Editor's Note: These are courtesy translations of local news provided by the U.S. Army Garrison Poland Public Affairs team for the benefit the military community stationed here. Views or opinions are not endorsed by USAG Poland or the U.S. Army.
Shopping in Manhattan in Torun
New posters have appeared on the streets of Toruń, encouraging residents to visit markets and take advantage of the wide range of fresh products straight from local suppliers. This is the beginning of the activation of Toruń bazaars.
The advertising campaign that Urbitor started in October 2024 has just entered its second stage. The posters can be seen on billboards and bus shelters in various parts of the city - the promotion of the markets is to reach the widest possible group of Toruń residents. The posters were created by the famous Toruń cartoonist Marcin Treichel.
The city markets in Toruń: at ul. Szosa Chełmińska, Mickiewicza, Okólna, as well as the Manhattan market in Rubinkowo, have been permanent elements of the everyday life of the residents for years. Local entrepreneurs offer over 800 small retail outlets there, and the largest of them are visited daily by up to 7 thousand people. - Markets are not only places of trade, exchange of goods, but also of information and opinions. Meeting places for different age groups, but also one of the few points of contact between the urban and rural communities. I see the potential of such places. We are wondering how to fully use it, taking into account the fact that in recent years we have been observing a trend, a return to a sustainable and ecological lifestyle - emphasizes the role of markets in the city, President Paweł Gulewski.
Although the markets in Toruń have been operating for years, it is worth reminding about their existence and the wide range of products offered. Hence the idea for a completely new, unusual initiative - an advertising campaign promoting shopping in these places. - I have not heard of similar initiatives in other cities, so it is safe to say that it is a kind of experiment. At the same time, we deeply believe in its success - explains Rafał Lachowicz, president of the Urbitor company. - In this way, we support local merchants, who often do not have the resources to promote their stands. Our goal is to increase their visibility and encourage Toruń residents to visit the markets more often. We hope that the offer of the bazaars will meet with interest not only of seniors, who know these places very well, but also of younger residents, who have not yet discovered all the benefits of shopping in these unique places.
For the first time, the promotional campaign included the Manhattan marketplace, which joined the group of city marketplaces run by Urbitor in Jan. 2025. The marketplace has been operating at Działowskiego Street for 30 years and until now has been managed by the Manhattan Merchants Association. Centralization of management processes in the scope of running and maintaining city marketplaces, maximum use of the potential of the Manhattan area and creation of comfortable conditions for merchants and customers - these are Paweł Gulewski's goals regarding the functioning of the marketplace in Rubinkowo.
- Manhattan Market is a perfect example of a place that has been the heart of the local community for years - emphasizes Rafał Lachowicz. - We want even more Toruń residents to discover its potential. A truly great place that has gained great popularity, and its offer is very diverse. And it is not only a matter of quality, but also the pleasure of contact with local sellers and the atmosphere of a real market.
The new posters are another step in building awareness of the opportunities offered by marketplaces. The marketing tools used in the campaign are intended to help merchants create stable conditions for the development of their businesses. The idea has gained recognition among Manhattan merchants: "The posters are very original, cheerful, colorful and eye-catching ," comments Krystyna Gagucka , who has been trading in Manhattan for over 30 years. " I've been here from the beginning and I can see how this trade is changing, how it's shrinking. We used to not be able to close the store at 6:00 p.m. because it was so crowded. Now there are days when the square is empty. We could use any support we could get and we're counting on a new manager. We're really looking forward to new customers."
The campaign will last a month and will soon be continued on social media to reach the widest possible audience.
In times when more and more people are paying attention to sustainable development, it is precisely locality and quality of life - spaces that connect people, support healthy and ecological habits, and promote social integration, that are becoming an important pillar of building so-called happy cities. Markets can be an important element of it. - The possibility of buying fresh, local products directly from producers reduces the need for transport, which reduces CO₂ emissions and supports local agriculture - explains Rafał Lachowicz. - We draw attention to the numerous advantages of shopping at markets, such as the freshness of products, lower chemical content in food and the possibility of direct contact with producers. Such a model of trade brings a more human and transparent form of relations to cities, and additionally gives the opportunity to negotiate prices.
Reports show that cities of the future will increasingly strive to implement the idea of a circular economy, and marketplaces can be an important element of this transformation. - What's more, by supporting local producers, promoting ecological products and reducing excess packaging, marketplaces can become true centers of sustainable consumption - explains President Lachowicz. - Additionally, integrating solutions such as product sharing, exchange or repairs is another step towards more sustainable cities. That is why we believe it is worth investing in the development of such spaces that not only respond to contemporary challenges, but also build foundations for future, sustainable and harmonious urban communities.
