Religious Tourism

Gliwice is one of the most beautiful towns in the Upper Silesia. The town was founded before 1276 under the Magdeburg Law. The largest inland port in Poland is also located in Gliwice. Polish Katowice Airport can be reached in 20 minutes. Gliwice is also an important academic, scientific and industrial center. Over the centuries, it belonged to different countries, it was ruled by Poles, Czechs and Germans. After World War II, the town, along with the entire Upper Silesia, became part of Poland.

On the eve of Christmas, Religious Tourism visited Gliwice and met amateur photographers from the “Baildonka” club. Together with them we walked through the pre-holiday streets. How can local photographers see Gliwice?

Tomasz

My town is shy of Christmas. Right at the entrance of the festive time we stumble upon the obstacles that unmatch the expected picture. Walking along the key and most representative parts of town we will not find it all sparkling with elven glitter, because the choices of our elders left some of the Santa’s trails impassable.

Right in the middle of the mystical awaiting, something disturbing turns up in front of our eyes. Whilst undoubtedly the old town keeps the pace of attractions demand, we still cannot tell that of the public transport centres, which will surely be the mistletoe greeting for many of you and us. One step closer to the concrete jungle; back to the forests, but no sleigh in sight.

One minute walk; the lady at the hairdresser’s patches it all up a little, hanging a star of righteous size in the display window. She sees me watching her looking back at me standing and staring. She smiles… shy. Shy, as this town shy of Christmas is.

If we cannot have what we like, we like what we can have. Be it the simplest, we can catch it on our own.

Ewa

“Gliwickie elves”
The local workers are constructing the most beautiful Christmas Tree in Gliwice. An artificial tree, 18 m high, foretells the imminent arrival of Christmas.

“Gliwicki Grinch”
3 Fauns – the heroes of the Gliwice fountain surrounded by festive accents.

“Gliwice is being decorated “
A beautiful Christmas tree has been erected in the center, in front of the City Hall, in the vicinity of the Three Fauns’ Fountain.

“Pędzą konie po betonie – byle do świąt” (Horses are ready for Christmas)
Preparations for the Gliwice Christmas Fair in the Market Square are in full swing. Soon, this merry-go-round will be fun for children and more :).

Jan

In the foreground, we can see a fountain with Gliwice Fauns, the characteristic symbol of Gliwice, made of the local steelworks (in 1928).
Despite the static form, such as the fountain, the dynamic frame gives the impression of Fauns moving. It seems they are dancing and it creates the festive atmosphere with the Christmas tree in the background.

Gliwicka 18m Christmas tree is located above the DTŚ tunnel (Drogowa Trasa Średnicowa).
The Klodnicki Canal, which was officially opened less than 200 years ago in 1822, used to run here.
Today, after half-blinking the eyes, the photo also resembles a canal or barge that narrows down to a perspective that coincides with the surrounding blue element.
The photo is taken from the foot of the tree creates an image of a majestic Christmas tree reaching heaven, the scale of which is similar to the might of Christmas.

Religious Tourism