The Boleslawiec Ceramic Days
The Boleslawiec Ceramic Days is a 5-day-long ceramic fair which is the largest in Poland and one of the largest events of this type in Europe. Over 100 exhibitors, producers of ceramics, take part in this event every year. During the Fair, one can buy hand-painted ceramic products for very attractive prices. During these few days Bolesławiec is shimmering with cobalt shades, while hand-made and hand-painted stamped ceramics from local craftsmen delight all tourists.
The Boleslawiec Ceramic Days officially opens with the colourful procession named The Ceramic Parade. Participants in the event, among others, are the authorities of the town, delegations of Bolesławiec town twinning, representatives of local ceramics plants, municipal companies and production plants, playschools and schools, non-governmental organizations as well as local artistic groups. Every year, the most interestingly dressed participant and the best dressed group are selected.
The Ceramic Animation Town is a clay paradise for children and adults. Only in this place are there unique attractions, including do-it-yourself painting of bisques, making clay sculptures or working on a historical potter’s wheel that await for the entire family.
The Clay Show is a treat for those who want to play the role of clay figures that march in a clay procession. This is an event for people who are not afraid of getting smudged with clay, and most importantly, have a vivid imagination to create an original disguise. A competition for the best disguise is a perfect opportunity for the brave, while the prize for the best photo of the procession awaits for restless photographers.
The Festival of Colours is an opportunity to travel in time when everyone can become a child. The biodegradable Colours of Holi, spinning in the air, will provide new colours to the gray reality. The smile of hundreds of participants playing together with the surrounding music will create an atmosphere that can not be forgotten. All that is needed is a bit of desire; that is sufficient to enter the colourful crowd.
The International Ceramics and Sculpture Outdoor Event, traditionally organized during the Ceramics Festival, has a 55-year old tradition. This is the oldest event of this type in Poland, lasting continuously since 1964. This Outdoor Event effectively promotes the achievements of artists from the artistic milieu of outstanding ceramic-sculptors from Poland and abroad, who create their works in Bolesławiec for a whole month. Every year, a dozen or so pottery artists from around the world take part in it, and their works can be admired during the open-air exhibition.
Antiques Fair – this event will please anyone who longs for the relics of the past. Aged trinkets, technical curiosities from a dozen or so years ago, historical coins, unique stamps and yellowed-with-age books. Everybody can look, buy and sell here. Every year, over 300 exhibitors are present at the Antique Fair.
Bolesławiecki Ośrodek Kultury –
Międzynarodowe Centrum Ceramiki
Pl. Piłsudskiego 1c
59-700 Bolesławiec
Tel. (0048) 75 644 21 45
A Week with the Bolesławiec County
Developing sports passions, folklore at its best, good cuisine, time for the family, integration – this is how the “Week with the Bolesławiec County” event takes place every year at the turn of May and June.
The Bolesławiec County organizes its week to bring the inhabitants and visitors closer to the tourist and cultural values of their municipalities. Let’s start with ideas for actively spending time surrounded by nature. For runners of all ages a “RUNdka” County run tournament is organized. This is not a race, it is a recreational relay run for health and endorphins, but it must be admitted that many participants are ambitious and want the best result. The start and finish always takes place at the site of the County Eldership in Bolesławiec, the route of this several-kilometer run leads through the County Municipalities – first through the streets of the town, then local roads through the surrounding villages, and even through forest and field paths, up to the finish. The run route is well marked and secured by law enforcement. It is several dozen kilometers long course for runners to overcome, but everyone runs at their own pace, at distances adapted to age and condition.
Big and small fans of two wheels have the opportunity to have o go in the cycling version of “RUNdka”. It is an offer for the whole family, especially for parents with children. At the finish line the competitors will find a family picnic: a tasty meal, competitions with prizes and great fun. But first, they need to get to the picnic place by bike. Here, the route is marked and secured as well. It leads from the County Eldership, along public roads, and then through field and forest roads to the destination. Participation in events and most attractions are free for all.
The flagship event of the “Week with the County” is the “Cross-Border Festival of Many Cultures”. The Bolesławiec County in itself – like few in Poland – is a collection of cultures, customs and traditions of the peoples of Europe. They are cultivated by post-war newcomers from the countries of former Yugoslavia, the Eastern Borderlands and France, as well as many other regions of the world. The festival is hosted by Sorbs from the friendly Bautzen County in Saxony. Feature bands are greeted with a standing ovation. The audience spontaneously sings with them, and feet start to dance and the festival turns into a party. Truly, a real holiday of many cultures. All participants are most welcome!
