John Paul II Square

John Paul II Square lies on aleja Wyszyńskiego in the Dolnośląskie district in Bełchatów and is one of the places the city has dedicated to the memory of the Polish Pope. It is a small, green space with two symbolic features: a papal oak and a bust of John Paul II.

Papal oak and stone book

In 2006, a Papal Oak was planted in the square, and next to it a stone book was erected commemorating the event. The planting of papal oaks was an action carried out in many Polish cities at that time following the death of John Paul II in 2005, and Bełchatów joined the initiative in this location.

Bust from a sister city

In 2021, the square was enriched with a bust of the Pope, created by artists from the Hungarian city of Csongrád, which is twinned with Bełchatów. Thanks to this, the square, which for fifteen years was marked essentially only by the oak and a plaque, gained a more pronounced sculptural accent.

John Paul II as patron of the city

The square is part of a broader set of papal places in Bełchatów, as John Paul II has been the city's patron since 2012. This explains why the city has several such memorial points rather than a single monument: the square in the Dolnośląskie district is one of them.

Practical information

• Address: aleja Wyszyńskiego, Dolnośląskie district, 97-400 Bełchatów.
• Getting there: the square is located within the Dolnośląskie district, accessible on foot from nearby residential blocks and streets leading to aleja Wyszyńskiego.
• Hours: open space with no time restrictions.
• What to expect: an intimate residential square with an oak, a stone plaque and a bust of the Pope, without extensive facilities. This is a stop for a few minutes during a walk around the district, not a destination for an independent visit.