Wroclaw Indoor Market, Hala Targowa

For our one week stay in Wroclaw we needed to stock up on food especially fruit and vegetables. Having done our research we knew there was only one place to go' Hala Targowa', the indoor market. To get there was only a ten minute walk from our city centre apartment just along Plac Nowy Targ to where it joins the road called Andrzeja Modrzewskiego - Frycza, the market building is at this corner right opposite the Sand Bridge which crosses the River Odra.

Wroclaw, Hala Targowa, The Indoor Market

The  gloomy building exterior is constructed of red brick and dominates this busy corner but once inside you feel  the atmosphere of  a busy traditional market.

Wroclaw, Hala Targowa, the interior

Wroclaw, Hala Targowa, produce on sale

The ground floor is full of stalls selling a wide range of  produce, you will have to go a long way to find a comparable selection of such quality. Vegetable, fruits, meats, polish sausages, cheeses and flowers on the ground floor then  arranged around the first floor balcony cobblers, lingerie, hairdressers, currency exchange booths, clothing etc .

Wroclaw, Hala Targowa, produce on sale

Take a moment to rest at the balcony and watch the market life below. If the sight of all this food has made you feel hungry then stop at the busy little pierogi bar on your way out.
We made our way back to the apartment having bought far more than intended but happy knowing we would eat well the following week.

All our photographs from Hala Targowa can be viewed at  www.imaginepoland.com

Useful Links

Polish Cuisine
Poland its Regions
Polands Official Travel Website

All photographs copyright Imagine Poland

Wroclaw, Plac Solny, The Flower Market

The southwest corner of the Rynek in Wroclaw opens out to another square called Plac Solny which was originally the Salt Market whose last salt stalls were abolished in 1815. Also sold here were leather and honey. Now the square houses a much more colourful Flower Market which is a delight to the eyes.

Plac Solny, The Flower Market

All types of flowers with their many colours and shades are on display either as stunning bouquets or beautiful single stems. The choice is yours and if you follow the Polish tradition buy them in odd no's. as even no's are used at funerals. Also chrysanthemums are for visiting the cemetery/funerals and roses of course are for lovers.

 The flower sellers colourful stalls surround a gushing ornate fountain erected in 1997 which is topped with design made from forged iron. More to the centre of the square and to one side of the flower stalls is a tall needle sculpture.
Surrounding the square are the high traditionally styled houses with restaurants and bars at street level. On the south side your eye is drawn to the Old Stock Market  (Stara Giełda) designed by a local architect Carl Ferdinand Langhans ( 1782 - 1869 ) this is quite an imposing building with a magnificent entrance.

Entrance to The Stock Exchange

It was not until we arrived back home and were doing some research for our book that we discovered that under the flower market area was a wartime shelter which was capable of housing three hundred people.
Before you leave the Flower Market look high and low and see if you can spot some of  the little residents of Wroclaw.

All our photographs of The Flower Market at Wroclaw can be viewed at

www.imaginepoland.com

Useful Links
Historic Wroclaw
www.poland.travel/en/about-poland/

Wroclaw, Rynek Glowny ( Market Square )

The characteristic landmark of the city, where all the routes begin is traditionally the Rynek . Wroclaw has Poland's second largest . You will see it on the majority of the postcards with its stunning Town Hall dating back to 13th century and quite rightly so as the square is the main gathering point for both social and cultural events.

The Town Hall, Wroclaw

The Astronomical Clock at the Town Hall

The Whipping Pillar in front of the Town Hall

On the eastern facade of the Town Hall - now the museum - your eye catches immediately the famous astronomical clock and in front you will see the old Whipping Pillar - now only a peaceful meeting place. The imposing 5 floor department store 'Feniks' built at  the beginning of the twentieth century - in its early years topped by a huge illuminated glass globe shattered by lightning in 1930 is located on the eastern side of the Rynek and will provide you if not with all the shopping required, certainly with fantastic views from the upper floors over the Old Town. Also on Feniks top floor can be found a very useful Internet and IT facility
The southeastern facade of the Town Hall with its stunning embellishments gives a shelter for the artists - drawing and selling their pictures on the pavement.

Artists displaying and selling their paintings in the shadow of the Town Hall

In the town halls medieval cellars next to the Piwnica Swidnicka Beer Cellar you will discover Wroclaw's oldest brewery the Spiz Brewery. At the entrance to the cellars is replica statue of the Breslau Bear, there is a fountain from its mouth which if you want good luck then you must touch it.

A replica of the Breslau Bear near the Spiz Restaurant

A more imposing monument  a hundred metres away is to  Alexander Fredro one of Poland's most prominent writers and playwright.

Monument to Aleksander Fredro prominent Polish playwright and writer

Also on this side of the Rynek can be found the two main tourist and cultural information centres - one the 'Wroclaw Info' has limited free Internet access for tourists both have very helpful English speaking staff. The Western side is dominated by the lively jetting Wroclaw Fountain giving joyful enjoyment to young and old and illuminated in the evening.