Organizing party:
Powiat Bolesławiecki / The County of Bolesławiec
Starostwo Powiatowe w Bolesławcu / County Eldership in Bolesławiec
Armii Krajowej 12 (Street)
e-mail: biuro@powiatboleslawiecki.pl
www.powiatboleslawiecki.pl
Balkan Festa
The Balkan Festa is an event that presents music and the culinary customs of post-war arrivals from the former Yugoslavia.
On this day, Balkan music from Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia can be heard. Singing groups, bands and dance groups present themselves in front of the audience. Colourful costumes, original dances and nice music for the ear – all this results in growing interest in the festival among audiences from year to year. Alongside the bands from the Bolesławiec – County which cultivate folklore traditions that came along with re-settlers from the Balkan countries – stars from Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Serbia are invited each year.
The Balkan Festa is not only artistic performances, but also Balkan culinary specialties. One of them is paprika soup (boiled in a big cauldron) on a bonfire according to the original Bosnian recipe, the so-called pura porridge and peczenica – a pig, roasted for hours on an open fire. A master of ceremonies watches over all this – a strong host who endures the hardships of baking patiently, to the delight of guests waiting for some tasty meat.
Another attraction for tourists is the opportunity to take part in Balkan baking workshop of a thin cake with various fillings which is called Pita and is eaten – according to preferences – with meat, cheese or stuffing made out of pumpkin; sweet or savoury. During the workshop one can try to make dough, learn how to stretch it, then fill it with stuffing, wrap and bake it. All this under the watchful eye of the instructors. The pita can be eaten on site or taken home.
During the event, one can also ride a horse-drawn carriage.
For lovers of old, disappearing trades, there are also presentations of skills of manually making wooden whistles, barrels, stools and many other items.
The performers in all possible age categories, from dancing kids to singing and dancing seniors, surely contribute to the audience’s enjoyment. Stage performances end with a dance party for all guests. With lively Balkan rhythms the fun can last until late hours at night or even until dawn. The Balkan Festas also include: “Memories Raid”, Concert in Bożejowice and an Evening Music Event in Kruszyn.
Gminny Ośrodek Kultury i Sportu w Bolesławcu
z/s w Kruszynie
ul. Kasztanowa 1B, Kruszyn
59-700 Bolesławiec
tel. (0048) 75 732 14 77
e-mail: gokis.boleslawiec@wp.pl
Pottery Fair – Wielki Garniec z Nowogrodźca nad Kwisą
It is not a coincidence that this annual celebration of the entire town and Commune of Nowogrodziec was built around the Great Ceramic Cauldron, which tourists are increasingly willing to visit, looking for unique experiences.
The Pottery Fair is a reference to the complicated history of this land, nations and ordinary people who now – in times of peace – want to – and are able to – build a European community. But let’s go back to the Big Cauldron. It is not part of a legend, the Big Cauldron really existed. In 1933, in order to commemorate the seven hundredth anniversary of the founding of the town, a young potter Georg Buchwald, who was barely 24 years old, and had learned his profession from his father, made an almost 3.5 meters high cauldron, which could hold 8702 liters! On his piece of work, the young man wrote that it is the largest cauldron in the world. The raw material was clay mined near Nowogrodziec, where potters still draw from to this day, unfalteringly cultivating ceramic traditions. Unfortunately, the Great Cauldron disappeared in 1945. Today, its replica stands in the Nowogrodziec old market.
The Pottery Fair held in August is an event promoting the values of the Commune and the town of Nowogrodziec referencing the history of pottery, music and culinary traditions brought here by the re-emigrants from Bosnia and Ukraine, cultivated to this day by their descendants.
In the “Hop SaSa”’ dance house during the summer holiday, real stories can be heard, sung by folk artists from folklore bands from Lower Silesia. The bands happily play dance songs, and whoever does not know the steps, can easily learn them during the workshops of Polish folk dances.
In the Historic Settlement, craftsmen create the atmosphere of a medieval town, where cakes are baked, blacksmiths forge iron, weavers weave fabrics, and ceramists along with sculptors make wonders out of clay. Everyone can try their hand at these fascinating crafts.
The air smells of regional dishes prepared according to old, traditional recipes handed down from generation to generation. The best cook in the Commune cooks in a thousand-liter cauldron, and the housewives compete for the sought after title in the competition for the “Longest Balkan Pita”. Pečenica – a roasted piglet – tempts with its aroma and exceptional taste. The Villages on their stands, present everything of the best that Lower Silesian villages have to offer: from organic delicacies to handicrafts made out of natural materials. During the Pottery fair, for lovers of artistic experiences, there is the MUZA Zone where stars of the Polish music scene invite you to the world of street theater and evening concerts.
