Learning the past looking into future

Across the country, a variety of events marking the European Heritage Days 2020 included exhibitions, workshops, concerts, guided tours, city walks and online lectures. 

In Piaseczno, an open-air exhibition titled ‘Chyliczki - the road to modernity’ presented the activities of the famous School of Economics for girls, founded in 1891 in the Chyliczki estate (now a city park in Piaseczno) by the countess Cecylia Plater-Zyberkówna. Its founder was inspired by the activities of similar institutions in other European countries implementing the path towards modernity. 

In Dabrowa, an exhibition on ‘The history of the village of Dąbrowa and the Natolin estate’, piano concert by Joanna Różewska and a sightseeing trip in the footsteps of Józef Piłsudski's memorial took place. The route was commemorating the battles during the war of 1920 while the piano concert suggested masterpieces of classical music.    

In Kochłowice, sports and history enthusiasts were invited to a 5-kilometer long run around the oldest district of Ruda Śląska. The route was leading the participants through the most interesting monuments of Kochłowice. During the pause stops, runners could see and hear how the town has changed over the course of the 20th century through the recordings and historical photos from the Digital Archive of Kochłowice.

Apple trees and recipes

Fruit trees play an important role in the landscape of Polish villages. It is difficult to imagine a Polish village without orchards, backyard gardens, as well as trees marking the roads and bays. The Foundation and the Circle of Rural Housewives invited guests to the palace in Rzuchów for a meeting devoted to one of the most important Polish fruits - an apple. This wonderful event ‘Around an apple tree’ included tasting apple products, exchanging recipes, as well as a puppet show for children, games and competitions. In addition, participants had an opportunity to visit the palace, learn about its history and the current progress of renovation works.

The whole program was implemented respecting social distancing and other COVID-19 sanitary measures. With much poetry and apples, despite the challenges of this year, Poland made this year’s European Heritage Days celebrations a special one indeed.