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Features
- Pola Negri
- Łódź: The top five likes and dislikes of city residents
- John Godson
- In pursuit of Jacob Bronowski
- Jerzy Kosiński
- Eugeniusz Bodo
- Jan Karski
- Parks
- Fountain of Love
- Karl Dominik
- pl. Wolności
- The Man
- Lodz In Your Pocket in iPaper
- Rivers of Łódź
- Wall Fresco
- Marcel Szytenchelm
- 1905 Revolution
- Łódź trivia
- The industrialists
- Max Factor
- Daniel Libeskind
- Rickshaws
- Roman Polański
- Krzysztof Kieślowski
- David Lynch
More features:
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The industrialists
‘Łódź was waking up, the first yelling factory whistle pierced the quiet of the early morning, then in all parts of the city others began to spring up ever more raucously and bawled in hoarse voices like a choir of monstrous roosters crowing their metal throats the call to work.... -
In pursuit of Jacob Bronowski
Best known as the presenter of the BBC’s genuinely groundbreaking 1973 documentary series The Ascent of Man (and the best-selling book which accompanied the series), Jacob Bronowski’s central belief was that the pursuit of knowledge, the production of art for art’s sake were what fundamentally made human beings human.... -
Jan Karski
‘Every government and church says, “We tried to help the Jews,” because they are ashamed, they want to keep their reputations.... -
Karl Dominik
Lodz, as you’ll learn rattling through this guide, is a city of the cinema, a star of the silver screen.... -
Pola Negri
One Polish name is particularly associated with the advent of film and Hollywood glamour, and that name is Pola Negri.... -
Parks
On first sight Lodz looks frighteningly similar to the upturned contents of a rubbish bin. Her aesthetic glories are not obvious, however, they’re certainly there to anyone daring enough to look under her skirt.... -
Lodz In Your Pocket in iPaper
... -
Fountain of Love
Standing in the shadow of the Kościuszko statue on pl. Wolnośći (right in front of Café Wiedeńska) is Łódź’s favourite fountain.... -
1905 Revolution
Mix a working class culture with a hatred for Imperial Russia and you get an volatile mix – and so it proved in 1905, when the people of Łódź rose in rebellion against their Russkie rulers.... -
Max Factor
Max Faktor (or Faktorowicz), born in Łódź in 1877, has come to be regarded as the father of modern day cosmetics.... -
Wall Fresco
If you’re walking in the area of Piotrkowska 71 you probably won’t be the first person to get nailed to the floor bya zooming rickshaw.... -
Rickshaws
A relatively recent phenomena, rickshaws were first introduced to Łódź in 1993 and today you’ll find over a hundred pedaling breathlessly up and down ulica Piotrkowska.... -
Roman Polański
Born in Paris, 1933, to Polish parents, Roman Polanski and his family returned to Kraków, Poland two years before the outbreak of war.... -
Daniel Libeskind
Whilst most of us abandoned our architectural aspirations the moment the Lego set was mangled by the dog Daniel Libeskind has gone on to become one of the world’s most eminent architects and one of Łódź’s proudest exports....
Łódź: The top five likes and dislikes of city residents
During June 2011 Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper invited 21 journalism students from City University London to visit the country’s largest cities to assess whether they were ready to host the upcoming Euro 2012 football tournament. Dubbed Misja 21 (Mission 21), the project also elicited input from local residents, including their votes on the top five likes and dislikes in their own cities. Here’s what the locals think of what Łódź has to offer.
Top 5 likes:
1. Manufaktura, ul. Drewnowska 58 (A/B-1)
An obvious choice and one of the true jewels in the Łódź crown, Manufaktura’s 300+ stores, restaurants and entertainment options would be a top pick in any city.
2. Piotrkowska Street (C-1/7)
Europe’s longest pedestrian street is definitely the heart of Łódź, with heaps of bars, restaurants and shops to choose from. Plus – rickshaws!
3. Księży Młyn, ul. Przędzalniana 72 (H-4)
Part of Łódź’s manufacturing history, Księży Młyn was once a giant factory complex that burned down and was rebuilt more times than we can count. Today it hosts an art museum that is currently closed for renovation.