The Rynek Wroclaw Fountain

It's also from here that you will see and be enchanted by two fairy like Baroque houses named 'Hansel and Gretel linked by an archway through which can be found St Elizabeths Church which has one of the tallest towers in Wroclaw with panoramic views of the Rynek and beyond from the top. The opposite corner of the square will take you to Plac Solny which houses the open air colourful flower market open 24/7.
You can spend an entire day on the Market Square as there are many beautiful features to discover.  See if you can find any of the numerous little gnomes hiding in the least expected places.

Some of the Ryneks inhabitants, The Gnomes

Three mysterious passage-ways link the Town Hall buildings and all this among the countless number of colourful bars, cafes and restaurants with their outside seating and colourful sun shades, there was certainly no shortage of places to eat, drink, relax and meet people.

Words I would use to sum up Wroclaw Rynek - Vibrant, Historic, Colourful, Traditional.

During our stay in Wroclaw we ate in restaurants around the Rynek, drank in its bars/cafes or just sat under lush green foliage of the trees on one of the many benches and soaked up the scenery.

All our photographs of Wroclaws Rynek can be viewed in the image gallery at www.imaginepoland.com

Please come back to see our next review on Wroclaws Flower Market and Indoor Market

Useful Links
www.imaginepoland.com
Wroclaw Info
Wroclaw Description

Zakopane and The Tatra Mountains, Poland

Only back from Wroclaw three weeks and were still busy editing the photographs but found time to book the flights for our next trip. Have decided to go to Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains, won't be much snow at the lower levels when we go in September so we are planning several walks, looking forward to some beautiful vistas complimented by some excellent evenings in Zakopane.
We visited Zakopane last year by bus from Krakow just for one day. Unfortunately it was a bit of a rainy, misty day. Still as Cecile is a dedicated fan of the Tatras there was no way she wouldn't jump on the opportunity to show this place to me.
It has completely different climate (in either sense of the word) to any other places in Poland and is the unquestionable winter capital of Poland. In winter and early spring the Tatras offers fantastic slopes for skiing while during summer and autumn Zakopane and surrounding villages welcomes multitudes of hikers and walkers from all over Poland but also increasing number of foreign visitors.
Below a few pictures of what Zakopane and the Tatras are mostly renowned for: the beautiful nature (sometimes quite wild) and everything associated with skiing and hiking.

We booked our flights with Ryanair flying from Leeds Bradford International Airport to Krakow Balice Airport, total cost for both our return flights £202.20 including one checked in bag and two hand luggage.
Still looking for accommodation via the Internet and have bookmarked a couple of apartments to ring in the next few days.

Mountain Resorts, Poland ( Poland Trips )
The Tatra Mountains
Images of Poland

Peter and Cecile

Wroclaw, The Photographs

Wroclaw Town Hall

There were several reasons for visiting Wroclaw, the main one being a good holiday, but secondary to that and probably of equal importance was to photograph the city and its attractions  for our website Imagine Poland .
The aim of Imagine Poland is to give a pictorial view of the country to show its beauty, character and history. I have to admit  that I am a recent convert. Previous to my friendship with Cecile, a Polish national if your were to ask me for my top ten holiday destinations Poland may not have appeared on it. It was only after much persuasion by Cecile that we took a trip to Krakow, well that was the start of my great affection and admiration for Poland.
After showing our photographs to friends in England and seeing their enthusiasm to include Poland as one of their holiday destinations we realized that perhaps we should find a way to display our photographs and reviews so as to encourage others to visit Poland. This was the start of our website Imagine Poland.
We now visit Poland as often as possible, searching out new destinations and attractions to photograph. Our latest destination was Wroclaw and we are busy putting the photographs into catagories and editing them. Many reviews are to be written.
Some of our catagories for Wroclaw will include :

• The Rynek
• Flower Market
• Flag Day
• Restaurants and Food
• Thanks Jimmy Concert
• The University
• The Gnomes

Plus many more

I do hope you will be patient and come back to read the reviews and view the photographs.
The reviews and sample photographs will be posted to this blog.
All the photographs will be uploaded to our main website Imagine Poland.

Peter and Cecile

Since our visit, Poland has been subject to heavy rain and floods affecting many of the population, our thoughts and feelings go out to them. We follow this news mainly through the Internet and updates from family and friends.

Wroclaw, The Apartment, 'Rzut Beretem'

Arriving at the dead of night in a foreign city is perhaps not the best time to make an appraisal of the location of a holiday apartment. Our taxi had delivered us to our destination, a dimly lit street with a Gothic cathedral on one side and a large block of concrete 60's style apartments on the other, all very gloomy. Our driver gestured towards a dark alleyway indicating the location of the apartment. We approached with apprehension, rang the doorbell and were given access to a small entrance lobby leading to a bare concrete staircase. Up we went to the first floor our apartment was the first door we came to. Due to our late arrive it had been arranged to meet the owner of the apartment who would give us access and leave us with the keys. Sure enough there he was with a happy welcome and after instructions on the facilities he wished us a good stay and off he went. Now we could look at our home for the next week, glancing round with open eyes and big smiles. What a contrast to the exterior approach! We found ourselves in a very clean, compact, contemporary and stylish apartment, our nervous apprehension evaporated. Sitting down with a cups of coffee we congratulated ourselves on the choice of apartment. 

