Lublin – the City of Inspiration

In a time machine

Lublin is a city with over 700 years of history. Thanks to its location on trade routes, it became a place of meeting of Western and Eastern cultures, as well as of intercultural integration and groundbreaking events. It is here that one can stroll through the streets of the now non-existent Jewish quarter or visit the walls of the castle where, in 1569, during the Sejm, the Union of Lublin was signed. This alliance between Poland and Lithuania created the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth – one of the largest states in Renaissance Europe. For centuries, the city has been a symbol of multiculturalism, which today is reflected in its historic architecture, regional cuisine and festivals referring to the city’s history and traditions.

Lublin – the City of Inspiration

Lublin’s unquestionable landmark is Lublin Castle, formerly used as a prison for many years, and now home to the National Museum and one of the most important points on the tourist map of Lublin. In addition to exhibitions of paintings (headed by Tamara Lempicka’s art), folk art and archaeological artefacts, the castle also houses the Holy Trinity Chapel, one of the most valuable monuments of medieval art in Poland and Europe bearing the European Heritage Label. In the castle courtyard, you can visit the donjon, a round castle tower dating back to the 13th century and one of the oldest preserved buildings in the Lublin region. It is one of the oldest preserved buildings in the Lublin region. From its top, there is a beautiful view of the Old Town, to which two gates lead from opposite sides: The Krakowska Gate, which is the seat of the Museum of the History of the City of Lublin, and the Grodzka Gate, today the seat of the ‘Grodzka Gate – NN Theatre’ Centre commemorating the Jewish community that inhabited Lublin in large numbers before World War II.

The medieval layout of the streets and the unique Renaissance architecture are fascinating and encourage visitors to explore. The Old Town is full of secrets – some of them can be discovered thanks to the attractions located in its undergrounds – the Lublin Underground Route, which leads through the cellars of historic merchant warehouses and wine cellars from the city’s heyday, the Fortuna Cellar, where Renaissance frescoes can be seen, and the Imaginarium Theatre, which thanks to dozens of moving puppets and an atmospheric atmosphere perfectly introduces the mystical world of Lublin’s legends.

When in Lublin, it is also worth visiting places outside the Old Town. In its immediate vicinity is Lithuanian Square, today the city’s main square, where you can see e.g. the spectacle of light and sound on the multimedia fountain or the portal through which you can look at Vilnius, Dublin and Philadelphia. The Perła Brewery, a unique monument of Lublin’s industry, is also an interesting site. The former interiors of a monastery and church of the Reformed Fathers were adapted for beer brewing purposes. Production took place here between 1846 and 2001. Today, you can visit the undergrounds of the brewery. It is also worth visiting the Lublin Village Open Air Museum, which, like a time machine, takes visitors back to the old villages of Lublin and allows them to come face to face with the region’s rich heritage. It is one of the largest open-air museums in Poland, presenting the cultural diversity of the Lublin region and consolidating knowledge of the customs, rituals, traditions and daily work of people of bygone eras. A visit to this place allows you to go back in time and feel the atmosphere of the Polish countryside, as well as better understand the roots, popular beliefs and surrounding reality. The State Museum at Majdanek, which documents the history of the concentration camp at Majdanek and commemorates the victims of the Second World War, should not be forgotten either.