We invite you to Płock, one of the oldest cities in Poland

Płock, the historic capital of Mazovia, is picturesquely located on a steep Vistula riverbank which is more than fifty meters high. It was once the seat of Mazovian and Polish authorities. In the 12th century, during the reign of Władysław Herman and Bolesław III Krzywousty, the capital city of the Piast nation was located here.
When getting acquainted with the heritage of Płock, all accumulated over a millennium of history, it is worth starting at Tumskie Hill, which stands at the heart of the history of Płock. The Cathedral Basilica, which is among the five oldest cathedrals in Poland, stands majestically here. The history of this sanctuary goes back to 1144. The sarcophagi of two Polish rulers, Władysław Herman and Bolesław III Krzywousty, are located in its Royal Chapel. In the vestibule of the cathedral, you can see a replica of the famous bronze Romanesque Płock Doors, which were created for the cathedral in about 1154, in Magdeburg.
The walls of the former castle of the duchy, dating from the 14th century, stand across from the cathedral, as well as those of the later Benedictine abbey. Today, there is a Diocesan Museum here, which shows the most valuable relics from the treasury, such as the 14th century herma of St. Zygmunt, Konrad Mazowiecki’s challis, and Gothic monstrances.
The Mazowieckie Museum is located in the beautifully restored Art Nouveau tenant building at 8 Tumska Street. It is one of the oldest museums in Poland. Its collection includes a world-class collection of Art Nouveau (Secessionist) artwork. It has works by the most outstanding artists of the movement: Wyspiański, Malczewski, Mehoffer, Laszczki, Lalique, and GallÈ. The museum owns more than 80,000 items, which is the richest collection of this type of art in Poland and a unique record of the magical epoch of fin de siecle.
Another place with true treasures is Zieliński Library belonging to the Płock Scientific Society. Its collection includes rarities such as 80 graphics by Francisco Goya from the ‘Caprice’ series, and a first printing of the work ‘De revolutionibus orbium coelestium’ by Copernicus.
There are many schools and institutions of higher education in the city, but none have served the history of Polish education as much as ‘Małachowianka’, which is considered to be the oldest school in Poland (established in 1180). Today, in the cellars of the collegiate church, there is a museum in which you can see relics of Romanesque and Gothic constructions. These famous walls saw many outstanding pupils, among them President Ignacy Mościcki and Prime Minister, Tadeusz Mazowiecki. In the 17th century, one of the lecturers was St. Andrzej Bobola.
Other famous names can be associated with Płock, too. Among them, there are Władysław Broniewski (1897-1962) - an excellent poet and bard of Mazovia. Ernest Teodor Amadeus Hoffmann, the famous German romantic who wrote the fairytale ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’, was also associated with our city, though for a shorter time. The building where he lived for two years is located at the Old Market Square. It now houses Dom Darmstadt and the Tourist Information Center.
Right next door, in the house belonging to Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Faustyna Kowalska, who was canonized by Pope John Paul II, had her first vision of the Merciful Jesus on the 22nd of February, 1931. The Sanctuary of God’s Mercy is a destination for pilgrimages from around the world.
There are so many interesting things to look at here that a walk around the city can take a very long time. At Old Market Square, it is worth seeing the illuminated fountain of Aphrodite and hearing the bugle call, which is played by a bugler in the tower of City Hall every day at 12: 00 and 18: 00. During the bugle call you can see a scene of dubbing Bolesław Krzywousty a knight.
From spring to fall, the market square is the place where many cultural events are held. The attraction of the square in the wintertime is an ice rink. The city is vibrant with cultural life all year round. At the Cathedral Basilica, there are regular organ concerts, and performances by soloists and choirs. At the Old Market Square and in the amphitheater, located on Tumskie Hill, there are numerous concerts, and on the sandy banks of the Vistula, there are popular festivals of AUDIORIVER electronic music, reggae, dance and gypsy music.
At the zoological garden, which is delightfully situated on a riverbank of the Vistula, you can see nearly 3,650 animals of 318 species. Among the curiosities at the zoo, there are tamarins and marmosets - the smallest monkeys in the world.

Płock City Hall
09-400 Płock, Stary Rynek 1
tel. 024/367 14 81
fax 024/367 14 83
www.plock.eu