Park Poniatowskiego

Park Poniatowskiego lies in Polesie, along Aleja Adama Mickiewicza, within the boundaries of ulica Żeromskiego, Mickiewicza, Jana Pawła II and Parkowa. It covers 41.6 hectares, making it one of the largest parks in Łódź, and is registered as a historical monument.

From the Garden at Pańska to the park of Prince Poniatowski

The park was established between 1904 and 1910 on the site of former municipal forests, according to a design by Teodor Chrząński and Walerian Kornenberg. Initially it was named the Garden at ulica Pańska. It was given the name of Prince Józef Poniatowski in 1917. When establishing the park, approximately 1500 coniferous trees were removed, and in their place nearly 100,000 trees and shrubs were planted.

Traces of war

During the Second World War, the Germans destroyed the bottom of the pond, which was not rebuilt until 1957. The park contains two cemeteries of Polish and Soviet soldiers who fell in January 1945. In November 1945, a monument to the Soviet army was erected here, destroyed in February 1946, subsequently rebuilt, and removed in 1992 due to poor technical condition. The park was registered as a historical monument in 1994.

Villa, tennis courts and concert shell

On the park grounds stands a villa in manor house style, built around 1922-1925 according to a design by Wiesław Lisowski. One of Łódź's vice-presidents lived there. The Municipal Tennis Club with courts operates here, and the park also offers a table tennis table, a concert shell, a cycling track with three obstacle sections, a cycling path, a children's play area and a slide. A dahlia garden has been created on the pond with an islet.

Greenery under protection

The park is home to 14 trees with the status of natural monument. Among the plantings are listed Japanese pearl bushes, hawthorn, Swedish rowan and juniper.

Practical information

• Address: al. Adama Mickiewicza, Łódź, Polesie district, area between ulica Żeromskiego, Mickiewicza, Jana Pawła II and Parkowa
• What to expect: pond with dahlia garden, villa from the twenties, tennis courts, concert shell, cycling track, two war cemeteries
• Facilities: toilets, parking, wheelchair access, bicycle hire, cafés Willa and Korty Cafe
• Café opening hours: Willa – Thursday 10:00–22:00, Friday–Sunday 10:00–24:00; Korty Cafe – Monday–Saturday 12:00–18:00 (worth checking before your visit)