www .ziem ialodzka.pl

Łódzkie
Defensive architecture
Oporów
The residence of Oporowski’s family
A small Gothic knight’s castle in Oporów belongs to one of the
most valuable monuments of medieval fortified architecture in
central Poland. Its construction was begun already in 1425 by the
Voivode of Łęczyca – Mikołaj Oporowski and continued by the
Archbishop of Gniezno – Władysław Oporowski. The building on
a square plan with two fortified towers is placed on a man-made
island surrounded by a moat. According to a legend the ghost of the
castellan of Oporów’s daughter – the White Lady haunts the castle.
Since 1947 the castle has housed the museum exhibiting works of
art and artistic craftwork from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
i
Museum – the Castle in Oporów
99-322 Oporów,
Tel: (+48) 24 285 91 22,
Fax: (+48) 24 274 70 58
E-Mail: zamekoporow@poczta.onet.pl
www.zamekoporow.pl, www.oporow.pl (PL)
Łęczyca
Residence of Boruta Devil
The Gothic castle in Łęczyca was erected around 1330 initiated
by King Casimir the Great. The castle and the town were surrounded
by fortified walls and a moat separated the town from
the castle. Considered by Łęczyca inhabitants as the residence of
Boruta Devil, a malicious prankster, currently the castle houses the
museum collecting exhibits of excavations, commemorating the
past of Łęczyca, and also works of folk artists, including numerous
images of the legendary devil. Tourists can admire a beautiful view
of the town and its area from the tower. Every year in August the
courtyard of the castle is filled with knights coming from all over
the country to take part in a tournament held among others by the
Brotherhood of Knights.
i
The Museum in Łęczyca
1 Zamkowa Str., 99-100 Łęczyca
Tel: (+48) 24 721 24 49 (the Castle),
Tel /Fax: (+48) 24 721 89 97 (the Office)
E-Mail: muzeum@zamek.leczyca, www.zamek.leczyca.pl
Rawa Mazowiecka
Castle of Mazovian Dukes
Pabianice
The pearl of Renaissance architecture
www.ziemialodzka.pl
20
The reconstructed octagonal tower, original ground walls and
fragments of the foundation are the remains of the 14th-century
castle of Mazovian dukes. The fortress in Rawa was the place where
the tax for the upkeep of soldiers of the Republic of Poland was
held. The castle and the town were completely destroyed during
the Swedish invasion of Poland. The ghost of Ludmiła, the Duke
of Siemowit’s wife, who was accused of being unfaithful and walled
in the castle, haunts the ruins. The legend was used by William
Shakespeare himself in his “Winter Tale”. The tower presents exhibitions
of the Museum of the Region of Rawa.
i
Tourist Information Desk in Rawa Mazowiecka
5 Kościuszki Str., 96-200 Rawa Mazowiecka
Tel: (+48) 46 814 57 40, Fax: (+48) 46 814 46 31
E-mail: pit@powiatrawski.pl, www.powiatrawski.pl
The Renaissance fortified manor house erected between 1565-
71 is the most representative example of this type of structures
in Poland. From 1833 to 1939 it was the seat of the municipal
authorities. After World War II the Museum of Pabianice was
founded here. The interiors boast beautiful polychromes dating
back to different periods, including the most valuable Renaissance
ones coming from the 16th c. The nearby school building also
exhibits some collections e.g. the art collection of Central Africa
with a complete outfit of a tribal medicine man and a unique in
Poland late-Celtic iron helmet excavated from the warrior’s grave
dating back 2000 years.
i
The Museum of Pabianice
Stary Rynek 1/ 2, 95-200 Pabianice
Tel: (+48) 42 215 89 82, 42 215 54 87
E-Mail: muzeum@mail.epic.pl,
www.muzeum.zamek.leczyca.pl