A Renaissance manor in the Dobrzynka Valley, a late Renaissance church and a park with differently designed riverbanks give Pabianice several distinct ways to explore. Historic buildings tell stories of different eras; themed routes focus on religious and cultural memory. There are also options for getting active, ranging from a 1.5 km cycling loop around ponds to longer routes in Pabianice.
Architecture with distinct styles
The Renaissance manor known as “Zamkowy” is one of the unique and valuable monuments of 16th-century Polish architecture. It lies in the Dobrzynka Valley at ul. Stary Rynek 1, north of the road. The eclectic Ender Palace was built in 1883 for Karol and Teodor Ender; today, the building serves an administrative purpose. The Weaver’s House is a two-storey wooden historic building from the first half of the 19th century. Its post-and-beam construction is typical of German Saxony. The Renaissance manor, palace and Weaver’s House thus represent distinctly different architectural forms and periods.
The park by the castle, named after Juliusz Słowacki, is a four-hectare garden. Its left bank is landscaped in the English style, and the right in the French style. The history of transport is also linked to a historic building: the Pabianice railway station was built in 1901–1902 as one of the stations on the Warsaw–Vienna Railway.
Church and cultural memory
The Church of St Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist and St Lawrence was built in 1583–1588 as a late Renaissance brick basilica: it has three naves and a transept. Its architectural features also include vaults with lunettes. The Baroque high altar dates from the late 17th century. This brings together a late Renaissance design and a later Baroque furnishing in one building.
The route “Śladami św. Maksymiliana Kolbego po Pabianicach” leads to this church. It was there that Rajmund Kolbe, later known as St Maximilian, received his First Communion in 1906. The route thus connects a specific place with an event in his life. The route “Śladami wielokulturowości Pabianic” takes a different approach: it leads to surviving traces of German and Jewish cultures and religions. It includes the former weaving mill and spinning mill of the “Krusche i Ender” company, dating from 1891. One route focuses on Kolbe’s story, while the other explores diverse cultural and religious traces.
The former court of the Kraków Cathedral Chapter can also be found here, a place with a changing history: since the period after the Second World War, it has housed the Museum of the City of Pabianice.
Routes and activities for every pace
“Pabianice zapisane na taśmie filmowej” is just under 6 km long and is suitable for walks or orienteering events for student groups. On the “Warto zobaczyć” route, the first stage covers 6.5 km; the second stage is 9 km long and takes you around the city to sights in Pabianice. You can distinguish between the routes by their stated lengths as well as their respective themes. At just under 6 km, the film route is the shortest of these trails, while the second stage of “Warto zobaczyć” is the longest.
There are options for cyclists at different scales: the Lewityn Leisure Centre has a 1.5 km cycling loop around its ponds. The regional cycling route “Szlak św. Maksymiliana Kolbego” is over 62 km long and passes through Pabianice. This makes it possible to compare a loop around the ponds with a much longer regional route. During the summer season, a watersports equipment rental is open near the Lewityn swimming area; check current availability before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Dobroń, Konstantynów Łódzki, Pabianice, Ksawerów, Sieradz, Kutno, Rawski, Tomaszowski.
For the broader travel overview: Lodz.
