers. Large companies such as Dell, BSH (Bosch and Siemens Hausgeräte), Indesit, Gillette Poland International, Philips, Rossmann, ABB and Ceramika Tubądzin settled in the tax-exempt special economic zone of Łódź.
getting there
Łódź is an important transport hub in central Poland.
By plane
The 1 Łódź-Lublinek Airport "Wladyslaw Reymont"(IATA: LCJ) With 250,000 passengers per year, it is of minor importance. Mon-Fri there is a direct connection with Lufthansa from, to Munich. Otherwise is still Ryanair which offers connections with the British Isles (London-Stansted, Dublin, East Midlands) (as of winter 2018/19). The airport is located about 6 kilometers southwest of the city center.
The nearest major airports are Warsaw “Chopin” (WAW, numerous airlines and international destinations, 140 km away) and Warsaw-Modlin (WMI, only Ryanair; 145 km).
By train
Despite its central location, it is relatively difficult to get to Łódź from German-speaking countries because of the Eurocity Berlin–Warsaw drives past the city. From Berlin you can get to Łódź by changing to Kutno in 6½ to 7 hours. From Vienna you can change in Warsaw or Katowice (and possibly other train stations) in 8–9 hours to Łódź. There is also an overnight connection with Euronight and transfer to Krakow.
Within Poland, there are intercity trains from Warsaw to Łódź every hour, the journey takes about 1:20 hours. From Krakow you can get to Łódź four times a day without changing trains with the IC in 2½ to 2:45 hours. From Katowice an IC runs three times a day (2:45 hours) and once a TLK (corresponds to Interregio, a good 3 hours) to Łódź, each with a stop in Czestochowa (just under 1½ hours), other connections with a change in Koluszki or Włoszczowa Północ.
Out Poses you can take the IC directly to Łódź four times a day (3½ hours), otherwise you have to change trains in Kutno or Ostrów. Of Wroclaw There is a direct IC connection four times a day (3:40 hours), otherwise with a change in Koluszki. Out Danzig An IC runs four times a day (5:10 hours) and twice a TLK (5½ hours), the route leads through Bydgoszcz (3: 15–3½ hours) and Toruń (2:40 hours).
- 2 Łódź-Fabryczna Railway Station (in the east of the city center). The city's main train station. The historic terminus station was completely rebuilt and modernized in 2011-16 and now has underground through tracks.
- 3 Łódź-Widzew Railway Station (on the eastern outskirts, 7 km from the city center). Intercity Warsaw – Łódź – Wroclaw and Danzig – Łódź – Katowice / Cracow, regional trains from Koluszki.
- 4 Łódź-Kaliska railway station (2 km west of the city center). Regional trains from Kutno, Pabianice.
By bus
The Deutsche Bahn IC bus runs directly from Berlin Hbf, Südkreuz and Schönefeld Airport to Łódź (Kaliska station). The trip goes overnight and takes 6½ hours.
In the street
The A2 connects Łódź with Poses and Frankfurt (Oder), it forms the extension of the German A12 from Berlin. In an easterly direction it continues to Warsaw. From Berlin it is about 480 km, for which you need a pure driving time of five hours.
By boat
Although Łódź in Polish means boat, there is no navigable river in the city.
mobility
Tourist Attractions
Churches
- 1 Stanislaus Kostka Cathedral (Bazylika archikatedralna św. Stanisława Kostki), ul.Piotrkowska 265 (Tram "Piotrkowska / Plac Katedralny"). Cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lodz, built 1900–1911 in neo-Gothic style. The 104 meter high tower was completed in 1927 and is the fourth tallest church tower in Poland.
- 2 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Sobór św. Aleksandra Newskiego), ul.Jana Kilińskiego 56 (Corner of Narutowicza; Tram "Narutowicza / Kilińskiego"). Orthodox cathedral in neo-Byzantine style, built 1880-84 on the orders of Tsar Alexander II, who was planning to "Russify" Poland. Today it is the episcopal church of the Łódź-Poznań diocese of the Polish Orthodox Church.
Palaces
- 3 Izrael Poznański Palace (Pałac Izraela Poznańskiego), ul.Ogrodowa 15 (Corner of Zachodnia). Extremely magnificent palace of the textile manufacturer and multimillionaire Izrael Poznański. It was built from 1888–1903 in a mix of neo-renaissance and baroque and is nicknamed "Louvre of Lodz".
