September is the time in Polish calendar when summer and autumn meet. Usually it means the differences in temperatures by day and at night begin to be more and more visible. There are less and less sunny days and usually rainy weather dominates, so it gets chilly and it is easy to catch a cold. Still every cloud has a silver lining - September is the time of harvesting of all kinds of fruits and vegetables. Moreover, the colorful forests abund in mushrooms. To sum it up, September is the most colorful and generous season of the year in Poland.
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Kashubian embroidery varies depending on the part of the Kashubian region it comes from. The Wdzydze school is characterized by a different style from the one in Kartuzy or Wejherowo. Still these are not the only schools that exist within Kashubia. Possibly the most characteristic one is the Żukowo School of Kashubian Embroidery. Żukowo is a town situated in the Kartuzy county. As a rule always 7 colors are used to make a flower embroidery: three shades of blue, yellow, red and black. The choice of flowers varies. Below you can see a variety of flower representations that can appear on pottery or embroidery from the region. It is surely worth buying one of these hand-made beauties. Let me suggest you to visit a small workshop on the Carthusian church grounds where a very nice lady not only sold, but also explained to us the differences between different varieties of Kashubian embroideries. The Kashubian Landscape Park is the most lake area in Poland. It is said to be home to over 600 lakes created as a result of the Scandinavian ice sheet activity. The park is situated in the Pomeranian Voivodeship in northern Poland. The hilly landscape with abundance of lakes, forests and peatlands is commonly known as Kashubian Switzerland. Let me suggest a selection of just a few nice places to visit for a short weekend trip to this beautiful region of Poland enriched by some curiosities about the Kashubian culture. OSTRZYCE The view of the Lake Ostrzyckie from the viewpoint Jastrzębia Góra in Ostrzyce
KASHUBIAN LANGUAGE Don't be surprised by the double naming of the towns on the signboards. As a rule the signboards carry both Polish and Kashubian (below) names of the towns. The names on the one above look preety much similar, but one can find more complicated translations just like on the sign at the bottom of this paragraph. Whether Kashubian is an independent language or a dialect of Polish has long been a matter of dispute. Some take a middle ground between the two attitudes and treat Kashubian as an etnolect. Officially Kashubian is identified as a regional language. It is the only remnant of Slavic dialects of Pomerania. It belongs to a group of Lechic languages, in its central form, close to the standard Polish language, influenced by Lower German and extinct Polabian and Prussian languages. The oldest writings date back to the 16th century, but writings including kashubianisms appeared already in the beginning of the 15th century. Source: wikipedia KARTUZY One of the towns on the map of Kashubia that are "a must" to visit! The town of Kartuzy with its unique church, monumental architecture and beautiful green areas is, to make it even more attractive, situated over four picteresque lakes. Carthusian church in Kartuzë (Kartuzy in Kashubian) with a beautiful park in the foreground What makes the Carthusian church particularly unique is the cemetery situated next to it as according to the Polish law cemeteries are no longer permitted to be established next to churches. Though some may find it gloomy, thanks to well sustained green areas and parks it is quite the opposite. It somehow makes the gap between the living and those who passed away less severe. As far as I am concerned I am disappointed with the fact this tradition is no longer continued. For sure, it is great idea to combine Sunday mass with a natural possibility of visiting the grave of a relative and take a moment of reflection in the nearby park afterwards. The neigbourhood of the church also seems to have a positive impact on combining green areas and memorials together so that taking a walk down the cemetery's alleys doe no longer stir pessimistic emotions. It reminds me of the old photos from similar places in England or France. The decorative dragon gargoyle on the belfry The puzzling solar clock. Indeed inspiring to the reflection over life and death The interior of the church Pearls of beautiful Carthusian architecture THE KASHUBIAN EMBROIDERY Kashubian embroidery varies depending on the part of the Kashubian region it comes from. The most characteristic one is the Żukowo school of Kashubian embroidery. Żukowo is a town situated in the Kartuzy county. As a rule always 7 colors are used to make a flower embroidery: three shades of blue, yellow, red and black. The choice of flowers varies. Below you can see a varety of flower representations that can appear on pottery or embroidery from the region. It is surely worth buying one of these hand-made beauties. Let me suggest you to visit a small workshop on the church grounds where a very nice lady not only sold, but also explained to us the differences between different varieties of Kashubian embroideries. STĘŻYCA Here as nowhere else you will feel the wind blowing in the sails! Yes, Kashubia with its numerous deep lakes also is a perfect destinations for sailors. Many marinas, beautiful landscapes and certainly much less tourists than in Mazury make it a perfect sailing destination. The view from the promenade in Stężyca. The hilly landscape could no have been better accentuated than by high and steep shores of the Lake Raduńskie Górne. This very nice wooden promenade leading to the shores of the lake is equipped with tables of birds one can observe on the trees growing around. The promenade is dedicated to one of the patrons of the local church. Supposedly a bird lover. The church as seen from the promenade The interior of the church is also kept in greens. Over the heads of the parishoners a beautifully painted stary wooden ceiling with the representation of Virgin Mary and Jesus STONE CIRCLES RESERVE IN ODRY There are few bigger and well preserved concentrations of stone circles in Poland. Two of them can be found in Cassubia, in Odry and in Węsiory, one in Ślęża in Lower Silesia. The Stone Circles Reserve in Odry is one of the cemeteries of the tribe of Goths - East Germanic people. In the Reserve there are 10 stone circles and 29 burial mound, sometimes with a stele. Many people assign magical powers to stone circles. There is also a theory that stone circles were used as astronomic observatory. On the stones many unique lichens can be found. As lichens are known for their longevity, some of them may date back even as far as to the time of Goths. Unfortunately, most tourists are not aware of their fragility and often destroy them by touching or leaning on the stones. The information board with the selection of lichens that can be found in the reserve KASHUBIAN LADSCAPE PARK ON THE MAP OF POLAND One of many Hollyhock (alcea) hedges we found on our way to the Kashubian Landscape Park.
True beauties among September flowers! All the colors of the rainbow - from white to black! |
POLAND FOR BEGINNERS
Hi! My name is Victoria. Welcome to my personal travel photoblog about Poland created especially for you, my foreign friends, who are curious about Poland!
ABOUT MEEnglish philologist and film editor by education. Translator by occupation. A lover of my motherland Poland and globetrotter with journalist ambitions. Passionate about photography. I love traveling, active way of spending time and contact with nature. Experience and explore - that is what drives me! I am on the look for happy islands. Archives
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VICTORIA TUCHOLKA |
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