Łowicz, Poland

Welcome to Łowicz, a historic town in central Poland with a population of 27,436 people as of 2021. Located in the Łódź Voivodeship, Łowicz is a major rail junction where the line from Warsaw splits into two directions towards Poznań and Łódź, making it a convenient stop for travelers exploring central Poland. But Łowicz is more than just a transportation hub. This town has a rich history and cultural heritage that make it a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an authentic Polish experience.

One of the most notable aspects of Łowicz’s history is its role as a residence of Polish primates during the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. When the town became a temporary capital of Poland during the interregnum, the primates served as regents. As a result, Łowicz has its own bishop and a basilica in spite of its considerably small size. You can even visit the ruins of a former bishop’s castle on the outskirts of town.

Another significant chapter in Łowicz’s history is its connection to Napoleon Bonaparte. The French emperor is believed to have stayed in one of the houses on the main square. And during World War II, Łowicz was at the center of the largest battle of the German invasion of Poland, the Battle of the Bzura River.

But Łowicz isn’t just a town with a rich history. It also boasts several attractions that make it a popular tourist destination. For example, the Muzeum w Łowiczu is an important ethnographic museum exhibiting Polish art and historical artifacts from the region. And the skansen, a popular open-air museum, features traditional wooden houses spread over a 17-hectare site just outside the town.

Łowicz also has several religious buildings of note, including the Baroque Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in the first half of the 17th century by Italian architect Tomas Poncino. It is a former residential church of the archbishops of Gniezno and Primates of Poland and is the burial place of a dozen archbishops of Gniezno and Primates of Poland.

If you’re a sports fan, you can catch a game of football with the Pelikan Łowicz team or watch basketball with Księżak Łowicz. And don’t forget to check out the town hall, designed by Bonifacy Witkowski in the neoclassical style, which features a plaque commemorating the 5,808 inhabitants of Łowicz who were murdered by the Germans during World War II.

Finally, no visit to Łowicz would be