Buildings
- 4 Poznanski textile factory (Fabryka Izraela Poznańskiego w Łodzi). The factory of the "cotton king" Izrael Poznański had weaving mills, spinning mills, dye works and bleaching, its own power station and a fire station on an area the size of 38 football fields. It was built between 1872 and 1892. In the socialist era, the state-owned company produced here Poltex. This was closed in 1992 and the site lay fallow. The idea arose to convert the listed complex and the factory became a shopping center in 2002-06 Manufacture, a cinema, two museums and the luxury hotel Vienna House Andel's rebuilt.Former
- 5 White factory (Biała Fabryka Ludwika Geyera, Ludwig Geyer factory), ul.Piotrkowska 282 (Corner of Milionowa; Tram "Piotrkowska / Czerwona"). Textile factory built in 1835–37 by the Berlin entrepreneur Ludwig Geyer. It is kept in the classical style and is characterized by its white painted facade. This is where Łódź's first mechanical cotton spinning and weaving mill stood, powered by the city's first steam engine. Today it houses the Central Textile Museum.
- 6 Villa Edward Fall (Willa Edwarda Herbsta, Muzeum Pałac Herbsta), ul.Przędzalniana 72 (Corner of Tymienieckiego; Bus 55 "Przędzalniana / Tymienieckiego"). Neo-Renaissance villa built between 1875 and 1877, designed by the architect Hilary Majewski for the textile manufacturer Edward Herbst. Today it houses an art museum.
Monuments
- 7 Tadeusz Kościuszko Monument (Pomnik Tadeusza Kościuszki), Plac Wolności. Monument to the Polish national hero, in the middle of the central Freedom Square, at the north end of Piotrkowska Street. It is 17 meters high with a base and was inaugurated in 1930. It was destroyed in 1939 during the German occupation in World War II, but rebuilt in 1960.
Museums
- 8 Muzeum Sztuki w Łodzi (MSL; Lodz Art Museum), ul.Więckowskiego 36 (Corner of Gdańska; Bus "Więckowskiego / Gdańska"). Traditional museum for modern and contemporary art (since 1931). Important collection of works by the Polish artist group a.r. around Władysław Strzemiński and Katarzyna Kobro. The museum also has exhibition rooms in the former Poznanski factory (Manufaktura site, ul. Ogrodowa 19), called MS2.
- 9 Centralne Muzeum Włókiennictwa (Central textile museum), ul.Piotrkowska 282 (Corner of Milionowa; Tram "Piotrkowska / Czerwona").
- 10 Cinematography Museum (Muzeum Kinematografii, Kinomuzeum), pl. Zwycięstwa 1 (Tram "Piłsudskiego / Targowa"). Collections of films, advertising posters, elements of scenography, technical equipment (old projectors, cameras), as well as documentation on the history of Polish cinematography. The museum also has an original and working photoplasticon.
Streets and squares
- 11 Piotrkowska Street (Petrikauer Strasse). Central business and boulevard of the new town. It is lined with numerous representative buildings in the Wilhelminian style and Art Nouveau. Towards the end of the communist era, she was in a sad state. Since the 1990s, however, most of the architectural monuments have been restored and Piotrkowska has been declared a pedestrian zone, making it the most beautiful and best-known figurehead in the city. In total, the road is over 4 kilometers long; The 2 km long section north of the aleja Adama Mickiewicza to Plac Wolności is particularly interesting for promenading and window shopping.
- 12 Plac Wolności (Freedom Square, Rynek Nowego Miasta). The central square of the 19th century New Town, at the northern end of Piotrkowska Street. On the south side of the square are the classicist town hall and the Pentecostal Church. In the middle of the square is the monument dedicated to the Polish national hero Tadeusz Kościuszki, inaugurated in 1930. On the north side, little of the historical buildings has been preserved; the rest has been replaced by prefabricated buildings from the socialist era.
- 13 Stary Rynek (old market). At this point was the original center of the old Łódź (Stare Miasto). Until the 19th century it was lined with wooden houses, and the town hall was also a wooden building. At the beginning of the 19th century, the wooden buildings were replaced by brick houses in the classical style. At that time, almost exclusively Jews lived around the old market. During the German occupation in World War II, the quarter belonged to the Litzmannstadt ghetto. In the course of the dissolution of the ghetto and the deportation of the local Jews, the buildings around the old market were partly destroyed. The demolition continued as planned in the People's Republic of Poland after 1945 in order to be able to completely redesign the square. It is now lined with three-story buildings in the style of socialist classicism from the 1950s. The Staromiejski Park (Old Town Park) adjoins it in the south.
Parks
- 14 Old graveyard (Stary Cmentarz, Cmentarz Stary przy ul. Ogrodowej), ul.Ogrodowa 43 (Tram 7 "Srebrzyńska / Cmentarz Ogrodowa" or "Cmentarna / Cmentarz Ogrodowa"). The old cemetery was laid out in 1855. Its area of 21 hectares is divided into a Catholic, an Evangelical and an Orthodox section. Some of the most important personalities in Łódź history are buried here, some of whom have lavishly designed mausoleums or family chapels. B. the grave chapel of the industrialist Karl Scheibler and the grave monument of the entrepreneur's daughter Sophie Biedermann (both Protestant) or the mausoleum of the factory owner Julius Heinzel (Catholic). Furthermore, in the Protestant part you can find the grave of the American actor Ira Aldridge, in the Catholic part the graves of the actors Wojciech Frykowski and Leon Niemczyk and the painter Władysław Strzemiński.
