Three distinct themes come together in Dobrzykowice: the film world of “Sami swoi”, a pond area with new paths, and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. When planning your stay, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on. Film fans can discover several connections to the saga of Kargul and Pawlak; those interested in architecture and art will encounter a different period. The pond, meanwhile, combines a walk with a film location.

Film History in the Village

Most of the footage for the first two films in Sylwester Chęciński’s saga about the Kargul and Pawlak families was shot in Dobrzykowice. The film trilogy comprises “Sami swoi”, “Nie ma mocnych” and “Kochaj albo rzuć”. In the village centre, life-size figures of Władysław Kargul and Kazimierz Pawlak, the trilogy’s main characters, stand on display. Other parts of the village’s film history include the purpose-built “Sami swoi” Street and the square named after Chęciński, featuring figures of the film’s heroes.

These connections each have a different emphasis: the figures represent the main characters, the street name refers to a film title, and the square bears the director’s name. The filming links Dobrzykowice to the making of the films. In this way, memorial sites in the village sit alongside its direct connection to the filming locations.

The Pond: Paths, Fountain and Film Location

The pond is another point of interest. New paths have been laid around it. The fountain, previously purchased with funds from the Dobrzykowice village fund, became the centrepiece of the local pond. Scenes for “Sami swoi” were also filmed at the pond. Landscaping and film history come together here: the paths make the pond area a place for a stroll, while the fountain is a defining feature of the local pond. Those interested in the film series will also find a connection here to a specific scene from “Sami swoi”.

This sets the pond apart from the film-related figures and names: here, new paths and the fountain meet at a filming location. The pond is therefore a subject in its own right, even if the film connection is not your main consideration.

Late Baroque Church and Gothic Pietà

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary offers a distinctly different focus. The present building was constructed between 1753 and 1757 in the late Baroque style. Outside, it has an onion-shaped tower cupola with a lantern; inside the church is a Gothic Pietà dating from around 1420. The Pietà was therefore created roughly three centuries before the present church building. The same church brings together a late Baroque building and a much older work of art.

A Pietà depicts Mary with the body of Christ. The subject also helps place the Gothic sculpture in context, complementing the building’s history with a work of art from the early 15th century. Art- and architecture-minded travellers thus have a different perspective from that offered by the film locations: the construction period and tower shape define the exterior, while the Pietà is one of the church’s notable works of art. Film history, a walk by the pond, and the contrast between the building and the sculpture offer different focuses to help you choose your stay.

Discover more destinations: Kobierzyce, Wojnowice, Sulistrowiczki, Radwanice, Kiełczówek, Bielany Wrocławskie, Stróza, Sobótka

For the main travel overview: Wroclaw.