In a society that increasingly appreciates the value of quality of life, marketplaces can become a place not only for shopping, but also for relaxation, social interaction and education. In cities that, like Toruń, focus on the well-being of their residents, such spaces allow for building a sense of community, health and sustainable development. In the future, they can also be educational places that promote knowledge about sustainable agriculture, environmental protection and a healthy lifestyle. As part of this campaign, Urbitor plans not only to promote in the urban space, but also to organize events related to the seasonality of crops, happenings and fairs.
Disco on the ice rink in Torun
This will be a unique ending of the winter break in Toruń! On Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. we invite you to the first in the city - DISCO ON THE ICE RINK. This time, the seasonal ice rink on Skarpa will turn into a dance floor.
The ice rink will take on completely different colors thanks to the audio-visual setting. There will be a stage, sound system and stage lights. Behind the console will stand one of the residents of Toruń clubs DJ MAUSIK, who will play the greatest hits for you. Animators will invite you to have fun together with prizes. The mascots you already know very well, who were with us during the inauguration of the holidays in our city, will appear on site.
Note! Anyone who comes in costume can count on an additional prize!
This is the event closing the winter break 2025 in Toruń.
On skates, on boots, on ice we will dance hot rhythms in the middle of winter. During the entire event we will have a lot of fun, competitions and animations. We will give away a whole lot of gifts, including surprises from the Municipal Sports and Recreation Center, Radio GRA and the City of Toruń.
Remember that you don't have to know how to skate to have fun with us and that you can rent skates on site.
Admission to events for children and young people is free.
The main organizer of the events is MOSiR and the Department of Sports and Recreation of the Toruń City Hall.
DISCO ON THE ICE RINK 2025
Place: Seasonal ice rink, ul. Przy Skarpie 2
Date: Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Bolesławiecki Bike Park of Skills - there will be elements to create interesting and diverse routes
Already in May, the grove at Piastów Street will become a new place for recreation and improving cycling skills thanks to the construction of the Bolesławiecki Rowerowy Park Umiejętności. Geodetic work is currently underway, and routes are being marked out in the area.
The park aims to create a space for cyclists, including an XC route, which will feature new technical obstacles, as well as a recreational and off-road cycling track with a total length of 4 km. The project includes three levels of difficulty of the routes, which will allow both beginners and advanced cyclists to use them. The simplest path will also be accessible to people in wheelchairs.
The park will feature a variety of obstacles, such as moving ramps, bunny hops, logs, pump & jumps, and many other technical elements that will help develop cycling skills. Additionally, a shelter and bike racks will be built, which will ensure user comfort.
Beef Tartare Festival in Winestone Bolesławiec
If you are a fan of steak tartare in unusual versions, be sure to book your time between Jan. 30 and Feb. 2 and visit the Winestone restaurant in Bolesławiec, located at Plac Popiełuszki 2. This unique culinary event will transport your palate to the world of exquisite flavors and exceptional combinations, as well as true classics.
During the Tatar Festival, the Chef has prepared a special menu that will satisfy both lovers of tradition and lovers of modern culinary interpretations. Here you will find beef tenderloin tartare, an exquisite version of venison, delicate tuna and an original, vegetarian proposition of beetroot and avocado. Each dish has been composed of the highest quality ingredients to delight even the most demanding Guests.
Winestone has been fulfilling the wildest dreams of its Guests for years, this time serving top-class meat chopped by the Chef himself, combined with selected additions. If you love the oriental flavors of fresh fish accompanied by wasabi or coarsely chopped game tartare with refined truffle oil. If your mouth is watering, this event is for you.
To enhance the flavor, you can choose sourdough bread or a glass of something stronger – it’s the perfect complement to this culinary adventure.
Don't miss this unique opportunity! Reservations are now open - book a table and enjoy a masterful steak tartare.
Date : Jan. 30 – Feb. 2
Location: Winestone Bolesławiec, Plac Popiełuszki 2
Empty houses, ruins, dark underground. This is the largest ghost town in Poland only 15 km from Boleslawiec
Hidden in the west of Poland and extremely dangerous, Pstrąże is also called the Polish Chernobyl. It is the largest ghost town in Poland and one of the largest in the world. Located on the border of the Lubuskie and Lower Silesian Voivodeships, the agglomeration officially never existed for almost half a century. Everything that happened there was kept a big secret. Today, it is a "ghost town" full of dark, cold undergrounds, dangerous ruins and abandoned houses.
The ruins of the old Pstrąże still arouse strong emotions and ignite the imagination, just as they did a dozen or so years ago. Interestingly, the complex appeared on maps only in 1994, although its history is over 100 years old. At the beginning of the 20th century, this area belonged to Germany, and in 1901 the transformation of the small village of Pstransse into a military base for the army began.