4. Biała Fabryka (White Factory), u. Piotrkowska 282 (G-4)
An extraordinary (and humongous) 19th-century building, Biała Fabryka is truly a sight to behold. You can find the Central Museum of Textiles inside.
5. Łagiewniki (G/H-1)
The largest city park in Europe, Łagiewniki provides an oasis of green space in the midst of the city. There’s even a Franciscan monastery in the northwest portion of the park.
Top 5 dislikes
1. Łódź Fabryczna train station, Pl. Sałacińskiego 1 (E-4)
The most central station in Łódź was definitely a rundown eyesore, but the city’s prayers were answered and it is currently closed for much-needed renovations. Here’s hoping it makes the ‘likes’ list next time.
2. Chinatown, Piotrkowska 138 (C-6)
Chinatown used to be home to a number of rundown stalls slinging cheap food, but much like the aforementioned Fabryczna the wish for their overhaul has been granted. The stalls were bulldozed last fall, and plans for a more modern venue filled with restaurants, clubs and shops is already under way (walk by today and it’s currently a skate park of all things).
3. Ruins on ul. Zachodnia (B-2/3)
Based on the dislikes from other cities in Poland we can say that abandoned ruins are abhorred country-wide. These old houses fit the bill.
4. Wschodnia, Pomorska, Włókiennicza, Rewolucji 1905 roku streets (C-2/3)
This area has earned the disdain of locals because of the generally shabby appearance of the buildings, the volume of dog poo that accumulates on the sidewalk (we’ve noticed too) and the staggering drunks that call it home.
5. Building on Al. Piłsudskiego and ul. Sienkiewicza crossing (D-6)
What was once home to the popular Juventus shop is now populated by clubs and empty storefronts. Fortunately, there are plans for revitalization, and with the new Klub Pomarancza drawing in crowds we can’t imagine it will take long.
Top 5 likes:
1. Manufaktura, ul. Drewnowska 58 (A/B-1)
An obvious choice and one of the true jewels in the Łódź crown, Manufaktura’s 300+ stores, restaurants and entertainment options would be a top pick in any city.
2. Piotrkowska Street (C-1/7)
Europe’s longest pedestrian street is definitely the heart of Łódź, with heaps of bars, restaurants and shops to choose from. Plus – rickshaws!
3. Księży Młyn, ul. Przędzalniana 72 (H-4)
Part of Łódź’s manufacturing history, Księży Młyn was once a giant factory complex that burned down and was rebuilt more times than we can count. Today it hosts an art museum that is currently closed for renovation.
4. Biała Fabryka (White Factory), u. Piotrkowska 282 (G-4)
An extraordinary (and humongous) 19th-century building, Biała Fabryka is truly a sight to behold. You can find the Central Museum of Textiles inside.
5. Łagiewniki (G/H-1)
The largest city park in Europe, Łagiewniki provides an oasis of green space in the midst of the city. There’s even a Franciscan monastery in the northwest portion of the park.
Top 5 dislikes
1. Łódź Fabryczna train station, Pl. Sałacińskiego 1 (E-4)
The most central station in Łódź was definitely a rundown eyesore, but the city’s prayers were answered and it is currently closed for much-needed renovations. Here’s hoping it makes the ‘likes’ list next time.
2. Chinatown, Piotrkowska 138 (C-6)
Chinatown used to be home to a number of rundown stalls slinging cheap food, but much like the aforementioned Fabryczna the wish for their overhaul has been granted. The stalls were bulldozed last fall, and plans for a more modern venue filled with restaurants, clubs and shops is already under way (walk by today and it’s currently a skate park of all things).
3. Ruins on ul. Zachodnia (B-2/3)
Based on the dislikes from other cities in Poland we can say that abandoned ruins are abhorred country-wide. These old houses fit the bill.
4. Wschodnia, Pomorska, Włókiennicza, Rewolucji 1905 roku streets (C-2/3)
This area has earned the disdain of locals because of the generally shabby appearance of the buildings, the volume of dog poo that accumulates on the sidewalk (we’ve noticed too) and the staggering drunks that call it home.
5. Building on Al. Piłsudskiego and ul. Sienkiewicza crossing (D-6)
What was once home to the popular Juventus shop is now populated by clubs and empty storefronts. Fortunately, there are plans for revitalization, and with the new Klub Pomarancza drawing in crowds we can’t imagine it will take long.