#DOWNTOWN (UN)KNOWN

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If you are here, you probably would like to discover interesting places located in the Lublin city centre.

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ATTENTION! The route has two variants – one of them includes a ride through the icon of Lublin transport – a trolleybus. If you want to choose this option, we will need a ticket. It is best to buy one at one of the stationary ticket machines (e. g. at the Plac Wolności 02) bus stop. We’re gonna need a 15-minute ticket to zone one, discounted (1,50zł) or regular (3,00zł).

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We will start our walk at the end of the guide „#WALK IN THE OLD TOWN” – on Lithuanian Square. We go to the beginning to the west, towards Racławickie avenue. At the first intersection, turn left into Hugon Kołłątaj Street. On the right we pass the Grand Hotel. Originally, the building was the building of the Lublin Industrial Loan Bank. During the war, the German House was located there. After the war it was the seat of the Hotel Lublinianka, now it houses a four-star hotel.

Continuing along Kołłątaj Street, we arrive at the Culture Centre. It is housed in a former convent of the visiting sisters. We recommend you to take a look inside, as there are often interesting exhibitions. There are also clocks showing the time according to the position of the Sun prevailing in each district of Lublin (during the war in Ukraine these clocks show the time prevailing in different Ukrainian cities).

After leaving the building turn right, cross the crossing and follow Peowiaków Street towards Wolności Square. After 200 meters, we’ll see an intersection. On the left side there is a large green tenement house — it is the Julius Osterwa Theater. It is the only drama and repertoire theatre in Lublin. It has a rich history – since the ceremonial opening in 1886 it has changed its name, management, and ensemble many times. Only its seat remains unchanged – the building at Narutowicz Street.

Opposite the theatre is the Church of the Assumption of the Victorious Blessed Virgin Mary. It is popularly called visiting. It was built between 1412 and 1426. It was built to commemorate Władysław Jagiełła’s victory over the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Grunwald. The original Gothic structure of the church has been preserved to this day without significant changes, despite several fires and robberies. From the south side of the church there are monastery buildings rebuilt in the 17th century.

Let’s go to Wolności Square, on the right side at the stop we pass the Hieronim Łopaciński Public Library.

Going further, we come across an interesting fountain, in the middle of which there is a sculpture of an old water tower. Its construction began in 1897, and it began functioning two years later. During the Red Army’s entry into Lublin in 1944, it was damaged. Its reconstruction became unprofitable and in 1946 it was dismantled.

On the right side of the fountain is the Union of Lublin III High School.

Let’s go a little further. On the right side we see the Church of the Conversion of St. Paul and the Bernardine Monastery in Lublin. It was located at the old medieval Kraków course. The original wooden buildings were built immediately after the arrival of the Bernardines to Lublin in 1459. The current building dates from the first half of the 17th century and was built in the style of the Lublin Renaissance.

Let’s go down Bernardyńska Street. After a short walk we will see a beautiful neo-Gothic building. Currently, it is the August and Julius Vetter Economic School Complex. During the First World War, he was send to a hospital. Interestingly, the competition was won by Henryk Paprocki’s project, but the third prize was awarded by Józef Holewiński and Teofil Wiśniewski. The school was built between 1905 and 1906.

Going further down in front of the crossroads, you will see the Perła Brewery. The former post-Reformation monastery complex was built in 1673-1674, and then rebuilt into a brewery in the middle of the 19th century. Among Lublin’s industrial architecture, it is of exceptional value not only because of its artistic qualities. It is the longest operating industrial plant in Lublin without changing its production profile since 1846.

Let’s turn gently right into Zamojska Street. There used to be many shops along the street, but today few of them have survived in the era of shopping malls.

After about 450 meters we come to the Culture Bridge on Bystrica was one of the first reinforced concrete bridges in south-eastern Poland, which places it high among such technical monuments on a national scale.

After crossing the bridge turn right and here we have two variants of the route to choose from!

Let us go to the cemetery for a moment. It may seem a little strange to you, but it is the oldest cemetery in Lublin. Some tombstones are even from the 19th century! Many famous Lublin residents rest there, for example: Józef Czechowicz, Leon Głowacki or Romuald Lipko.

Let’s go back to Lipowa Street and head north. On the road on the left we will pass Plaza Shopping Mall, and a little later our school — V Liceum Ogólnokształcące.

We are coming to a bigger intersection. Let us make a left and then go straight. We now see another crossroads. In the back of this dead end there is the Polish Soldier’s House. Marshal Józef Piłsudski. Interestingly, it was built from material obtained from the demolition of the Orthodox Cathedral on Lithuanian Square in the years 1924–1927.

Then we continue straight, at the next crossroads on the corner there is the Lublin Conference Centre. If you are hungry, we recommend you to visit the restaurant located on the roof of the building. The views while eating will be amazing.

Now let us go a little further — to Teatralny Square. On the right side hidden in the trees is the Medical University. And on the left is a building that I am sure caught your eye. It is the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures. Let’s go inside him for a moment. Various exhibitions are held inside. Let’s also take a look at the roof. The gardens and glass balconies offer stunning views of the city skyline.

Let us leave CSK now and go back to the intersection with Lipowa Street. Let’s go to the other side and enter the Saski Garden now. It was founded according to the design of Eng. Feliks Bieczyński in 1837, English style. The name, first used in 1860, referred to the Saski Garden in Warsaw.

Let us go down the alley that bends slightly to the left. On the right we pass the pond, and on the left we see again the building of the Medical University.

We are moving on. Now we come to the square. There is a fountain and sundial. On the left side we pass a cage where there are peacocks — a former icon of different kinds of parks (if we are lucky, peacocks may not be in the cage, they will walk freely around the square), (if it is autumn and we are lucky, the peacock keeper may hand out their beautiful feathers).

Let us go a little further now. On the right side we pass the Romuald Lipko concert shell.

Just after that, turn right and then left. We arrive at Wieniawska Street. Wieniawa was originally a village belonging to the Lubomelski, Tarłów, Leszczyński families, then a town, and in 1916 it was incorporated into the administrative area of the city of Lublin.

Let us turn right now and go down the street. We now come to the next intersection. On the left is an inconspicuous fence. After a close look, we can see that there used to be a Jewish cemetery

At the crossroads turn right and start climbing up Leszczyński Street. On the right you will pass the abandoned office building of the City Hall.

We’re climbing further. We’re seeing an intersection now. Nothing, but we can feel like in Warsaw here. From the left we have the Lublin Voivodeship Office, the Civil Registry Office and the City of Lublin.

Let us now enter the narrow street of Jerzy de Tramecourt. On the left we pass a more historic part of the Voivodeship Office.

At the next intersection, turn right and then gently left. On the left we pass the Collegium Iuridicum, the second building belonging to the Faculty of Law, Canon Law and Administration of KUL. In 1906 the „Lublin School” was established in Lublin. The facility rented various buildings in order to be able to function normally. Finally, a decision was made to build its own building, and in 1910 construction began, which was completed in 1911. Such rapid progress was possible thanks to the generosity of donors.

Let’s turn left now. On the right side we pass the only Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Lublin. The building permit for the church was issued on 25 August 1784 by King Stanisław August Poniatowski. The temple was located at Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, observing the principle of proper distance from the nearest Roman Catholic church.

We’re going further east. On the right we pass the Regional Blood Donation Centre and thus we arrive at the place from which we started – Lithuanian Square.

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