Visit and attractions in Opole

residential buildings right next to the river — Opole's Venice on the Młynówka Canal. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Opole came out completely spontaneously. We came back from Olsztyn and the specter of spending Saturday and Sunday in our flat, within four walls, simply overwhelmed me. What's more beautiful weather was also predicted. And since I've never been to Opole, I decided to use the situation and one of the last holiday weekends (although it cost us 2 fines on the motorway - there and back - but ..... you only live once).

a path leading to the amphitheatre with graffiti on the wall — Opole is the capital of the Polish Song Festival. I'm going to the amphitheater. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a stone sculpture of Opoles Cinderella — Silesian Cinderella - Girl with a rose and a harp - Statue of Joanna Gryzik. University Hill, Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

As I am a woman who tries not to waste opportunities, I decided that we will also go to the wonderful castle in Moszna (which I have wanted to visit for a long time, and which is located near Opole).

Opole, located in the valley of the Odra River, is one of the oldest cities and the capital of the smallest voivodship in Poland. It is here that the famous festival of Polish songs takes place every year. It is also worth visiting the Opole zoo, Bolko Island and Pasieka Island, climbing the Piast Tower whose observation deck is 42 meters high, eating delicious ice cream in a cafe with traditions since 1988 or taking a walk around the famous Venice of Opole. I was personally impressed by the Franciscan Church and the University Hill. It was a fantastic day, I came back fully satisfied.

More information about Opole you can find on Wikipedia

How far is it from Warsaw to Opole?

The distance from Warsaw to Opole is 312 km.

We started our tour of Opole from the Opole Philharmonic named after Józef Elsner, a composer who was also Fryderyk Chopin's teacher.

a building of philharmonic, trees in front of it — On the left side of the philharmonic building, the tower of the Opole Town Hall is reflected in the glass windows. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a monument consisting of three figures of musicians in front of the philharmonic building — A group of musicians in front of the philharmonic building. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The fountain was built in the 1950s and its designer was Florian Jesionowski. It symbolizes a dancing butterfly and is decorated with a colorful mosaic.

A colorful fountain and Freedom Park in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Near the Freedom Park and the Opole Philharmonic, there is the Monument to the Fighters for Polishness of Opole Silesia, called the Opole Nike. It shows Nike with spread wings (symbolizing victory and freedom), standing on a bison. The height of the monument is 15 m. Near the monument some national holidays take place.

a large monument with the inscription: to the fighters for the Polishness of Opole Silesia — Opole Nike. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman standing in front of the main entrance to the philharmonic building, a fountain near the entrance — Opole Nike, the Philharmonic and in the background, the Piast Tower emerging from behind the trees. Photo by A. Rybczyński

Opole's Ceres is the common name of the Art Nouveau fountain from 1907, located on Daszyńskiego Square in Opole. At the top of the fountain is a statue of Ceres, the goddess of harvest, and at her feet you can see several figures that are allegories of Opole's industry, fishing and agriculture. Around the fountain is an inscription in German: "Civic faithfulness and diligence are the rejuvenating source of the good German soul."

a fountain at the top of which there is a statue of Ceres, the goddess of harvest, and at her feet you can see several figures that are allegories of Opole industry, fishing and agriculture — Opole's Ceres. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint Adalbert is the oldest church in Opole, built in the 10th century. It is here, according to legend, that Bishop Wojciech preached his passionate sermons.

stairs leading to the church — The so-called "Church on the Hill" in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Bishop Adalbert preached sermons with such fervour that his footprints were imprinted on the stone on which he stood.

a stone with the footprint of St Adalbert — A stone with footprints of Saint Adalbert. Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

And when, on the hill where the church stands today ran out of water for baptism, the missionary struck a rock with his cane and a miraculous spring gushed out. To this day, there is a St Adalbert's well at the back of the University of Opole.

two boys sitting by an openwork well — The beautifully crafted St Adalbert's well. University Hill, Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

interior of the church with pews and side altars — Interior of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows and St Adalbert in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

carved wooden pulpit, the main altar on the left — A beautiful baroque pulpit in the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows and St Adalbert in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the main altar in the church lit in red — The main altar dates from the Baroque period of the church. The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows and St Adalbert in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a painting surrounded by sculptures of saints — The main altar dates from the Baroque period of the church. The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows and St Adalbert in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

On the University Hill in Opole you can also see a number of sculptures (mainly stone). In the foreground we can admire a wonderfully reconstructed, very rare set of Baroque sculptures depicting the "Four Seasons". Their author was the outstanding 18th-century Silesian sculptor Henryk Hartmann. The sculptures are life-size and are the personification of the four seasons: Spring - a young girl with garlands of flowers, Summer - a woman with a sheaf of grain under her arm, Autumn - a mature matron with a bunch of grapes in her hand and Winter - an old woman dressed in a fur-lined coat with her hands hidden in her sleeves. The statues survived intact until 1945. Later, the process of their gradual destruction began. Vandals took off the figures' heads and hands and knocked them off their pedestals. It was only after they were handed over to the University of Opole, they underwent thorough reconstruction and can once again please the eye.

