Walking around downtown Łódź  you would never guess that Europe’s largest urban park can be found north of the city. The name of the forest is directly related to an 11th century settlement of the same name. Occupying an area of 1,250 hectares the park features countless walking and cycling trails, 542 different plants and 101 types of tree, predominantly oak, spruce and birch. The forest was used as a base for insurgents during the 1863 rising against Imperial Russia, while WWII saw it double as site of mass execution by the Nazis. The North West of the park houses an 18th century Franciscan monastery, primarily known for its painting of St Anthony, which is claimed to have healing properties.