Łódź is called the city of tenement houses, yet it is often forgotten that courtyards lead deep into their interiors. They enchant with an extraordinary city atmosphere. In some of them you can clearly feel the spirit of the times, while others captivate us with their fresh appearance. Piotrkowska Street conceals at every step courtyards marked by historical past. Let us peek into some of them:
1. Courtyard at Piotrkowska 3 – Pasaż Róży
In the 19th century, the prestigious Hôtel de Pologne stood here, the most magnificent hotel in Łódź at that time. Besides it there was also a beer hall and a traktiernia (a term formerly used for a modest restaurant). A premises was also run here by the famous Łódź jeweler – Aaron Kantor. This once famous courtyard was rescued from oblivion thanks to a project by artist Joanna Rajkowska. In 2005, as part of an installation for the Festival of Four Cultures, she created an extraordinary mosaic from glass that is admired today by tourists from around the world.
2. Courtyard at Piotrkowska 46
Before the war, a synagogue stood here, which was devastated by the Germans during World War II. Currently, a bookstore is located in its place. At number 46, the author of "The Promised Land," Władysław Reymont, also lived for some time.
3. Courtyard at Piotrkowska 67
This is the courtyard of the legendary Polonia cinema. Additionally, we are charmed by a long corridor lined with plants, at the end of which there is a fountain in truly Mexican style along with a restaurant – The Mexican.
4. Courtyard at Piotrkowska 77
Here you will find the well-known "club under the sevens" and the famous Irish Pub. Historical sources also point to the fact that in one of the properties at number 77 lived German war criminal – Adolf Otto Eichman.
5. Courtyard at Piotrkowska 88 - Sukkot - a hut from the courtyard
A hut – what is that? It is nothing other than a booth built during the Sukkot holiday to commemorate the journey of Jews from Egypt. The hut most often took the form of gazebos and was decorated with fruits brought directly from Israel. Today it is one of the few surviving testimonies to the existence of Jewish culture in Łódź.
6. Courtyard at Piotrkowska 89
It is called Art Nouveau at number 89. It is one of the most well-maintained courtyards in Łódź. Its characteristic feature is an elegant courtyard and magnificent plants. Deep within you will find a restaurant run by native Italians - Essenza Italiana. In the vicinity you will also find an oriental restaurant - House of Sushi and an exclusive Coen Spa.
7. Courtyard at Piotrkowska 102
In its depths you will find the iconic pub and club Łódź Kaliska. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the wholesale warehouse of the company "Karol Wilhelm Gehlig" was located here.
8. Courtyard at Piotrkowska 120
This is an exceptional courtyard for the history of cinematography, because it was here that the first cinema in Poland was created! In 1899, brothers Antoni and Władysław Krzemińscy opened a cinema in a space that was formerly Adolf Fischer's restaurant. This event is commemorated today by a plaque unveiled in 2010. This symbolic space was successfully developed in 2013 for the Stare Kino Hotel – the only such establishment in Poland. Guests can feel the cinematic soul of the place here and deepen their film knowledge.
Be the first! Add a comment.
You need to log in to add a comment.
Log in