Day 9 – Depart Torun....Gniezno.....Poznan...Wroclaw

Off we went as we headed southwest to Wroclaw, “W” is pronounced as a “V”. Rather than taking Poland’s interstate highway through Lotz, we traveled to the town of Gniezno, Poland’s first capital, Poznan for lunch and then onto Wroclaw; a total driving distance of approximately 250 miles or 417 kilometers.

Gniezno 

Gniezno has two important historical identities. First, the town was Poland’s first capital. Poland’s history is long and complicated but its beginning as a country began here in 968 AD. In the 10th century, this area was known a “Great Poland” which was the home/property of the founding nobility (Boleslaw the Great). Second, Poland converted to Catholicism at the same time it was recognized as a country with Boleslaw as King and Bishop Adalbert as its first prelate. Since this beginning, Gniezno is Poland Catholic ecclesiastical capital, home to Poland’s Catholic Church, Gniezno Cathedral and where Poland’s leading archbishop prelate resides.

Adjacent to the Cathedral is a museum dedicated to the founding of Poland’s Catholic Church. Religious icons and original Church garments are on display. A note of recognition - From 1939 - 1989, Cardinal Wyszynski led the Church’s challenge to Nazi and Communist totalitarianism and was imprisoned/tortured for three years by the communist; 1953-1956. He is recognized in the museum because he became Poland’s Prelate and thus rector of Gniezno Cathedral. He is a Polish national hero.

Poznan 

Unfortunately we only spent about two hours in this vibrant city of 600,000. Poznan is a cultural, business and educational center in eastern Poland. It was nearly destroyed at the end of World War II when the retreating German Army attempted to delay the advancing Russian Army; to no avail. Why Poznan? In 1956, the residents led a revolt against Communist oppression; over 60 people died. This was one of the first uprisings that occurred as Eastern Europe began the slow unwinding of the Communist empire. It is amazing to see how cities destroyed during World War II have been rebuilt.

We had a short tour of the old “Centrum”. Poznan’s metropolitan population is approximately 1.4 million people. It is has a vibrant economy supported by trade, sports, education, technology and tourism. From the little time we spent in the Poznan, it looks like it would be worth a return visit I had a delicious lunch of golumbki, cabbage rolls stuffed with seasoned meat....delicious.

 












Onto Wroclaw Thirty miles outside of Wroclaw, the fan belt on our bus broke. It was 6 PM on a Saturday evening; all shops were closed. Without much to-do, Kasia, contacted the tour company who sent another bus to transport us to Wroclaw with our luggage. Our great bus driver stayed behind until a mechanic arrived the next morning to repair the bus. We met back up with him Sunday evening.