I was very impressed by the tour of the city of Lublin; it seems as though every other block and building was the setting of some major historical event.
Of particular influence and, I think, a symbolic representative of Polish history was Lithuanian square (not pictured, though I may be able to provide an image when I return to the states). This prominent piazza was the site of the agreement between Polish and Lithuanian leaders and led to the development of the Lublin Union, which provided for a federal system of government between Poland and Lithuania. This union became the largest democracy in modern Europe, until a series of wars in the 18th century partitioned Poland. Around the square are the vestiges and legends of various foreign rulers; there was once an Orthodox church which served as a symbol of Russian authority which has since been taken down; there are still several palaces which served as residences or seats of governance for the local rulers at various points.
Whatever the case may have been with these foreign rulers, the 20th century was not been kind to Poland, and the square was called Adolf Hitler Square under German rule and Joseph Stalin Square during the rule by the Communists. As late as the 1980s, a statue of a Russian soldier stood in the square, until the independence of Poland was won and the statue was summarily razed--this habit of destroying evidence of Russian rule seems to be a pattern of Polish culture.
Today, Lithuanian square is one of the geographic and cultural centers of Lublin and once again serves as a memorial of the Lublin Union, now commemorated by an obelisk near the cobblestone square.
More broadly, I think Lithuanian square represents how indefatigable the Polish nation and people are. Despite its being subject to an imposing series of foreign rulers, the square still today is a memorial to one of the greatest democracies in European history and typifies the unconquerable spirit which seems to be prevalent among Poles in their refusal to succumb to Nazi or Soviet pressures.
I liked our tour guide for this portion of the trip, he was very knowledgeable about the history of Lublin and I learned a lot, especially interesting to me were the facts about the suppression of Jesuits in Poland in the 1770s. I enjoyed getting to see firsthand some of the monuments and historical landmarks and applying the knowledge we had learned from lectures in the morning to what we were seeing.
I was very impressed by the tour of the city of Lublin; it seems as though every other block and building was the setting of some major historical event.
ReplyDeleteOf particular influence and, I think, a symbolic representative of Polish history was Lithuanian square (not pictured, though I may be able to provide an image when I return to the states). This prominent piazza was the site of the agreement between Polish and Lithuanian leaders and led to the development of the Lublin Union, which provided for a federal system of government between Poland and Lithuania. This union became the largest democracy in modern Europe, until a series of wars in the 18th century partitioned Poland. Around the square are the vestiges and legends of various foreign rulers; there was once an Orthodox church which served as a symbol of Russian authority which has since been taken down; there are still several palaces which served as residences or seats of governance for the local rulers at various points.
Whatever the case may have been with these foreign rulers, the 20th century was not been kind to Poland, and the square was called Adolf Hitler Square under German rule and Joseph Stalin Square during the rule by the Communists. As late as the 1980s, a statue of a Russian soldier stood in the square, until the independence of Poland was won and the statue was summarily razed--this habit of destroying evidence of Russian rule seems to be a pattern of Polish culture.
Today, Lithuanian square is one of the geographic and cultural centers of Lublin and once again serves as a memorial of the Lublin Union, now commemorated by an obelisk near the cobblestone square.
More broadly, I think Lithuanian square represents how indefatigable the Polish nation and people are. Despite its being subject to an imposing series of foreign rulers, the square still today is a memorial to one of the greatest democracies in European history and typifies the unconquerable spirit which seems to be prevalent among Poles in their refusal to succumb to Nazi or Soviet pressures.
I liked our tour guide for this portion of the trip, he was very knowledgeable about the history of Lublin and I learned a lot, especially interesting to me were the facts about the suppression of Jesuits in Poland in the 1770s. I enjoyed getting to see firsthand some of the monuments and historical landmarks and applying the knowledge we had learned from lectures in the morning to what we were seeing.
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