THE GREEN CITY OF LODZ

1. THE GREEN CITY OF LODZ Publiczne Gimnazjum nr 15 Lodz, March 2011

2. Do you know what the most characteristic colour of Lodz is? M A D E B Y Somebody may say that red is a characteristic colour of Lodz because there are a lot of red brick buildings. Everybody may say that Lodz is a grey city because of its textile factories and smoking chimneys – like in the well-known song. In this presentation we would like to convince you that Lodz is also known as a green city. Paweł Tomaszewski Michał Kotlicki Bernard Bednarczyk Mateusz Szejner

3. PARKS IN LODZ 1 1.Lagiewniki Forest 5.Matejko Park 2 3 4 2.Mickiewicz Park 6.Zrodliska Park 5 8 6 7 3.Herring Park 7.Klepacz Park 4.Helenow Park 8.Pilsudski Park START STOP

4. Lagiewniki Forest  In the past the area of Lodz was overgrown by impassable forests that was cut through by some rivers and their valleys. Since there were lots of materials needed to build the village and the moving river water to give the energy needed to drive machinery people decided to settle down there. So in the place of the forest first a village then the city grew up. The oldest building in Lodz is one of the most famous larch wood shrines in the valley of the Lagiewniczanka River - St. Anthony's chapel. It has been a place of worship since the 17th century. People used to believe in the miraculous power of the local water spring. At this place, a brick church in the baroque style was erected, to become then the most popular and one of the most beautiful churches in Lodz. Moreover, the church, together with the monastery are the oldest brick buildings in Lodz. Come inside and have a look at its magnificent altars, dripping with gold decorations and the choir with ancient organ pipes. The Lagiewniki Forest is all that remained of the old forest. No other city of our continent can boast about such a large forest within its urban area. But Lagiewniki is not just history. Here you can walk along marked trails just not to get lost easily. You can ride a bike, ride on horseback or have a quick dip in the pond in nearby Arturowek. Well, you may have an encounter with real deer or a boar there. In which city in Europe, can you see a boar in the wild?

5. Mickiewicz Park  Lodz is a green city but not only because we have here the largest urban forest complex in Europe. We also have beautiful parks. A lot of parks! Over 30! Now we would like to tell you about the park which is near our school – Adam Mickiewicz Park. It is commonly known as ‘Julianowski’ after the name of its founder - Julius Heinzel (1834-1895). His family moved to Lodz, probably from the Czech Republic, while his father was German. Julius Heinzel built three magnificent palaces: at Piotrkowska Street, in Lagiewniki and in Julianowski Park. Unfortunately, in 1939 it was destroyed during the bombing. The most interesting place in Julianowski Park is Scythe men’s Oak - the name comes from the time of the National Uprising of 1863, when, the insurrectionists gather together under the oak, armed with scythes ready for the battle. This oak is 30m high and 4m in circuit. In 1984, the famous tree was written in the register of national monuments. We often come to this park and we really like it. It is also worth noticing that the river Sokolowka, whose length is estimated to be around 10.2 km, flows through the park. This is one of the longest rivers in Lodz. There are beautiful ponds and the flocks of ducks. You can feed them!

6. Herring Park  As for eating, it is worth mentioning the so called Herring Park. Why such a strange name was given to a park located not at the seaside but along the Lodka River? Before World War II, there was a famous fish market in that place. At the market salted herrings were sold - one of the cheapest foods then. Therefore the name Old Town Park was changed into Herring Park. In this park we can check what time it is. There is a big, covered with ceramic tiles sundial that shows not only the time but a part of the Solar System, too. It looks a little bit like a slice of Swiss cheese but it precisely shows the time. In the park, there is a monument of Moses to recall that the God gave to Moses two stone tables with the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. This monument marks somehow the presence of Jews in this area. There is also a statue of Aleksander Kaminski – an author of "Stones on the quarterdeck," which tells the story of the “Grey Ranks” scouts. In addition, in Old Park there is a plaque commemorating the city rights granting for Lodz by WladyslawJagiello in 1423r.

7. Helenow Park  Being in the Herring Park it is worth walking to the nearby Helenow Park. This park was created by Charles Anstadt Junior, the son of the founder of the largest brewery. Helenow Park was named after his wife Helen. Using a regulated bed of the Lodka River, two ponds, the marina boat and a waterfall were created there. There were a band shell, a lookout tower, a cave of volcanic lava and a small zoo, where you could see the bears and monkeys. Within the park there were places to do some sports - cycling track, tennis courts and a playground. It was possible to meet here many people from high society. Unfortunately, the park was devastated during the First World War. Nowadays we can see only the famous cave of lava. Some scenes of AndrzejWajda’s film ‘The Promised Land’ were shot there.

8. Matejko Park  Have you heard that we have a little Versailles in Lodz? There is one more magnificent park in Lodz – Matejko Park. This is the only park in Lodz inspired by the very formal style of Versailles gardens. Have a look at these amazing avenues of hornbeam trees, large stretches of neatly trimmed lawn and spherically clipped yews. It is located just right next to the University of Lodz. We can meet here a lot of learning students. It was also a private garden that belonged to a well-known family of industrialists.

9. Zrodliska Park  The rich industrialists decided to create some parks also for their employees. The first such a park was Zrodliska Park – built in 1840. It is the oldest park in Lodz. Its name comes from the springs located there. Previously, it was also a private garden arranged to resemble a romantic, English park. In the second half of the 19th century the great industrialist Karol Scheibler built the factory and the palace in the middle of the park. In this way the garden was divided into some parts. Today we have Zrodliska I and Zrodliska II. In Zrodliska Park and its surroundings we can see beautiful palm house and unique building complex called “KsiezyMlyn” In 2007 this Park won the photo contest for the most picturesque park in Poland (the fifth place in Europe!).

10. Klepacz Park  Lodz was built by great industrialists: Poznanski, Heinezl, Scheibler… ...and Richter. The Richter family built a lot of factories and palaces. One of their palaces serves nowadays as a seat of the Technical University senate. In 1904, around this palace Richter brothers established a new garden. An oak tree named “a powerful manufacturer” has been growing there almost up to four and a half meters in circuit. Some people wanted to dig it out just to find an assumed treasure left by Richter’s but fortunately the idea was rejected. However, the greatest peculiarity of this park is a large blue carpet of millions of little blue Siberian flowers. It is the only park in Poland where these unique flowers grow. You can admire them in full bloom during one week in spring. If you want to see other beautiful flowers you ought to go to the botanical garden in Pilsudski Park.

11. Pilsudski Park  Pilsudski Park was set up on the land that once belonged to the urban forests. In the 20th century 300 000 new trees were planted there and some ponds were dug. In the 30’s of the 20th century the ZOO was built, and later in the 60’s the Botanic Garden. In the park there is a monument commemorating the revolutionaries who were buried between 1905-1907 in this place. Today, the park and adjacent areas are known as a forest and recreational complex called Zdrowie Park. This complex includes: The Aqua Park ‘Fala’, the ZOO, the Botanic Garden, the Nature Reserve ‘KonstantynowskiePolesie’ and Luna Park. There is a roller – coaster that is one of the fastest in Poland. Are you fancy going there?

12. We hope we have convinced you that Lodz is an interesting and green city, full of historical monuments, tenements, palaces , historical curiosities and parks, gardens even forests where you can sit and take a deep breath. … Julian Tuwim may have walked somewhere there… Our journey through the Lodz’s parks is almost over. THE END We have visited only a few of them but it is worth visiting all of them