Photo Krzysztof Popławski, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsPiotrkowska Street in Łódź. In the Turi app, the same map shows your position, guides you from point to point and lets you tick off the places you’ve visited.
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Łódź grew out of cotton: in the 19th century a small town turned into a city of factories and palaces within a few decades. Its backbone is Piotrkowska, one of the longest shopping streets in Europe. The walk starts on the octagonal Wolności Square and follows the pedestrian street south. Along the way you will step into a mirrored courtyard, join the industrialists at their table, play with Rubinstein, look for Teddy Floppy-Ear and rub Tuwim's nose.
Photo Rakoon, CC0, Wikimedia Commons1This is where Piotrkowska Street begins. The square was laid out in 1823 as the market of a new clothmakers' settlement and given the rare shape of an octagon. In the middle stands the monument to Tadeusz Kościuszko. On the square you will see the old town hall and a church, which have guarded the mouth of the street like two gates for two hundred years. From here Piotrkowska runs south as straight as a ruler.
Photo Zorro2212, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons2Step through the gateway at 3 Piotrkowska Street. The walls of the whole courtyard are covered with thousands of pieces of mirror arranged in shapes that resemble roses. The artist Joanna Rajkowska designed them in 2014, and the name comes from her daughter's name. On a sunny day the courtyard sparkles and reflects the sky, and every step changes what you see in the mirrors. Look for your own reflection.
Photo Аимаина хикари, CC0, Wikimedia Commons3At a bronze table sit the three kings of cotton: Izrael Poznański, Karol Scheibler and Henryk Grohman. Their factories turned Łódź into one of the largest textile cities in Europe. The monument has stood here since 2002 and belongs to the Gallery of Great Citizens of Łódź, sculptures you can sit down next to. One chair is free, so take a seat at the table.
Photo Аимаина хикари, CC0, Wikimedia Commons4Look down: brass stars with the names of people from Polish cinema are set into the pavement. Łódź is a city of film, home to a famous film school. The actor Jan Machulski came up with the idea in 1996, modelled on the one in Hollywood, and the first star was laid two years later. Directors and cinematographers are on one side of the street, actors on the other. Look for names you know.
Photo Andrei Stroe, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl, Wikimedia Commons5At a bronze piano sits Artur Rubinstein, one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. He was born in Łódź and lived in the house at 78 Piotrkowska Street, in front of which the monument stands. The raised lid of the instrument looks like a spread wing. The monument was unveiled in 2000. Stand beside him and pretend you are playing a duet.
Photo Kasarian, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons6The little bear with one floppy ear is the hero of a bedtime cartoon made in the Se-ma-for studio in Łódź. His figure starts the family trail called Fairytale Łódź: bronze characters from children's films stand around the city, including Filemon the cat, Pik-Pok the penguin and Plastuś. The bear is waving hello, so wave back. How many fairytale figures can you find in Łódź?
Photo Fallaner, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons7On a bench in front of the Heinzl Palace, where the city's mayor has his office, sits Julian Tuwim. The poet was born in Łódź and wrote children's classics such as The Locomotive. He looks as if he were listening to someone sitting next to him, and the seat is free. Tuwim's nose shines because, according to a city legend, rubbing it brings good luck. The sculpture has been here since 1999. The route ends here, but Piotrkowska goes on: a few minutes further south Reymont sits on his trunk, and beyond him is OFF Piotrkowska.
Grouped as in the map legend. A star marks recommended points.
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