Lounge

Kitchen Area

Bathroom

On the next day in daylight we found  that the location of the apartment 'Rzut Beretem' ( As Far as the Beret Falls ) was as the name suggested close to all the attractions and amenities. Seconds away just around the corner and next to the Gothic cathedral which had appeared so forbidding the night before and whose architectural beauty could now be appreciated in the full light of day, was a paved area with seating and in the centre the' Euro Fountain', it was a relaxing setting.

The Euro Fountain and our apartment block just behind the Cathedral

Just beyond this only a minute away was the Rynek or Main Square of Wroclaw. Five minutes away in the opposite direction was the Galeria Dominkanska an extensive modern indoor shopping centre on three floors and five minutes beyond that Wroclaws main indoor market, Hala Targowa where top quality fruit and veg can be purchased at very reasonable prices. Most of the cities attractions were within ten minutes walk from our location. Our apartment was ideally situated for exploration of the city, perfect.

It had taken several evenings trawling the Internet to decide on our choice of accommodation before finally choosing an apartment offered by Inturs.net . We booked for seven nights for two people, the total cost was 1,320zl. Late night or early morning arrivals are accommodated and by prior arrangement we were allowed to leave our luggage there until 4.00pm on the day of departure. The owner promptly responded to all our queries and was extremely helpful.
Our initial doubts on the late night arrival were unfounded, we found the apartment to be beautifully appointed and ideally situated.

NEXT POST  Wroclaw, The Rynek ( market square )

Useful Links

Inturs.net ( apartments in Wroclaw )
Tourist Information, Wroclaw
Photographs of Poland

Wroclaw, Ilkley to Wroclaw

The Rynek, Wroclaw

 We were ready, several months of planning were about to come to fruition. Although we had made the journey to Doncasters Robin Hood Airport several times before I clipped the satnav to the car windscreen, there were one or two junctions I was still not sure about. Sure enough the satnav to us to the airport without any problem, it was a distance of sixty seven miles via the A1M, M62 and M18, took us about an hour and three quarters. We had started our journey at six thirty pm and found no hold ups on way. I had booked the long stay car park opposite the airport using BCP , the online booking system had been straightforward and for our seven day stay had cost £33.00. Now though the moment of truth would the entry system recognise my credit card, relief, it did and also displayed a welcome to Robin Hood Airport on the transaction screen using my name, I was impressed. The luggage was quickly taken out of the car boot and we walked across to the terminal, a two minute stroll.Our flights for two booked online with  Wizzair was a bargain price £170.00 which included one bag, our two items of handluggage were at no cost. I prefer Robin Hood airport to most others it seems to flow well and the facilities seem more than adaquate, fingers crossed no problems there yet. We had been warned by email from Wizzair that their regulations for baggage weights and hand luggage weights and sizes would be strictly enforced so we had checked them before we left home, sure enough the hand luggage was checked for size but they omitted to weigh them. Our flight departure was on time and full. A note for anyone new to Wizzair there appears to be no seating allocation on the aircraft so its a bit of a free for all when finding a place, also a general tip keep well away from young children and babies if you want a noise free flight. I find the flights relaxing, even more so when I've had my usual gin and tonic. Flying time to Wroclaws Copernicus Airport was two hours and we arrived at one thirty am. Although the airport is quite small all went smoothly. A new terminal is under construction and should be ready 2011. I think we were possibly the last flight in that night so not many people about. After collecting our bag the first thing to do was find one of the free InYour Pocket  guides which are usually on display in most European airport terminals, these are a must, an absolute mine of information about your destination area, maps, attractions, restaurants, history, all you need to know. You can also view 'In your Pocket' online, a great aid to  pre planning your trip. A bonus this time, not only the guide but a large scale street map of Wroclaw and surrounding area. We had no problem in getting a taxi, we had been warned to be carefull when choosing a taxi as there are many who charge shall we say an excessive amount ( arm and a leg ) so we knew who to pick and there was one right outside the door, perfect. If you require information on Taxis in Wroclaw check out the link. Our journey from the airport to the apartment we had booked in the centre of Wroclaw was a distance of just over 13 km and took us about thirty minutes, total cost was 64.5zl ( exchange rate was 4.6 at the time ) Bear in mind Poland is not a euro currency zone. As we went along the final street to our destination we both looked at each other and I thought oh dear, does'nt look to good, eerily lit gothic cathedral on one side and large concrete built block of gaunt looking apartments on the other, perhaps the taxi driver had got it wrong but oh no, we had arrived, but we were soon pleasantly surprised.

Will be posting reviews and photographs of our stay in Wroclaw over the next few weeks. I do hope you will come back to read and enjoy them, maybe they will give you that incentive to visit and enjoy Poland.

Usefull Link

Travel to Poland ( Poland Trips )
Imagine Poland ( Images of Poland )