September 12, 2025
Łódź, a city in Poland often overlooked, was my home for several months thanks to the European Solidarity Corps. Before arriving, I only had vague notions of its existence.
My first impression of Łódź
Today, I can say that Łódź has surprised and charmed me in many ways. At first glance, Łódź may seem austere. The red brick industrial buildings, remnants of a flourishing textile past, bear witness to a bygone era. However, this raw and imposing architecture is also full of character. It tells a story, that of a working-class city that has known glory days and difficult times. Walking through the streets, one feels the energy of this past, while observing the signs of a renaissance.
The main places of Łódź
Piotrkowska Street is the beating heart of Łódź. Several kilometers long, it is lined with shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars. It is a meeting place for locals and visitors, a place where nightlife is lively and where you can discover local gastronomy. The many murals that adorn the facades of the buildings add a touch of creativity and color to the whole. But Łódź is not just its architecture and its main street. It is also its parks, museums, and art galleries. The Parks in Łódź, with their lakes and shaded paths, is a true haven of peace. The MS2 Museum of Modern Art, housed in an old spinning mill, offers original and stimulating exhibitions. The cinema museum, for its part, traces the history of Polish and international cinema.
My opinion on Poles
As a volunteer, I had the opportunity to work with wonderful people and to discover Polish culture from the inside. I have learned to appreciate the friendliness of the Poles, their sense of humor, and their attachment to their traditions. I was also touched by their resilience and their ability to overcome difficulties. Łódź is a city that reveals itself as you become attached to it. It is far from tourist clichés and offers an authentic experience. It is a city in constant evolution, which has managed to preserve its heritage while projecting itself towards the future. For a foreign volunteer, Łódź is a city that offers many opportunities for discovery, learning, and exchange. It is a city that leaves a lasting mark in the hearts of those who discover it.
Read all the articles conected to the project ” Odkryj Łódź” : https://levelupngo.com/project/odkryj-lodz/
Author : Dimitri Rigaldies