Lodz (Łódź) is the third largest city in Poland, located in the central part of the country and is the capital of the Lodz Voivodeship. The actual pronunciation of Łódź (which means boat in Polish) is woodge.

Łódź has a rich history, and was once an important center of textile production and manufacturing. The city was founded in the early 19th century, and experienced rapid growth during the Industrial Revolution. This led to the development of a large textile industry, with many factories and mills being built in the city. The city’s history is reflected in its architecture, which includes many beautiful 19th-century industrial buildings and factories that have been preserved and converted into cultural centers, museums, and offices.

Łódź has a vibrant cultural scene, with many museums, galleries, and theaters. The city is home to the National Film School, which has produced many famous Polish filmmakers. Łódź also host few festivals such as the International Festival of Comics and Games, and the Festival of Good Beer.

The city has a rich cultural heritage, with many architectural and historical landmarks, including the Piotrkowska Street, the Grand Theatre, and the Manufaktura complex, which is a revitalized industrial complex that now houses shops, restaurants, and a cinema.

Piotrkowska Street runs north to south for a little over 5km and is one of the longest commercial streets in Europe. It is the location of the majority of restaurants, bars and cafes in Lodz’s city centre. Many of the building façades on the street have been renovated including many which date back to the 19^th century.

The street features many statues of famous Polish artists including one of Artur Rubinstein playing the piano. This is an obligatory photo opportunity you won’t be able to resist!

Piotrkowska Street is the preferred venue for many events, including: the Hokus Pokus Festival of Street Art & Magic; the Light Move Festival; the Songwriter Festival and the Lodz of Four Cultures Festival.

Overall, Łódź is a city with a rich history and culture, and offers visitors a unique and interesting experience with a mix of modern and industrial heritage.

As part of the rejuvenation of the city, decaying, derelict, old industrial complexes have been turned into swanky shopping malls and modern business centres. The most impressive recent addition to the city is the EC1 complex and the striking transformation of the main Lodz Fabryczna train station. Other good examples of urban regeneration include the Manufaktura complex, occupying a large area of a former cotton factory dating back to the nineteenth century.

The EC1 building is home to the most modern planetarium in Poland and a fascinating Science and Technology Centre. The building itself is quite remarkable and occupies the restored buildings of what used to be a power plant. Lovers of the film, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory may notice a resemblance!

Lodz is internationally known for its National Film School. In 2017, the city was inducted into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and named UNESCO City of Film and is the centre of Poland’s film industry. Graduates of the renowned Lodz Film School include Roman Polański, Andrzej Wajda and Krzysztof Kieślowski.

Lodz today is a city famous for its architecture, its colourful street art, its Jewish heritage, and its many fine museums and art galleries. It also has plenty of green spaces for recreation.

On Bracka Street, you will find one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Europe. Established in 1892, the cemetery contains over 180,000 graves.

In terms of transportation, Łódź has an efficient public transportation system, including buses, trams, and trains, and also an airport that connects the city with other destinations in Poland and abroad.

See the Top 10 things to do in Lodz.