In time, a vast military complex was built here, which included barracks, headquarters buildings and infrastructure ensuring full self-sufficiency of the people living here. The concrete and strategically important bridge over the Bóbr River, leading to this isolated "enclave", became one of the symbols of this place and a witness to its military past. Today, Pstrąże, hidden among the forests, still fascinates with its mysterious character, a history full of insinuations and inaccessibility.
"A State" within a State - a complex outside Polish jurisdiction
You must know that at the end of World War II, German soldiers, leaving the strategic complex in Pstraże, decided to blow up the key bridge over the Bóbr River. This was to delay and make it more difficult for the approaching Red Army to capture the complex. Of course, we know from history that such an obstacle was no obstacle at all, and the capture of these areas by Soviet troops was just a formality.
Already on Feb. 10, 1945, a closed military town, inaccessible to Poles, was established on the site of German military installations. It became an enclave where Soviet soldiers and their families lived, functioning completely outside Polish jurisdiction. This is how a new chapter in the history of Pstrąże began.
Pstrąże - this is what the Polish Chernobyl looks like today:
What happens in Pstrąż, stays in Pstrąż
- The most interesting thing is that for 47 years the city was removed from maps. Officially it did not exist. There was supposed to be only a forest there, and the military part was separated by a wall from the civilian part. The idea was for everything that happened behind the walls to remain behind these walls. It was supposed to be strict and to a certain extent - says Darek, one of the exploration team from Leszno Górne.
Large-panel apartment blocks were built here - Strachów was created
However, before the Russians settled in, they began expanding the infrastructure left by the Germans and changed the city's name to Страхув (Strakhiv). And the bridge over the Bóbr River, blown up by the Germans, was never rebuilt, as it was supposed to make access to the Soviet base more difficult for outsiders and curious people. A railway line was built nearby. Construction of apartment blocks also began. Russian soldiers and their families were to live in them. The blocks were built of large concrete slabs, in a typical socialist style. It is said that the components for the construction of the estate were brought to the site all the way from Russia.
A school, kindergarten, hospital and all the necessary infrastructure were built in the vicinity of the blocks, creating a complete military town. The residents also had a cinema and two huge canteens connected by a shared kitchen, which, although badly damaged today, still make an impression. The town also had a sports hall, and nearby there were mysterious garages, shrouded in local stories. One legend has it that the Soviet military stored nuclear weapons in one of these halls. Of course, there is no evidence to confirm this.
They left in a hurry, leaving their equipment behind. They thought they would come back
The Russians left Pstrąże only in 1992, closing the chapter of their presence there for several decades. Although initially they considered settling Polish citizens there, these plans were eventually abandoned. In 1995, it was decided that the area would be included in the military training ground.
What happened during the transition period, between 1992 and 1995? It is not entirely clear. According to reports, many Russians who left their apartments left almost all their belongings there, hoping to return soon. Of course, this did not happen, and from April 10, 1993, the city was guarded by the Polish army, but they soon gave up on maintaining control over it. This opened the door for thieves, who quickly ransacked the buildings, taking everything that could be of any value.
The perfect area for exercise
Unfortunately, from that moment on, all the buildings in the complex began to fall into ruin. Thus, they became an ideal place for training for the army, special services, police, border guards and fire brigades. The walls riddled with live ammunition can still be seen today. Riflemen perched on the roof of one of the blocks even "shot" with live ammunition an inscription on the wall of the neighboring block...
This place was called the Polish Pripyat, Chernobyl
It was not without reason that Pstrąże was called the Polish Pripyat. The large-panel blocks located in the city surrounded by greenery were strikingly reminiscent of a depopulated city in Ukraine. Today, there is no trace of these blocks. They began to be dismantled in 2016 for safety reasons. In some of the abandoned apartments, you can still find wallpaper, scraps of books, newspapers, and items of clothing (mainly military).
The "ghost town" is located on military grounds, but in practice it is visited by many explorers. However, it should be remembered that entering the abandoned town is very dangerous. It is not only about the crumbling buildings, of which there is still no shortage, but also unexploded ordnance, which can be found in the surrounding forests. It should also be remembered that Pstrąże is directly adjacent to the area of a training ground still used by the military.
Finally, here's a bit of trivia... Rumor has it that after the Soviet Army left the city, not all the soldiers left. Some settled in Lower Silesian and Lubuskie towns. They are doctors, taxi drivers, etc. They have blended in with local communities and are reluctant to recall the past associated with Strachów. Is it true? I don't think anyone knows the answer to this question...
Pstręże - location of the ghost town
Pstrąże - Polish Chernobyl is located on the border of the Lubuskie and Lower Silesian Voivodeships. The ghost town is only 38 km from Żagań and about 50 km from Żary. And from Bolesławiec it is about 20 km, so the trip will not take longer than half an hour. However, it is worth remembering that we are dealing with a huge area, in the center of which the army is stationed. Therefore, we describe the approximate time to reach its border only.
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