4 stone sculptures presenting the four seasons — Stone sculptures "Four Seasons" in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a sculpture of Melpomene of the Muse of Tragedy, a boy next to it, behind it the university building — Melpomene in Greek mythology, the muse of tragedy. University Hill, Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the boy looking at the atlas, which has the inscription University of Opole — Mythological Atlas of Opole with the inscription: University of Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a boy standing next to a monument, at the top of which there is a statue of an eagle — Another monument on the University Hill in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a building of a university — Collegium Maius in Opole and Jonasz Kofta - Polish poet, playwright, singer, heading towards the main entrance. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

On the University Hill in Opole, there is the Artists' Square. There are modern portrait monuments presenting outstanding artists - poets, composers, singers and theater people who associated their artistic life with Opole and the National Festival of Polish Song held here every year. I was very enchanted by this place where we could relax in the shade of the trees on this sunny day. There was peace and quiet - a very charming place.

two figures with a woman sitting between them — Agnieszka Osiecka and Wojciech Młynarski at the Artists' Square in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyński

two figures surrounded by the small bushes and trees — A monument to Jerzy Wasowski and Jeremi Przybora - the legendary "Older Gentlemen". Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a boy standing next to the figure — A sculpture dedicated to Jerzy Grotowski - an outstanding experimenter and innovator of world theater. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a sculpture of a famous Polish singer located in the shade of a tree, a woman and a boy are standing next to the sculpture — A sculpture dedicated to Czesław Niemen, whose song "Strange is this world" is probably known to all generations of Poles. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a red brick Collegium Minus building — The Collegium Minus building and a sculpture of St. Christopher in the background. Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

This figure of Saint Christopher was made in 1867 by Carl Kern from Kluczbork. The figure stands inside a shrine supported by the heads of angels.

a sculpture of Saint Christopher with a woman standing next to it — The figure of Saint Christopher close up. Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyński

The Upper Castle in Opole probably dates back to the 14th century. It was located within the defensive walls of medieval Opole, and its only remnant today is the Gothic castle tower. The entrance to it was on a bridge over the moat at the foot of the tower. After revitalization, the Upper Castle was made available to visitors.

Piast castle, in front of it a sculpture of Prince Władysław II, in the background the church of Saint Adalbert — In front of the Upper Castle in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a sculpture of polish Prince Władysław II in the foreground, in the background a castle — Monument to Prince Władysław II in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a boy next to a cat mosaic incorporated into the wall of a building — A walk through the streets of the Main Market Square in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a boy standing on the famous Avenue of Stars, in the walk there are stars assigned to individual artists — The Avenue of Polish Song Stars in Opole has been created for 20 years. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the boy is on the main square, there are tenement houses all around — On the Main Market Square in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

on the main square there is a sculpture of a prince on horseback, behind it the town hall building — Monument to Prince Casimir I of Opole on the Main Square in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a stone sculpture of a naked woman on the main market — The sculpture "Star" although I also found another name "Mermaid"on the Main Square in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

two kids eating ice cream — Time for a break in a traditional café on the Opole Main Square. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a sculpture of a man — Monument to Karol Musioł, who was the initiator of the organization, among others, the National Festival of Polish Song and Opole Days. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a man and two boys are standing near the street, with buildings and the town hall behind them — The Town Hall in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Gothic church of The Holy Trinity Church, also known as the Franciscan Church, was built in the 14th century. To be honest, it was one of the few churches that impressed me so much. The Franciscan Church is one of the most valuable monuments of Opole. There are the remains of the Opole Piasts: Bolesław I, Bolesław II and Bolesław III, as well as Princess Anna of Oświęcim. The remaining Opole princes were buried in the basement, including: Władysław II of Opole and Princess Elizabeth, granddaughter of King Władysław the Elbow-high. There is also the oldest preserved early Gothic fresco in Silesia from 1320. It presents the suffering of Jesus, with his Mother and Saint John standing next to him. In the Franciscan church itself, worth seeing are, for example, the chapels of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the Sacred Heart of Jesus or the chapel of St. Jadwiga.

a red brick church — The Holy Trinity Church, also known as the Franciscan Church in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

view of the interior of the church with the main altar, side altars and pews — A fantastic interior of the Franciscan Church in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

an interior of a church with tombstones — The remains of the Opole Piasts in the Franciscan Church in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a historic pulpit and a small altar with painting next to it — The light from the stained glass windows illuminating the historic pulpit made a wonderful impression on me. The Franciscan Church in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a historic organ — The organ and ceiling are just amazing. The Franciscan Church in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a main altar in a church — The organ and ceiling are just amazing. The Franciscan Church in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Unfortunately, we were unable to enter the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Opole because it is under renovation

a cathedral with two towers — Maybe one day we will be able to visit the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

remains of the city walls — Historic defensive walls of Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman and a boy are on the remains of the city walls — Historic defensive walls of Opole. Behind these walls you can also see the two towers of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The famous Opole amphitheater and the Piast Tower in the background.

two boys sitting on the stands of the amphitheater and watching children perform on stage — My boys were very interested in performing on the stage of the Opole amphitheater. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

an amphitheater seen from the observation deck — The Opole amphitheater seen from the Piast Tower. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a long mural on a wall near the river — Mural - Mosaic "Tree of Life" in Opole. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The Brick Piast Tower is one of the oldest monuments in Opole. It was part of the no longer existing Piast Castle. The interior of the tower served as a watchtower, an apartment, and in the lower floors - a starvation dungeon. The total height of the tower is 42 meters.

the Piast Tower made of red brick — The Piast Tower in Opole in all its glory. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a boy standing in a tower, with a helmet on his head and a shield in his hand — My son in Opole during visiting the Piast Tower. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Opole's Venice is located on the Młynówka Canal. This beautiful and charming place attracts many tourists and couples in love. Even, from the Piast Tower, you can see wonderful reflections of tenement houses in the water.

view of the city from the observation deck — A wonderful view of Opole's Venice from the Piast Tower. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The Groszowy Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges in Poland that I have ever been to. Its name comes from the crossing fee charged here years ago, which was one penny. Nowadays, many lovers' padlocks hang on it to symbolise their long-lasting love.

a family standing next to the river and a green bridge — The Groszowy Bridge behind us. Photo by a tourist :)

a blue heart with the inscription — It's a nice souvenir from Opole. Photo by our son :)

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