3 Search Results for "antonin"

• Poland - Part 2 (Greater Polan Poland - Part 2 (Greater Poland)

  • From: lprice
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    I totally love this hotel. I don't want to leave. The restaurant on the ground floor was great. But all good things must come to an end, back to the bus as we head to the Wielkopolska region. 

     

      Our first stop of the day was at Antonin, the hunting lodge of Prince Antoni Radziwill. It is a yellow octagonal- shaped home with a huge column in the center if the home. Animal lovers, be forwarned, there are deer heads covering the three story column. Karl Friedrick Schinkel, a famous German architect, built the home in the 1820's. 

      Out front you can't miss the Chopin bust that looks as if it is floating above the hedges. Chopin apparently lived here for a while and taught the Prince's daughter piano lessons. He composed several pieces here, including the Introduction and Polonaise in C-Major op. 3. He also dedicated the Piano Trio op. 8 to the Prince himself. This is a great place to stretch your legs and wander around the huge park that the estate sits on. 

     

      Our next stop is at a beautiful French Chalet of Goluchow set in the middle of the Polish countryside. You enter into the courtyard with an arcade overlooking it and part of the grounds. The home was rebuilt in the late 1800's and was turned into a museum with a huge collection of Greek vases, paintings, military equipment and prehistoric tools. The museum was one of the largest private museums in Europe until 1939. The museum was looted in World War II and part of the grounds destroyed. The grounds were designed in the English park style, similar to the Biltmore. The grounds are still the largest arboretum in Poland. After hiking across the grounds for a bit it was time to go see a modern castle. 

     

      We stopped in the city of Kornik for lunch before we headed to the castle complex.

    I am not sure if I was just starving or what, but the Bolognese Spaghetti that I had from the restaurant was amazing. 

      The castle was renovated by the Dzialynski family in the Neo-Gothic style that we see today. The castle was under repairs when we went through the home. We ended up sliding across the wood floors with our cloth booties created to protect the floor. The house has been turned into a museum now. It has a great armor collection and period furniture from different eras.

     

    
    Gniezno was the first Polish capital until the 11th century. There is a large cathedral that was built in 1342  and is on the UNESCO World Cultural Treasury list. The relics in the cathedral are of St. Adalbert, the first patron of Poland. If you haven't had lunch yet, there is a great field at the bottom of the hill where the Cathedral is located. It would be a great option for a picnic lunch. 

     

      Strzelno is a photographers dream at sunset. There are two structures on the parish land. The Bascilica looks Baroque but is much older. Check out the Romanesque column that they found during restoration. After you have wandered around the nave, head outside to St. Adalbert's Hill and the rotunda shaped Church of St. Prokopus. The red light of the sunset bounces of the brick and makes it look like it is on fire. Well worth the trouble to get there at sunset.

     

    Torun is the home of gingerbread, mmmmm, and Nicholas Copernicus. There is a statue dedicated to him in the Old Market Square next to the Old Town Hall. We got to Torun late so we toured the city in the dark which was interesting, but I think we all agreed that the best part was the Leaning Tower. Yes, you heard right, Torun has a leaning tower too.

    If that isn't good enough, they also made it into a bar. Not the nicest thing to do to your drunk patrons, but hey at least it was entertaining. The tower leans a  whopping 1.4 meters. You might not think that sounds like a lot but walk around in the tower and let me know if you don't have the fun house effect. 

     

    PTTK Guesthouse was where we settled in for the night after a beer or two. Check with the staff. This was a great hostel, but it might be reserved for students under the age of 26. It also has a fairly early lock-out time so beware nightly party animals. 

     

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  • 1 year ago
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• Antonin Antonin

  • From: lprice
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  • 1 year ago
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• Gaudi fence Parc Jouel Barcelo Gaudi fence Parc Jouel Barcelona

  • From: johnfisher11
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    No trip to Barcelona is complete without exploring the work of visionary architect Antonin Gaudi.

    His many colourful, sculptural buildings can be visited on short walking trips.His still to be

    completed Segrada Familia cathedral is breathtaking in concept and structure.My wife who is not an

    ardent architecture buff simply stood across the street,open-mouthed and awe stricken at coming

    upon the building.Parc Jouel,a parkland of Gaudi landscapes,and structures was originally commissioned

    by a wealthy patron as an affordable housing site.The uncompleted project is now a public park showcasing

    Gaudi's genius.Although there are volumes of photographs of the masters works,I"d never seen this fence

    before.It exemplifies the fluid quality of his designs.

     

  • 1 year ago
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