Gminne Centrum Kultury i Sportu
w Nowogrodźcu
ul. Lubańska 42A,
59-730 Nowogrodziec
tel. (0048) 75 731 63 98
e-mail: gckis@nowogrodziec.pl
The Heathblossom Festival in Borówki
Prospects for the development of agritourism, active tourism and holidays for the Municipality of Gromadka are promising. The periodical incoming traffic is generated by the “Heathblossom Festival” outdoor event in Borówki, which takes place in mid-August. The event has been organized since 2005 by the Municipal Center of Culture and Sport in Gromadka in cooperation with the Municipality of Gromadka, the Village of Borówki and the Local Action Group “Wrzosowa Kraina” (Heathblossom Land).
The event promotes the specific cultural and natural richness of the region: the multicultural population as well as the territory of Bory Dolnośląskie, which occupy about 70% of the Commune’s domain. In this area, there is the Przemków Landscape Park and nature reserves such as the Borówki Peatbog and “Buczyna Piotrowicka”. The extensive heaths are located a short distance from the village of Borówki.
The “Heathblossom Festival” is free and open for everyone. An unpaid parking lot for cars is situated near the sports field. The event is directed towards active people who are interested in getting to know the region’s rich extensive natural inland dunes, transition mires and bog forests where protected species of plants and animals have their homes. The picturesque heaths, a real miracle of nature, are especially worth seeing. There is also no shortage of attractions for amateur historians. They can visit the post-Soviet bunkers in Wilkocin. The forests are lush with berries and mushrooms which nobody could pass by indifferently. If someone is not fond of mushroom or berry picking, they can always try fishing in the nearby ponds. Hospitable housewives invite you to taste traditional dishes prepared from the bounty of the forest, fields and gardens.
An additional attraction of the Heathblossom Festival is a family bike rally. The route of the rally runs along well-marked trails (Gromadka-Chocianów-Przemków). This form of recreational activity combines cycling tourism with education. The route goes through educational nature trails that have plates with the description of objects (“Path of the senses” – a 30-meter long trail covered with cones, bark, needles and wood slats, “Borówki Peatbog” – a track with a length of 8 km). The route is approximately 20 km long. The rally is run by a qualified guide.
A developed form of meetings with the natural and cultural heritage is the ecomuseum point of the “Wrzosowa Chata” in Borówki (workshops, accommodation, original cuisine and a beautiful herb garden).
The “In harmony with nature” fair exhibitors present local food, crafts and handicrafts. The flagship product is heather honey. Traditional handicrafts are blooming: embroidery, lace, reeds, beeswax candles, scented bags, hand-painted glass, amateur folk art. Cyclical photographic and art photography exhibitions show the richness of the region (e.g .“Animals and Plants of the Heather Lands”). Heather workshops and competitions attract with their diversity. The gastronomic stands serve traditional Polish, Borderland and Balkan dishes.
The local folk bands “Wesoła Gromadka” from Gromadka, “Niezapominajki” from Osła, “My Słowianie” from Osła, “Ale-Babki” from Różyniec and “Młodzi-zdolni” present themselves on stage. The attraction of the evening is the performance of the main star and integrational fun around the bonfire. Let us relax under the Heath’s shadow together. Everyone is more than welcome to participate.
Gminny Ośrodek Kultury
i Biblioteka w Gromadce
ul. Szkolna 9
59-706 Gromadka
tel. (0048) 75 738 23 48
e-mail: gokibgromadka@onet.pl
BICYCLE RALLY – SOBER, AND THUS HEALTHY
The bicycle path running through the area of the Warta Bolesławiecka Commune is approximately 7400 m long, has an asphalt surface and is located on the former railway track, i.e. the Bolesławiec – Nowa Wieś Grodziska railway line. The path runs through a non-urbanized space, in the bosom of nature, ensures safety for users and respect for the environment. It is called the “health path” because it is located far from industrial areas and makes full use of natural and landscape values, uses natural terrain, does not affect the landscape and its characteristic elements. The route is equipped with three Cyclist Service Areas (Miejsca Obsługi Rowerzystów, MOR) with shelters, bike racks, information and tourist boards. In addition, small outdoor gyms are installed there to allow the cyclists to relax their muscles a little. In Warta Bolesławiecka and in Iwiny, MORs have cyclist service stations equipped with basic devices, e.g. bicycle pumps.
There is information and tourist notice boards installed along the cycling route, including a map of bicycle paths and descriptions of the most interesting places to visit in the area.
Complementary projects have been completed along the route, such as gyms, playgrounds for children, barbecue spots, and relaxation squares. These projects are located directly by the planned cycling route. It should be emphasized that the cycle route is part of the Lusatia-Bory cycling route with a length of 62 km.
The cycle path opens up new advantageous conditions to spend your free time actively, enriches the tourist and recreational offer not only of the Commune, but also the region, it constitutes an element of local development and improves the quality of life in the countryside by using the existing potential.