- 15 New Jewish cemetery (Nowy cmentarz żydowski), ul.Bracka 40 (Bus "Sporna / Bracka"). It was laid out in 1892, covers an area of 40 hectares and 65,000 tombs with 180,000 graves. This makes it the largest preserved Jewish cemetery in Europe. Some grave slabs are unusually designed with Art Nouveau elements. The mausoleum of the factory owner Izrael Poznański, which is called the “last palace in Poznanski” due to its size, should also be emphasized. Around 43,000 victims of the Litzmannstadt ghetto are also buried in the cemetery. A monument in the form of an obelisk and a broken oak commemorates the victims of the Lodz ghetto and the extermination camps.
- 16 zoo, ul. Konstantynowska 8/10 (Tram "Konstantynowska / ZOO"). With 667 different types. The Łódź Zoo is the only one in Poland where the rare Asiatic lion can be seen. Modern aviaries for owls and birds of prey. Special pavilion for butterflies. An "Orientarium" is to demonstrate the habitat of Southeast Asia from 2019, with orangutans, langurs, clouded leopards and sharks.
- 17 Źródliska Park (Spring park), between ul. Piłsudskiego, Targowa, Fabryczna and Przędzalniana (Tram "Piłsudskiego / Targowa" or "Piłsudskiego - Przędzalniana"). 17 hectare, well-tended public park in the form of a landscaped garden southeast of the city center (Księży Młyn district). It was created in 1840. The trees include alder, common oak, linden, spruce, poplar and ginkgo. In one part of the park is the former factory and the neo-renaissance palace of Karl Scheibler, the latter now serving as a film museum. In another part of the park you can find the palm house.
various
- 18 Księży Młyn (Pfaffendorf), between Al. Piłsudskiego, ul. Tymienieckiego, Kilińskiego and Przędzalniana, Tymienieckiego, Księży Młyn, Przędzalniana, Targowa. South-east of the city center and one of the largest connected industrial monuments in Europe. The settlement around a historic mill on the Jasień River developed into an industrial area from the 1820s and, in the further course of the 19th century, into a quasi-autonomous industrial town with a factory gas works, train station, workers' houses and school. A hospital, green spaces, a reading room, dance hall and a wind orchestra for the workers were added later. The state cotton company Uniontex got into a crisis during the fall of the Wall. With the film school, museums and parks, however, the district has been given a new image as a cultural center. Some former factory buildings are now used as lofts.
- 19 Montwiłł Mirecki settlement (Osiedle Montwiłła-Mireckiego), aleja Unii Lubelskiej, ul.Srebrzyńska, ul. Perla, Srebrzyńska, Perla, Daniłowskiego, Unii Lubelskiej (Bus "Srebrzyńska / Unii Lubelskiej" or "Unii Lubelskiej / Praussa"). Modernist settlement in the west of the city, built 1928–31 in the New Objectivity style, comparable to the German Bauhaus. The settlement was intended to offer an alternative to the often precarious housing conditions in the city and offered an unusually high level of comfort at the time with electricity, hot running water and sewage disposal. However, workers for whom the settlement was actually designed could hardly afford the rents; Instead, mainly intellectuals, doctors, civil servants, PPS functionaries, but also artists such as Władysław Strzemiński and Katarzyna Kobro moved in. In 1939 the settlement had almost 5,000 inhabitants; today there are still around 2,000.
activities
Sports fans will find in Łódź with Widzew (Stadion Widzewa, al. Piłsudskiego 138) and ŁKS (Stadion ŁKS-u, Aleja Unii Lubelskiej 2) two big football clubs with atmospheric fan curves. Both stadiums exude nostalgic charm, at ŁKS the dilapidated main grandstand has been closed. To buy tickets, a fan card (Karta Kibica) is required, which costs a few złoty and can be issued before the game. Long waiting times are to be expected because of the cumbersome forms, especially for games at the beginning of the season.
shop
- 1 Piotrkowska Street - The city's central promenade, lined with splendid commercial buildings from the 19th century and Art Nouveau. There are numerous international chains represented, but also some individual shops. There are also countless restaurants, cafes, snack bars, bars and clubs.
- 2 Manufacture, ul.Drewnowska 58 (Tram "Zachodnia / Manufaktura" or bus 78 "Drewnowska / Zachodnia" or bus 87A, 87B "Ogrodowa / Gdańska"). The site of the former Izrael Poznański textile factory was converted into a large shopping and leisure center in the 2000s. Numerous shops and restaurants, bowling alley, cinema with 14 halls and 3-D cinema.
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Web links
- https://uml.lodz.pl/ - Official website of Łódź