POLAND: PULAWY – NALECZOW – LUBLIN LAST MINUTE

Poland is a really beautiful country. There are mountains, forests, lakes and the sea. Each region is different and has different things to offer. It’s wonderful to travel round the world but sometimes it’s worth visiting the closest area. This time me and my family had a one-day trip to green region Lubelskie. Our route included Pulawy, Naleczow and Lublin. So how to spend in Poland weekend in nice and not expensive way?


At the beginning green Pulawy


We left Warsaw around 10 so we got to Pulawy around noon. Puławy isn’t big and has about 50 thousand inhabitants. The place owns its development mainly to the Czartoryski family. No wonder that till this day Czartoryski Palace, currently the museum, is the central part of the town. The entry fee is 15 PLN. I personally think it’s  too much as you only get two rooms to visit. Unfortunately they failed to get back all the pieces of art that the Czartoryski family had owned before the war. However, if you aren’t pressed for time and like art, then it’s worth going there.

The entry to the park around the palace is free of charge then. The entry gate is situated to the right of a historical red brick building of County Office ( Polish: Siedziba Powiatu Pulawskiego). So it’s not difficult to find. The car park is for a few cars only, so we parked next to a municipal park which is only a few meters away. The park isn’t too big but very well developed. There is a playground for kids and a café. I believe it’s a good place for a stop and lunch.

Beautifully restored Czartoryski Palace as a museum and headquarters of the National Research Institute
Beautifully restored Czartoryski Palace as a museum and headquarters of the National Research Institute
In the park at the Czartoryski Palace can be found strolling peacocks
In the park at the Czartoryski Palace can be found strolling peacocks

Czartoryski Palace and hiking trail Pulawy


Besides well preserved and renovated Czartoryski Palace, which was first built by the Lubomirski family in baroque style, there many objects in the park that are included in the so called tourist trail of Pulawy. To the left of the gate and then further in the park we can see  Gothic House, opened to commemorate the visit of Józef Poniatowski. Further there is Temple of Sybill, which was designed in the image of Temple of Vesta in Tivoli in Italy. You can get inside it for an additional charge.

14. domek gotycki

14. swiatynia sebilli

Further on, there is a marble sarcophagus, Roman Gate, Greek House and Yellow House. At the end of the park, not far from another entry gate, you can see Marynka’s Palace, where the Branch of Beekeeping currently takes place. The walk in the 30-hectar park is ideal for a hot day. We can walk in shades of beautiful trees. The park is very well kept and the trees are old and healthy. I guess it’s taken care of by the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute, with its seat in the palace.

14. sarkofag_brama


Direction Naleczow


Full of energy and relaxed we head towards Naleczow. It’s situated around 30 km away, where you can easily get to from Puławy. We have to lead to Kazimierz Dolny. The road is very lovely. Besides Nitrogen Plant in Puławy, we’ll be delighted by beautiful, green hills and cultivations of hop. Green trees form the shape of mountains on the horizon.

Sanatorium "Prince Joseph " by the pond in the Spa Park
Sanatorium “Prince Joseph ” by the pond in the Spa Park

Right after we enter the town we’ll get greeted by numerous boarding houses and advertisements of Health Resort that Nałeczów is famous for. It’s the only health resort in Poland with cardiologic profile only. The main attraction is a vast Resort Park with Palace of Malachowski Family which can be spotted right after we enter the park. It has to be admitted that the variety and the number of trees in the territory of the park is really impressive. It’s said that the tree stand here has been carefully developed for almost 200 years. Even American large Weymouth pines can be found here. While walking in the park surrounded by silence we can feed swans and ducks, visit a palm house or go to a swimming pool or get a wellness-based treatment. The entry ticket to a swimming pool isn’t expensive and there are the so called happy hours until 3pm.

In summer Naleczow is also a holiday resort which had an effect on the development of food and beverage facilities. There are a few cafes in the park itself. If we feel like eating something more nutritious, then there are at least three restaurants with good opinions close to the gate. Karczma Nałęczowska is recommended by Polish restaurateur Magda Gessler. You can also dine in a canteen at hospital of cardiology paying not more than 20 PLN for a two-course dietetic dinner. Naleczow is also famous for its beautiful residential buildings which can be noticed while leaving the town and heading towards our next target- Lublin.


Final direction Lublin


There was supposed to be stormy and cloudy on that day. However, we constantly managed to avoid ugly weather. Our luck, however, couldn’t last forever and Lublin greeted us with rain. Luckily for us it lasted only 15 minutes and a beautiful sun came out from behind the clouds  very quickly. It was the sign to get going to Lublin Castle situated in the vicinity of Old Town. It’s the centre of all historical architecture of Lublin with medieval Cracow Gate, gothic defence tower and Tynitarska tower.

14. starowka lublin

You can get a very interesting experience from going on a trip to the so called Lubelskie Underground. This is a 300-meter-long trail going under Old Town streets of Złota and Archidiakońska. It goes from Crown Tribunal to a tenement house at the Square where a Parish Church used to stand. Here t’s worth taking a picture of the town panorama and the castle.

14. lublin plac po farze

We started sightseeing from the aforementioned Castle. It is impressive mostly due to the fact that it’s beautifully renovated and looks magnificent although it used to be a prison and a place of murder of thousands of people first by Nazis and later by communists. Since 1957 it’s been a museum which I admit I haven’t visited yet, so unfortunately I can’t tell you how it looks like inside. Maybe you’ve been there and would like to share it?

Restored royal castle in Lublin, which currently houses the Museum of Lublin
Restored royal castle in Lublin, which currently houses the Museum of Lublin

But we took a very nice walk in the yard where you can find a roman donjon, which is a tower for defence and dwelling purposes. Next to the donjon is Trinity Chapel with Byzantine frescos. It is one of the most valuable historic sites in Poland. We can also admire an original town panorama after we climb a tower with an observation deck.

Holy Trinity Chapel with Byzantine frescoes , which is one of the most valuable monuments in Poland
Holy Trinity Chapel with Byzantine frescoes , which is one of the most valuable monuments in Poland
Romanesque donjon or residential tower - defense with panoramic view of Lublin
Romanesque donjon or residential tower – defense with panoramic view of Lublin

Full of nice feelings we got hungry. We decided to have a dinner in one if many places in the old town. They tempt you both with the richness of flavours and the kinds of beer they offer. We got convinced by a bowl of dumplings in a restaurant nicely named Sielsko Anielsko . It is situated in the very centre of the old market. I must admit it’s a very nice place with rich menu, reasonable prices and nice service. To sum up the journey I treated myself to a locally brewed cranberry beer Sielskie Anielskie. I must admit that I felt blissful for a while. Perhaps because it is 6%. A bottle cost only 6,50 PLN. I recommend if from the bottom of my heart.

Summer festival Lublin Sportival and cycling competition for the World Cup FMB Silver Event
Summer festival Lublin Sportival and cycling competition for the World Cup FMB Silver Event

I hope our short story encouraged  you to visit the Lublin region. I’ll be happy to know your impressions after visiting this region. And maybe some of you have visited Chelm?

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