Bydgoszcz – the Venice of the North
Rivers Brda, Vistula, Młynówka, and the unique Bydgoszcz Canal with its locks show how strongly water shapes the life and appearance of Bydgoszcz. This is especially visible today — the city’s architecture, as well as its cultural and sporting events, are increasingly turning toward the river. Comparisons to Venice come as no surprise, as in both cities water and historic landmarks create an exceptional duet. A prime example is Bydgoszcz Venice, where buildings almost touch the swift waters of the Młynówka. Just as Venice is divided by the Grand Canal, Bydgoszcz is crossed by the picturesque Brda. Motorboats, ships, water trams, and numerous bridges — including the famous Queen Jadwiga Bridge, a symbol of old Bydgoszcz — create a shared landscape for both cities. Venice on the Młynówka, water routes, and architecture right by the river — the associations go even further. Culture also connects the two places: music in churches, and a rich operatic life — in Venice centered around Teatro La Fenice, in Bydgoszcz around Opera Nova. Both Venices have inspired poets, painters, and filmmakers for many years.
Mill Island
A green island in the very heart of the city is a true treasure! This is, of course, Mill Island — also known as the Island of Museums, and more recently, the Island of Treasures. The new name comes from the Bydgoszcz Treasure, discovered during excavations at St Martin and St Nicholas Cathedral and now on display in one of the local museums. Hundreds of gold coins and jewellery from the times of the Swedish wars — the dream of every archaeologist! The island’s name refers to the mills that have stood here for centuries. The city’s former milling industry hub is still remembered through landmarks such as the impressive Rother’s Mills, dating back to the mid-19th century.
Historic Market Square
The Old Market Square is the heart of Bydgoszcz, the place where the history of the “town on the Brda” began. It was here that the most important patriotic ceremonies and community events took place. The square also witnessed one of its darkest chapters in September 1939, when Nazi forces carried out mass executions — today commemorated by the Monument to Struggle and Martyrdom. Today, the Old Market Square is not only a symbol but also a vibrant space, home to the beautiful Town Hall where key decisions for the city are made. Its charm is enhanced by restored Art Nouveau townhouses and flocks of pigeons being fed by passers-by. The square is also closely associated with books — it houses the impressive building of the Provincial Library, home to valuable collections including 98 incunabula. Nearby, the Bydgoszcz Scientific Antiquarian Bookshop, operating since 1952, offers shelves full of books and a unique atmosphere — the kind of place where you are likely to bump into friends without even arranging to meet.
Cathedral – a treasure in the heart of the city
“Stars above you and stars beneath you, and you will see two moons” — these words from Adam Mickiewicz’s Świteź perfectly capture the romantic aura of St Martin and St Nicholas Cathedral, reflected in the Brda’s waters at night. Yet the cathedral is not about Romanticism, but Gothic — the heritage of many generations, with origins dating back to 1466. That year marked the beginning of construction on the city’s oldest church, completed in 1502. For centuries, it has been the centre of religious, spiritual, and patriotic life for the people of Bydgoszcz, especially during the partitions, when it stood as a bastion of Polish identity. The late Gothic cathedral impresses with its architecture and interior, whose heart is the baroque main altar from 1700, adorned with sculptures of its patrons — St Martin and St Nicholas. Its true jewel, however, is the 15th-century painting of Our Lady with a Rose, funded by starost Jan Kościelecki as a votive offering after the Thirteen Years’ War. In 1966, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński crowned the image, bestowing upon it the title of Our Lady of Beautiful Love. To this day, the faithful pray before this miraculous icon, seeking her protection in their daily concerns. Inside the church, one can also admire the rococo pulpit, 18th-century choir stalls, various types of vaulting, and 17th-century paintings of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Barbara — all testimony to the mastery of past craftsmen. This is a place that truly must be seen. The cathedral also hides its secrets — during archaeological works in 2018, beneath the floor, 700 valuable coins and pieces of jewellery from the 16th and 17th centuries were discovered. The true Bydgoszcz Treasure!
Corners of the Old Town
Jezuicka, Batorego, Jatki, Grodzka, Podwale — the very names of the streets surrounding the Old Market Square recall the days when Bydgoszcz was encircled by city walls. Narrow and lined with historic townhouses, they transport passers-by into the calmer atmosphere of the old city. Cafés and clubs here entice not only with snacks but also with music. Jazz enthusiasts head to the Eljazz club, organiser of the Bydgoszcz Jazz Festival, while the Jesuit Church resounds with works by Bach and Pachelbel during the Bydgoszcz Organ Evenings and the “Academy in Monuments” concerts. On the other side of the church is the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Cultural Centre, home to the colourful Gallery of Folk and Non-Professional Art, which delights with the tranquillity and imagination of its creators. Strolling through these lanes, it is hard to miss the equestrian statue of King Casimir the Great. In the evenings, it appears especially majestic, and the people of Bydgoszcz proudly look upon the monarch who granted the city its municipal rights in 1346.
Opera Nova
Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz is one of the most important artistic institutions in the Kuyavia and Pomerania region, as well as the largest opera house in the area. Its history began with the modest Opera Studio, whose first performances — Moniuszko’s Flis and Verbum nobile, along with Kurpiński’s The Wedding at Ojcow — staged on 21 September 1956, marked the beginning of this exceptional stage. Today, Opera Nova impresses not only with its artistic quality but also with its architecture. The theatre’s three stone circles, picturesquely located on a bend of the Brda River right next to the Old Town, have become one of Bydgoszcz’s landmarks. From the start, the opera’s ambition has been to invite outstanding creators, resulting in premieres received with great acclaim. Many renowned directors and choreographers have staged productions here, including Maciej Prus, Ryszard Peryt, Krzysztof Nazar, Laco Adamik, Jorma Elo, and Paul Chalmer, as well as younger-generation artists such as Natalia Babińska, Robert Bondara, and Tomasz Konina.