Poland

Cultural Park City of Weavers in Zgierz

You probably know that Zgierz was granted city rights earlier than Lodz. But do you know about the fact that Zgierz was the first city of weavers? It was here that the production of high-quality cloth was thriving, before the intensive development of industrial Lodz began.

It’s time for a bit of history that took place before the days of the great factory owners of Lodz. Before powerful factories were established in Lodz, the production of cloth, which was known in Europe thanks to its high quality, flourished in Zgierz. How did it happen that it was in Zgierz that the weavers settled? And why did Zgierz lag behind, while Lodz developed an industry that allowed its dynamic growth? And what is the title Cultural Park City of Weavers in Zgierz? You can find out all about it by reading the following article.

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Table of contents

A bit of history

The beginning of the development of the textile industry in the region can be traced back to 1920, at the end of which decisions were made at the national level to establish textile settlements in Zgierz, Lodz, Skierniewice, Przedecz, Leczyca, Gostynin, Dabie, Gabin, Rawa and Brdow. Initially, Leczyca developed the fastest, but was quickly surpassed by Zgierz, which later gave way to Lodz.

So what made it exactly Zgierz that became the first city of weavers? Certainly the Zgierz Agreement, initiated by Rajmund Rembielinskigom, which was a confirmation of the choice of Zgierz as a place for the development of the textile industry. It was an agreement between the city and entrepreneurs encouraging them to start a business in Zgierz and guaranteeing numerous privileges. Yes, a bit like a modern-day special economic zone ;) So weavers, dyers, merchants (including foreign ones) were tempted to come to Zgierz, build houses and start their own cloth workshops. Among the privileges that awaited them were: an allotted plot of land and the provision of building material (wood) for the construction of a house, exemption from taxes for several years, and the abolition of military service. They also had easier access to loans. Nothing but to move business to Zgierz!

Of course, not only privileges awaited clothiers, but also responsibilities. They had certain conditions to meet regarding the construction of wooden houses, and in doing so they were, of course, obliged to start and maintain continuous production in the cloth workshops.

The incentive worked and some 300 clothiers came to the city. The city was growing so rapidly that Rembielinski decided to expand the cloth settlement and set his sights on developing Lodz as a weaving settlement. It is worth noting, however, that the focus was on cotton production, not cloth, and weaving immigrants arrived in Lodz in large numbers.

Unfortunately, small workshops eventually had to give way to large, modern, Lodz-based factories that were equipped with new technologies for the time. The Lodz machine took off, the Zgierz production ceased to be profitable, the weavers’ houses began to change hands until they eventually fell into ruins.

Cultural Park City of Weavers

The City of Weavers Cultural Park aims to protect historic wooden clothiers’ houses.

As already written, they were obliged to build a wooden house on a foundation and set up a cloth workshop. The Zgierz Agreement even dictated what a built house should look like, although over time the weaver’s house model was increasingly abandoned. Nevertheless, it’s hard not to notice the similarity between the houses we can now see along two streets, Rembowskiego and Narutowicza – this is where most of the historic buildings are located within the City of Weavers Cultural Park. It is worth noting at this point that not all of them were located here from the beginning – several weavers’ houses were moved from other parts of Zgierz.

Today, nearly 30 historic wooden houses can be seen in the park. Walking along the aforementioned streets, every now and then one comes across information boards describing the various objects, although it is sometimes difficult to read them, as many of these boards have already been destroyed or scrawled over by vandals. Nevertheless, the streets have a unique atmosphere thanks to the cobblestone streets, gas styled lanterns and plantings.

Within the Park, it is not just a matter of preserving historic handicraft houses, but also their adaptation for new functions and education in the broadest sense. Today, the historic buildings house the Tourist House (Art Gallery and Doll Museum), the Wood Conservation Center, a hostel and a café, among others.

Prices

The City of Weavers Cultural Park is an open area, open to the public for free.

There is a fee to enter the Wood Conservation Center:
Normal ticket – 5 PLN
Discounted ticket – 3 PLN

How to get to the City of Weavers?

The facilities within the City of Weavers Cultural Park are located on two streets in Zgierz: Rembowskiego and Narutowicza. It will take about 10 minutes to get here from the center of Zgierz.

It will take about 30-40 minutes to get there by car from Lodz, and you can park on the above streets (parking is free).

The City of Weavers can also be reached by MPK Lodz, buses No. 6 and 61 (stops: Długa – pl. Kilińskiego or 1 Maja – Dubois) and by ŁKA train (it will take about 20 minutes to get there on foot).

The exact address:
Cultural Park City of Weavers
Tourist information
Rev. Szczepan Rembowski 1
95- 100 Zgierz

Contact information:
e-mail: miastotkaczy@umz.zgierz.pl
phone: +48 42 714 32 89
www: https://miastotkaczy.pl/

Where to eat in the area?

There is a Cafe&Bistro , “U Tkaczy”, where you can eat cake and drink coffee (Ks. Sz. Rembowskiego St. 1).

For lunch or dinner, you can go to the restaurants located nearby on Dabrowski Street: Pizza Factory, Spinx, Piwiarnia Warki and Levant.

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Where to spend the night?

In the Park, you can stay at the modest FOLKier Hostel:

Hostel FOLKier
Address: Fr. Sh. Rembowskiego 1, 95-100 Zgierz
Prices: 105 PLN for two people in any room
Link:

http://r4b.link/hostel-folkier

Alternatively:

Manor Farm Hotel, about 2 km by car from Weavers’ Town
Address: ul. Aleksandrowska 63A, 95-100 Zgierz
Prices: from 170 PLN for a double room, (breakfast additionally paid 25 PLN/person)
Link:

http://r4b.link/folwark-zgierz

Summary

The City of Weavers Cultural Park is a very interesting place for people who want to learn not only about the history of Zgierz, but also about the region, whose development was based on textile industry.

This is a rather unknown and inconspicuous attraction in Zgierz, which may surprise you and be the beginning to set off in the footsteps of weavers and then great factory owners.

The place has an interesting atmosphere, although acts of vandalism are visible.

Sources:

You can read about the Zgierz Agreement on this page
City of Weavers in Zgierz. Cultural Park as an instrument for the protection and revitalization of the cultural landscape, Joanna Sakowicz

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