Commentary: One Army wife's guide to Polish pottery

By Eliza Fletcher, former USAG Schweinfurt community memberAugust 7, 2013

An Army wife's guide to Polish pottery
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

[Editor's note: Eliza Fletcher is a former Schweinfurt community member. Her husband was assigned to 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment. Neither the information on this page nor the accompanying external hyperlinks constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Army or the information, products or services contained therein.]

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Aug. 7, 2013) -- As I start unpacking my household goods in our new home, I look back on my time in Schweinfurt and loved how easy a quick trip to Boleslawiec was for famed Polish pottery. I have put together a few tips and tricks for a smooth and successful trip.

The drive from Schweinfurt to Boleslawiec takes approximately five hours, allowing you to pass through Dresden, Germany. Take this opportunity to enjoy a historic eastern German city and fill up your gas tank. There is a gas station that accepts the U.S. Army fuel card right in town, which makes this stop convenient before heading onward into Poland.

Once at your final destination, be sure to use the parking directly available in front of the shops or a nearby fenced-in parking lot. Now the great shopping begins! All the stores that I have visited accept euros, dollars and credit cards although everything is marked in the polish zloty. A fun and easy guide that I use when trying to convert prices from zloty into euro is to divide by three and when converting into dollars, divide by four.

When choosing your favorite pieces remember to look on the bottom or back of each item. There you will find information about the quality of the dish. Below you will see a table explaining what each category, or CAT, means and how they should be used, along with a list of my top shops.

Remember, when traveling to be aware of your surroundings, and don't be a target. If it doesn't seem right, it probably isn't.

CAT 1: Dishwasher and oven safe, highest quality.

CAT 2: Dishwasher safe, may have decorative flaws.

CAT 3 and 4: Best for decoration piece, not ideal for food.

Zaklady Ceramiczne

www.ceramicboleslawiec.com.pl/en/index.php

Phone: 48+757322736

Address: 11, Ko>ciuszki St.

59-700 Boles,awiec

English: Yes

Currency: USD, euro, credit card

Available parking: Yes

Ceramika Artystyczna

www.ceramika-artystyczna.com

Phone: 48+757324051

Address: 23, Spó,dzielnia R'kodzie,a Artystycznego ul. Ko>ciuszki

59-700 Boles,awiec

English: Yes

Currency: USD, euro, credit card

Available parking: Yes

Andy's

www.ceramikaandy.nazwa.pl/en_index.php?s=en_firma

Address: 111 A, Tomaszow

59-700 Boles,awiec

English: Yes

Currency: USD, euro, credit card

Available parking: Yes

Henry's

Also have great wicker products.

Address: 1, Masarska

59-700 Boles,awiec

English: Yes

Currency: USD, euro, credit card

Available parking: Yes

Millena Pottery

www.ceramikamillena.pl

Address: 108, Parzyce

59-730 Nowogrodziec

English: Yes

Currency: USD, euro

Available parking: Yes