the wedding of lauren and Michał
Things To Do in Lublin
The Archcathedral of Saint John the Baptist
This is where our wedding ceremony will be! It is the largest church in Lublin, serving as the archcathedral church of the Lublin Archdiocese. At the entrance to the church, on the right side there is a replica of the Shroud of Turin. You can visit the Acoustic Sacristy which is silent and beautiful. In addition, it is possible to visit the Treasury where richly decorated costumes and church jewels as well as other valuable items have been collected. There are Crypts under the Cathedral that can be visited. In the past, deceased monks and important Lublin personalities were buried there. The Trinitarian Tower - the highest vantage point in Lublin, stands by the cathedral. The crypts are also open to visitors. There, Lublin bishops were buried. You can see their clothes, gravestone-portraits, objects with which the dead were buried. The entrance to the crypts is located inside the cathedral.
Lublin Castle
Lublin Castle, or "Zamek" as it is called by people who live in Lublin, is a unique sight to see and has been through so much history, from the medieval era all the way to the German and Soviet occupations in Poland. You can book tickets for guided tours in English on their site or self-guided walkthroughs. Tickets are about $10 each. They have exhibits inside of the castle containing classic Polish art and Lublin folk costumes.
Chapel of the Holy Trinity
The Holy Trinity Chapel is located inside of the Lublin Castle. The 14th-century chapel is one of the most important places in Lublin. The paintings depicting religious themes in the spirit of the Orthodox Church adorn the walls of the Roman Catholic church, which creates a unique symbol of the coexistence of Eastern- and Western-European cultures. In 2015 the Chapel was honoured with the European Heritage Label.
The Krakowska (Cracow) Gate
The Krakowska Gate (also known as Cracow Gate) one of the symbols of the city, was constructed in the 14th century along with the city walls. Its name originates from the historic route leading from Cracow via Lublin to Vilnius. It was an observation point for the fire brigade, and the city's bugle-call was played from it as well. It was also inhabited by the clockmaker servicing the gate's clock. The basic framework of the Gothic walls is made of brick and stone, and the superstructure of vitrified brick.
Old Town
Only a few cities in Poland can boast of such a nicely located Old Town. However, it is the medieval urban layout and the richness of ornamentation of centuries-old burgher houses that enchant tourists with their authenticity in Lublin. Wandering through the streets and alleys allows you to get to know the rich past of Lublin. Within the Old Town’s walls, which emanate history, there are many architectural monuments from various eras: the richly decorated Renaissance houses, the old Town Hall (the Crown Tribunal), the Archcathedral, the Trinitarian Tower, the Church and Monastery Complex of Dominican Order and the Old Theatre. On the area of nearly 1 km2 there are as many as 110 monuments. The Old Town has more than 70% of its original buildings. The oldest monuments date back to the 13th century. The uniqueness of the Old Town is related to the fact that the buildings have been preserved in their historical shape. The Old Town is on the list of Monuments of History.
Swiety Spokój Music Cafe
Arguably the our favorite bar in Lublin. Located in Old Town, it's on your right as soon as you walk through Cracow Gate. You can see it by the record logo sign they have sticking out of the wall. This place is a record store/coffee shop during the day and a bar at night. They sell local beers and there is sometimes live music. You can sit outside, too. Try a local beer with a little bit of raspberry jam poured in it! The name of the place means ‘holy tranquillity’
Nocny Portier
Nocny Portier is an upscale cocktail bar near Old Town, offering unique drinks and a calm atmosphere. It is small and it can get busy at night, so they will turn people away if it is too busy. You can usually have better luck in the evening rather than late at night.
Lithuanian Square
On Lithuanian Square, known as "Plac Litewski" in Polish, there are the monuments of Marshal Józef Piłsudski, the Unknown Soldier and the Constitution of May 3, as well as the obelisk commemorating the signing of the Polish-Lithuanian Union in 1569. The square has fountain shows in the summertime and is adjacent to the large historical Polish post office building. If you walk through the square, you will find it leads you down a cute cobblestone street with no cars and through the Cracow Gate to the Old Town...
ParZona
ParZona is a really cute cafe that we enjoy grabbing a coffee or salad at. No reservations required. The place is comfy and situated in the center of Lublin in the Lithuanian Square. Order at the front cashier and find a place to sit, they will bring the food to you.
Centre for the Meeting of Cultures
Admission is free and exhibits change on a weekly/monthly basis. You can use the elevator to visit each floor. Hint: Take the elevator to the highest floor and go out on the glass rooftop! The Center for the Meeting of Cultures is the largest cultural institution on the eastern side of the Vistula River, an institution subordinate to the Lublin Voivodeship Government, which has been operating since 2016. CSK is located in the heart of Lublin. It is a place where the past and the future meet; high and popular culture, traditional and contemporary art. Over the past years, both Polish and foreign artists representing almost all forms of art have presented themselves here.
Saxon Garden Park
The Saxon Garden Park is a nice place to take a walk or get some fresh air in the city. There are many benches and trees.
Ostro Klubokawiarnia
Ostro is a bistro serving lunch and dinner options, located in Lithuanian Square. They have beer and cocktails as well. Open late and sometimes has club vibes later in the evening.
The State Museum of Majdanek
The State Museum at Majdanek was established at the site of the former German concentration camp which functioned on the outskirts of Lublin between October 1941 and July 1944. It was opened in November 1944 and was the first museum devoted to the commemoration of the victims of World War II in Europe. In the first years of its operation, the Museum’s efforts focused on the preservation and reconstruction of historical objects as well as locating and cataloguing the surviving camp documentation. In 1945, the first permanent exhibition was opened. The first Week of Majdanek was also organized at the time, initially intended as commemoration of KL Lublin victims, but later taking the form of anti-war rallies largely subordinated to official propaganda policies. Efforts also begun to implement the first zoning plan for the Museum, which involved preservation of the victims’ ashes.
The Basilica of the Dominican Order
This basilica is one of the most valuable sacral buildings in Lublin. The church and monastery were founded in 1342 by King Casimir the Great. In the church in 1569, after the union of Lublin was signed, a thanksgiving service was held, in which King Zygmunt August participated. The temple was already enjoying international renown thanks to the relics of the Holy Cross, one of the largest in the world. Many amazing and miraculous events are associated with the presence of the relics. According to one of the legends, the procession with the reliquary saved the city from a tragic fire in 1719. Unfortunately, in 1991, the relics stored in the church for centuries were stolen. The Dominican monastery complex in Lublin has been awarded the European Heritage Label. It is open to the public almost entirely, including the painting gallery, the monastery and the monastery treasury.
The Miracle of Weeping Mary at Lublin Archcathedral
The church of St John the Baptist and John the Evangelist was built in 1586-1604 to serve the Society of Jesus, which arrived at that time in Lublin. In the side altar of the left nave, there hangs the icon of the Crying Virgin Mary. On July 3, 1949, legend says that the image cried with bloody tears that were collected and placed in one of the stones in the crown of Mary.