In June, every year enthusiasts of active leisure are invited to the Bicycle Rally, which runs along the routes and roads of the Warta Bolesławiecka Commune. In 2018, the Rally for the first time traveled a new bicycle path. Over 400 cyclists participate in the Rally every year: children, teenagers and adults. Participants come to the Rally with all their family, and everyone always combines their love for cycling.
Thanks to our sponsors, participants of the Rally receive from the organizers commemorative shirts with the rally logo, each participant gets a silicone wristband, and the youngest ones also have reflective gadgets. Security and medical services supervise throughout the entire duration of the event. After the Rally, everyone meets at a picnic, where the organizers provide refreshments and animations.
An important element of the event is training in first aid, carried out by paramedics using a medical dummy. There is always big interest in this training, and the goal is very important.
WE WARMLY WELCOME YOU TO EXPLORE THE BEAUTY WARTA BOLESŁAWIECKA COMMUNE HAS TO OFFER FROM THE SADDLE OF A BICYCLE.
Organizing event:
Gmina Warta Bolesławiecka / The Commune of Warta Bolesławiecka
Warta Bolesławiecka 40C
59-720 Warta Bolesławiecka
tel. 75 738 95 92
e-mail: urzad@wartabol.pl
www.wartaboleslawiecka.pl
Communal Easter Cuisine and Decoration Competition
For twelve years in the Osiecznica Commune, the Communal Easter Cuisine and Decoration Competition has been organized by both the Villages as well as the Commune Sports and Recreation Center. It is a cyclical event, thanks to which the Rural Clubs of Housewives were reactivated in many places. The Competition takes place a week or two before Easter. Housewives have the opportunity to present traditional Polish dishes and exchange recipes. Local craftwomen, skilled in embroidery and crochet, as well as creators of all kinds of Easter decorations are also promoted.
Every year, participants in the Competition surprise us with their ingenuity and culinary art. On the Easter table covered with a white table cloth, spring accents reign and above all, delicious cakes such as mazurkas, babkas and other Easter dishes: roasted, homemade meats, white borscht made on the sourdough, recipe stuffed eggs, salads and everyhing imaginable on the Easter table. Participants devote a lot of time and effort to their baked goods and dishes to ensure that they are not only the most beautiful, richly decorated, but above all – tasty and healthy.
Dishes should be prepared in accordance with Polish tradition, while the decorations should be hand made by themselves, from natural raw materials. And the latter are not difficult to find in Osiecznica. The Commune is famous for its pure, unspoilt nature. Located in the heart of Bory Dolnośląskie, it gives an opportunity to become familiar with the treasures of nature. It is attractive for tourists at any time of the year. The hospitality of its residents means that newcomers want to come back here. The Easter Cuisine and Decoration Competition itself takes place in a joyful family, joyful atmosphere; spring wakes up everything to life, people enter into a spirit of renewal, hope and joyful optimism. Dishes prepared with this attitude – although there is plenty of work – taste unique. After all, the housewives put all of their skills in to their cooking, craftsmanship and knowledge acquired from recipes inherited from their grandmothers and mothers.
Ladies from the Rural Clubs of Housewives – although using the recipes passed down from generation to generation – reveal their kitchen secrets, willingly sharing them with guests. It constitutes a great opportunity to learn a lot about Polish culinary tradition, taste it, and then try to prepare your own Easter dishes straight from nature’s gifts, or decorate not only the family table, but also the whole house. During the competition one can buy decorations and other items offered at affordable prices. Delicacies of the local cuisine are also available to purchase.
Bearing in mind a common saying “through the stomach to the heart” , any tourist looking for inspiration will surely remember a visit to Osiecznica for many years. It should also not be forgotten that after a hearty meal, a small hike through the beautiful landscapes and forests, while taking some deep breathes, is always a good idea.
Gminny Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji
w Osiecznicy
ul. Lubańska 29B
59-724 Osiecznica
tel. (0048) 75 731 21 08
e-mail: gosir@gosir-osiecznica.pl
Projekt „Bautzen i Bolesławiec – dwa powiaty turystyczne!” jest współfinansowany ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Rozwoju Regionalnego z Programu Interreg Polska-Saksonia 2014-2022 w ramach Funduszu Małych Projektów Euroregionu Nysa
Das Projekt „Bautzen und Bolesławiec – zwei touristische Landkreise!“ wird aus den Mitteln des Europäischen Fonds für Regionale Entwicklung im Rahmen des Fonds der Kleinen Projekte
Interreg Polen – Sachsen 2014 – 2022 kofinanziert
„Bauzen and Bolesławiec- two tourist districts”project is co-financed from the contributions of the European Regional Development Fund of the Interreg Poland-Saxony 2014-2022 programme under the Small Projects Fund of the The Neisse-Nisa-Nysa Euroregion (ERN)