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Piotrków Trybunalski is a city that I have only passed for many years during my travels. Sometimes it happened during a bus transfer, but never for sightseeing. It’s time to change that!
Location
Piotrków Trybunalski is located 100 kilometers from Kielce and 50 kilometers from Łódź. The city is large, but most of the places that are attractive to tourists are in its center. You can leave your car there and go on foot.
History of Piotrków Trybunalski
The beginnings of Piotrków date back to the first half of the 12th century. Magnate, Piotr Dunin, built the Church of St. James then. The city owes its name to him (the sponsor of the church). However, the settlement probably existed in the city much earlier. The first written mention about the city comes from 1217.
It is said that Piotrków is the centre of the Polish parliament. It was here in 1493, at a congress convened by King Jan Olbracht, the shape of the Polish parliament was established. There was also the Crown Tribunal in Piotrków, to which the city owes the second part of its name. The development of the city was interrupted by the Swedish wars, and in 1786 the city was hit by a fire.
Under the partitions, the city developed thanks to the location of the capital of the Piotrków Governorate and the Warsaw-Vienna railway line. Piotrków lost its administrative and political importance after Poland regained independence.
Piotrków Trybunalski was bombed on September 2, and three days later the battle of Piotrków took place, which resulted in the occupation of the city by the Germans. They created a ghetto there, which is considered the first in Europe.
From 1975 to 1999, Piotrków Trybunalski was the capital of the Piotrków Voivodeship.
Interesting objects
Mainsquare and the Old City
While walking around Piotrków, you have the impression that time passes slower there. Beautiful tenement houses and a quiet market square make it definitely worth a visit. After visiting the old town, you will surely like Piotrków for its beautiful architecture!
Castle in Piotrków Trybunalski
Although the castle in Piotrków Trybunalski does not resemble buildings that we know from stories about knights, and in fact, there are still disputes is it really a castle, this building is worth visiting. There is a museum where you will learn about the history of Piotrków and the most important facts about the city.
Brewing Museum
This is probably the biggest surprise during my visit. I have never associated Piotrków Trybunalski with beer, and here is such a surprise. Two known breweries – Cornelius and Jan Olbracht – produce their beers in Piotrków. You can learn more about them, but also about the production of the beer itself, in the museum dedicated to this drink.
Movies City Route
Beautiful architecture, atmospheric streets and the proximity of Łódź, which is a well-known movie centre, made Piotrków Trybunalski a favourite among filmmakers. A lot of productions that we know from the big screen were filmed in the city. Consequently, a movie trail has been created in the city that guides tourists around the places that were played in the movies!
Jewish cemetery and synagogue
A large Jewish community lived in Piotrków Trybunalski. In this city, the Nazis created the first ghetto in Europe. Many traces of the Jews of Piotrków remain in the city. The most important is the building of the former synagogue and the Jewish cemetery.
Worth to visit Piotrków Trybunalski?
Piotrków Trybunalski is a city that, in my opinion, is just beginning its tourist career. Due to its history, it has great potential, and a large number of interesting objects and a very nice old town make it worth visiting.
