Bydgoszcz Poland
Northern Poland
Information
Bydgoszcz is a city located in northern Poland, on the Brda and Vistula rivers, with a population of 358,029 (June 2009), which makes it the 8th biggest city in Poland.
Bydgoszcz is one of 11 Polish candidate cities for European Capital of Culture 2016.
Definitely one of the most beautiful buildings, and undoubtedly the oldest building, in the city is the Church of St Martin and Nicolaus, commonly known as Fara Church. It is a three-aisle late Gothic church erected between 1466 and 1502. The church boasts a late-Gothic painting entitled Madonna with a Rose, or the Holy Virgin of Beautiful Love, from the 16th century.
The Church of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin, commonly referred to as "The Church of St Calres," is a famous landmark of the city. It is a small, Gothic-Renaissance (including Neo-Renaissance additions), one-aisle church built between 1582-1602. The interior of the temple is rather austere since the church has been stripped of most his furnishings. Not a surprising fact when taking into account that in the 19th century the Prussian authorities dissolved the Order of St Clare and turned the church into a warehouse, among others. Nonetheless, the temple is worth visiting and examining. The original wooden polychrome ceiling from the 17th century draws the attention of every visitor.
Wyspa Młyńska (the Mill Island) is among the most spectacular and atmospheric places in Bydgoszcz. What makes it unique is the location in the very heart of the city centre, just a few steps from the old market square. It had been the 'industrial' centre of Bydgoszcz in the Middle Ages and throughout the next few hundreds years of its existence. It was there that the famous royal mint operated for many years in the 17th century. The buildings which can still be seen on the island come from the 19th century. However, the so-called Biały Spichlerz (the White Granary) remembers the end of the 18th century. But it is the water, footbridges, red-brick edifices of historical tenement houses reflected in rivers, and the greenery, including old chesnut trees, that create the atmosphere of the Island.
“Hotel pod Orłem” (Hotel Adler or Under the Eagle), an icon of the city’s 19th century architecture, was designed by the distinguished Bydgoszcz architect Józef Święcicki, the author of around 60 buildings in the city. The construction of the hotel was completed in 1896. It served as a hotel from the very beginning, originally owned by Emil Bernhardt, a hotel manager educated in Switzerland. Its facade displays forms characteristic of the Neobaroque style in architecture.
Other popular tourist attractions are:
- Main Post Office, Jagiellońska 6. Old, neo-gothical building.
- Bazylika Św. Wincenta a Paulo, ul. Jezuicka 1 85-102 (It is a little walk from old town towards the area with parks and the conservatory)
- Town Hall, Jezuicka 1. Built in 1650's, extended at the beginning of the 18th century.
- Spichrze, Grodzka 7-11. Old garners, built at the end of the 18th century. They currently host Leon Wyczulkowski's gallery.
- Przechodzący przez rzekę, (left from the bridge as you walk towards old town). a "Man crossing the river" sculpture, balancing on cords.
- Ogród Botaniczny (Botanic garden), 85-674 Bydgoszcz ul. Gdañska 173-175 (east of the city, follow the road from the military base and head straight along the football stadium and it is just outside of town),
- Pomorskie Muzeum Wojskowe (war museum), ul. Czerkaska 2, 85-641 Bydgoszcz (at Gdanska street). Exceptional war museum for its outdoors arsenal of tanks and rockets. In addition to that there is lots of information on 6th and 8th century history. Admission 5/2.5zł, Sunday free.
Airport
Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport, operates direct domestic and international flights. Domestic flights: Warsaw, International flights: Antalya, Birmingham, Dublin, Liverpool, London. Due to small number of connections, many tourists coming to the region, use the neighbouring airports in Poznan (140 kms) or Warsaw (280 kms).
Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport - Live Flight Arrivals Information
Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport - Live Flight Departures Information
Railways
Bydgoszcz is one of the biggest railroad junctions in Poland, with two important lines crossing there - the east-west connection from Toruń to Pila and the north-south line from Inowrocław to Gdańsk.
Bydgoszcz has direct train connections with all major Polish cities. Almost all of them are served by "PKP Przewozy Regionalne". Main direct connections:
- Gdynia-Bydgoszcz: 2 hours, 20 minutes
- Poznan-Bydgoszcz: 2 hours, 10 minutes
- Torun-Bydgoszcz: 1 hour
- Lodz-Bydgoszcz: 3 hours, 30 minutes
- Warsaw-Bydgoszcz: 3 hours, 40 minutes
- Katowice-Bydgoszcz via Czestochowa, Lodz: 7 hours
- Szczecin-Bydgoszcz: 3 hours, 45 minutes
- Wroclaw-Bydgoszcz: 5 hours, 30 mins
There is also a night train from / to Berlin, it takes about 7 hours.
Bydgoszcz's main station is called Bydgoszcz Glówna.
Museums
Muzeum Okręgowe im. Leona Wyczółkowskiego (Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum) is a municipally-owned museum. Apart from a large collection of Leon Wyczółkowski's works, it houses permanent as well as temporary exhibitions of art. It occupies several buildings: - Main building (Gdańska 4 St.) - The White Granary (Mennica St.)
Classical Music
Filharmonia Pomorska im. Ignacego Paderewskiego (Ignacy Paderewski's Concert Hall) - thanks to superbly designed acoustic qualities of the main concert hall, it is one of the best classical music concert halls in Europe.
Theatre
Teatr Polski im. Hieronima Konieczki (Hieronim Konieczka's Polish Theatre) - despite its name, theatre offers a wide variety of shows both of national and foreign origin. It also regularly plays hosts to a large number of touring shows. Once a year, in autumn, "Festiwal Prapremier" is organised: the most renowned Polish theatres stage their latest premieres.
Map of Bydgoszcz