Opoczno - Bus / Pks - Attractions and Restaurants in Opoczno

Opoczno is a town of just over 20,000 people in the eastern part of Lodz province, located on the Wąglanka and Drzewiczka rivers. Its name comes from the word "opocza" - a settlement located on opoce, or limestone rock.

Opoczno - attractions worth exploring

Although most Poles associate Opoczno primarily with ceramic tiles, as a travel destination it also has much to offer. Its places worth exploring may not have the typical tourist potential of popular attractions in larger towns, but they often carry a very interesting history. At every turn there are many shrines and memorials and tombstones that testify to the town's rich past and former splendor.

Kazimierzowski Castle in Opoczno and the Regional Museum

The castle of Casimir the Great, which now houses the Regional Museum, is the city's biggest attraction. Its origins date back to the 14th century, when, on the initiative of King Casimir the Great, many defensive castles were built on Polish territory. The castle was home to a starosta, whose job was to keep it ready in case of war. The Opoczno castle was built together with the town walls, although due to a lack of sources, it is difficult to determine what it might have originally looked like. Over the years it was destroyed and rebuilt several times, until it completely fell into ruin in the 19th century. The building's present form is the result of a 1927 reconstruction. Visiting the castle today, inside you can see an exhibition introducing the origins of Opoczno, old photographs, memorabilia, and sculptures and folk costumes of the Opoczno region.

Esterka's House

Situated near the market square and near the castle, this is a historic house, the oldest in the city. Tradition attributes the creation of the Esterka House to the legendary beloved of Casimir the Great - the Jewish woman Esther, whom the king met while hunting in the forests near Opoczno. The building that exists today was built in the 16th century, and fell into disrepair in the first half of the 19th century. It was rebuilt in a new shape in 1893, and rebuilt in 1927, to which we owe its present appearance. The basement and two halls with a barrel vault have survived from the original building. Currently, the Esterka house houses the city library.

St. Bartholomew Church

Established in 1370, the church was originally a single-nave structure, then expanded over time, went through numerous perturbations, thefts and gradually fell into disrepair. Its current shape is the result of an expansion and restoration in 1949. When visiting the church, it is especially worth noting the Chapel of the Virgin Mary and the late-Gothic baptismal font from the mid-15th century, or the historic 19th-century bell tower standing to the left of the entrance.

St. Mary Magdalene Church

This wooden church, believed to be the oldest in Opoczno, is located in the cemetery on Moniuszki Street. It is not entirely clear what it might have originally looked like, as the current building was erected in the 18th century and no information about its earlier appearance has survived. Initially the temple served as a parish church, and later as a cemetery chapel. The Opoczno old cemetery itself is also worth mentioning, as it contains the graves of January insurgents, World War II soldiers and well-known residents of the town.

Opoczno lagoon

This municipal lagoon is a favorite place for residents to relax. Several years ago its surroundings were restored and adapted for various forms of recreation. Among other things, you can find there beaches with a pier, a playground, bicycle paths and an open-air gym.

Opoczno - restaurants and cafes full of delicacies

The city has an extensive gastronomic offer. Noteworthy is the "Chang Klimatu" located by the lagoon, offering burgers, pasta and pizza, the "Horned Beet" burger shop, or the "Smakosz" restaurant with Polish cuisine. For something sweet it is worth going to the ice cream parlor "Lody Naturalne Opoczno".