A flying visit to Poland's cultural capital Wroclaw
The fact that city breaks are becoming increasingly popular can also be seen in today's Wrazlaw, the capital of Lower Silesia: a lively student city with many well-preserved buildings, well-kept parks and navigable canals on the Oder. In addition, stylish hotels as a counterpart to the castle-like hostels of the past and golf courses that are highly recommended in terms of their condition and layout.
A day in the "Venice of the East"
A glorious summer's day accompanied us on a stroll through the former German city, where a lot of German is still spoken alongside English. German inscriptions can still be seen on the various buildings and you can order in German in the cafés. The most important point of interest is the medieval market square, which is one of the largest in Europe and is surrounded by charming, colorful buildings. All with a historical background, various decorations and inviting stores at the entrance. The real eye-catchers are the Gothic town hall, St. Magdalena's Cathedral and, in the middle of it all, many cafés and restaurants that invite you to stay. However, we arranged to meet on Cathedral Island, which is easy to miss because of Wroclaw Cathedral, the city's landmark, the opulent Bishop's Palace and the well-preserved Royal Castle. The city is spread over twelve islands, which are connected by almost 300 bridges. This is why Wroclaw is also known as the Venice of Poland. Even within the city, there is no shortage of nature, as there is no other large city in Poland with more green spaces. We therefore boarded an excursion boat, which took us along the many canals of the Oder: past the modern Centennial Hall - a World Heritage Site built for the 1913 World Exhibition, to the university, a baroque building that is one of the oldest universities in Europe, and past Ostrów Tumski, a historic island with important religious buildings, including the monument to former Pope John Paul II.
The hotel "The Bridge", named after the many bridges over the Oder, is also located here. A stylish, modern 5-star hotel in the oldest part of the city - if that doesn't score points? The hotel is also a real eye-catcher from an architectural point of view: with its stone, iron and concrete materials on the outer façade, it corresponds perfectly with the Gothic and Baroque architecture all around, which you can see from the oversized windows. Furnished in a minimalist style inside and spruced up with designer pieces, it is a great week-end domicile, whereby the interesting fusion cuisine in the restaurant should not go unmentioned. A gym and wellness center with pool complete the offer as well as a beautiful garden with access to the river.
A round of golf at Toya Golf and Country Club Wrozlaw
About a quarter of an hour's drive from the city, the 18 holes are hidden in a golf estate that you pass through a barrier. It used to be a military area with houses and villas, which golf course architect Jeremy Pern transformed into an interesting layout: on the one hand as a parkland course and on the other as a links course. The clubhouse boasts a magnificent staircase and spacious rooms, where the restaurant is also located. We played midweek for around 44 euros and were virtually alone on the course, as only the upper class can afford to play golf here. What is a little annoying is the nearby highway and the constant wind that comes into play. The fairways, on the other hand, are player-friendly and fairly modulated, while the rough has just been replaced by flower meadows. Water is usually only present in the form of ponds and lakes on the side of the course and is rarely touched. Only hole 14, a par 3, has to be played over water. All in all, a course that you would like to play again, or the 9-hole course for practice. Afterwards, however, you should quench your thirst for beer in the Wroclaw pub "Browar 100 Mosotow" - with beers from all over the world, craft beers to taste and delicious Polish cuisine. If you're lucky, you'll have a fun evening there with live music and special beer tastings.
Stay in the castle with beer bath`l and golf
The drive from Wroclaw to the village of Brznezno usually only takes half an hour, but it's worth it, because here we found a castle hotel that seems to have stepped out of a fairy tale. Its name is "BRZEZNO Palace SPA & Golf". Here you stay in 41 rooms and suites in a plush castle ambience with equally plush furniture and heavy carpets, but also with a small putting hole. The modern but very cozy rooms with white wooden struts and a wonderful view of the castle park are located in the upper part of the building. Weddings are celebrated there and romantic dinners are held in the orangery in summer. In the basement, you can relax in the saunas, in the salt grotto in the beer bath and in the Jacuzzi - especially after a round of golf on the hotel's own 18-hole course, with a 6-hole practice course on the side.
Krzysztof Gradecki, father of one of Poland's best golfers, Mateusz Gradecki, who won the Sunshine Tour in South Africa last year, is also the father and builder of this beautiful course. Although the fairways are mostly short and narrow, they are flanked by a variety of vegetation. You play through woodland and parkland as well as over small streams and on the 18th hole you carry 118 meters over the lake in the castle park. A pretty course that you will remember for a good score and the price of 65 euros at the weekend. Especially because of "Mrs. Nadja's Pierogi" in the club restaurant, the owner's favorite dish.
On the way, the Friedenskirche church in Schweidnitz
The over 360-year-old Schweidnitz Church of Peace "Zur Heiligen Dreifaltigkeit" was built after the Thirty Years' War, which was characterized by slaughter. And yet the baroque half-timbered cathedrals, which resemble huge barns from the outside, radiate an unshakeable serenity and confidence. The interior is dazzling at first, with all the gold, the many biblical scenes and sayings on the surrounding galleries and even more so the ceiling with motifs from the Book of Revelation. You actually want to stay here longer to take a closer look at all the splendor. You also learn that the last extensive renovation was carried out in 1902 during the German Empire and that a major restoration was planned in the 1990s, but was then interrupted for ten years. Since 2013, restoration work has continued with funding from the European Economic Area and the Norwegian fund.
A castle for all occasions
seems to be the Hotel Zamek Topacz Resort & Art Spa in Ślęza. The three large buildings include an 18th century castle, which has been lovingly renovated in a modern style - with elegant furnishings and perfect for weddings. The picturesque surrounding garden with a small lake provides the perfect backdrop for these and many other events. The spacious 11-hectare grounds are not only ideal for outdoor activities, but also for concerts and music events. Another building houses an art gallery with regular exhibitions and car enthusiasts will love the vintage car museum. While the castle has a spa area with saunas and a pool and the "Adele" restaurant with international cuisine, the Remise offers accommodation in the English style - with lots of wood, checked fabric and cozy furniture. All in all, we can highly recommend this accommodation, especially as it is only half an hour away from Wroclaw airport. There are direct flights from Vienna (Ryanair), Munich (LH) and Zurich (Swiss).
Further information:
visitwroclaw.eu/en
wroclaw.golf
thebridgewroclaw.pl/de/
palacbrzezno.pl/en/
www.zamektopacz.pl/en/
www.polen.travel/de-at/sehenswurdigkeiten/unesco/friedenskirchen-jauer-jawor-und-schweidnitz-swidnica
Text: Elsa Honecker
