What’s worth visiting in Lublin in just one day? We’ve prepared a one-day itinerary that will introduce you to the city’s most important monuments and fascinating stories. Next time, you’ll be able to explore even more during a longer stay. Our walk begins at Teatralny Square.

 

Centre for the Meeting of Cultures

Until recently, the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures was colloquially known as the "Theatre Under Construction," as the unfinished building stood in the city for nearly four decades. Construction began in 1974, but funding ran out soon after. Thanks to renewed efforts completed in 2015, we can now admire the impressive modern structure, designed by renowned Lublin architect Bolesław Stelmach. Its industrial design features green terraces planted with species native to the Lublin region, as well as the Municipal Artistic Apiary. A walk along the glass sky corridor offers sweeping views over the city. The Centre hosts various events, including concerts, performances, and both permanent and temporary exhibitions. Visitors can also relax with a coffee or craft beer in one of its many venues.

 

From the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures, we make our way toward Litewski Square.

Litewski Square

Litewski Square is Lublin's largest and most distinguished square, hosting parades and major state ceremonies. It’s also one of the city’s favorite gathering spots. Historical accounts suggest that Lithuanian envoys camped here for the Sejm sessions, which culminated in the signing of the Polish-Lithuanian Union in 1569. This significant event is honored by an obelisk-shaped monument.

Other notable monuments on Litewski Square commemorate Marshal Józef Piłsudski, the Unknown Soldier, and the 3rd of May Constitution. The square is bordered by impressive historical buildings, including former palaces of the Czartoryski and Lubomirski families and the old Gubernial Government office in the northern section. Opposite stands the striking Central Post Office, which gained its current look after a reconstruction in 1921. In summer, Litewski Square also features multimedia fountain shows, where short films on the city’s history and cultural sites are projected onto a water curtain.

 

We are now heading towards the Old Town, following the promenade along a section of Krakowskie Przedmieście Street.

Krakowskie Przedmieście

Krakowskie Przedmieście is a favorite spot for both locals and visitors in Lublin, known for its variety of restaurants, cafés, and clubs. Most of the townhouses here date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, and many hold fascinating histories. For instance, at number 6, you’ll find a building that once belonged to merchant Jan Mincel, immortalized by Bolesław Prus in his classic novel The Doll. Today, this townhouse is home to the Lublin Tourist and Cultural Information Centre, where you can pick up maps, guides, and brochures about the city and region, as well as unique souvenirs. The friendly staff are happy to provide insights into local attractions, and visitors have access to bicycle rentals, luggage storage, and free Wi-Fi. The building is also fully accessible for people with disabilities.

Nearby, at number 8, stands the building, long associated by Lubliners with the beloved Chmielewski café it hosts. Be sure to stop in for a coffee cake as you explore the area.

Opposite the café, the Church of the Holy Spirit showcases the distinctive features of the Lublin Renaissance, which were added during its reconstruction between 1602 and 1608, designed by Jan Cangerle. This historic church is notable for being the site where Aleksander Głowacki, better known by his pen name Bolesław Prus, married Oktawia Trembińska in 1875.

Adjacent to the church stands the New Town Hall, created from the former Carmelite church and monastery complex, which was rebuilt after a fire in 1803. A charming tradition here is the daily bugle call played by the city bugler at noon from the Town Hall balcony.

As you continue along Krakowskie Przedmieście, near Wróblewskiego Street, you’ll encounter a statue of Lublin’s goat from the city’s coat of arms.

 

Let’s cross to the other side of the street and stop for a moment in front of the Cracow Gate.

 

Cracow Gate

The Cracow Gate is one of the architectural symbols of Lublin, facing the historic route that led to the former capital of the state, Kraków, which is how it got its name. Constructed after 1341 during the reign of King Casimir the Great, it was built as a fortification within the ring of defensive walls surrounding the city, following the Tartar invasion. The gate is topped with a Baroque helmet featuring the monogram SAR (Stanislaus Augustus Rex) and the date 1782, a remnant of its reconstruction by Dominick Merlini. The current appearance of the gate results from restoration and construction work carried out between 1959 and 1964, when its historic look was restored, and the interior was adapted for use as the Museum of the History of the City of Lublin. The Cracow Gate served as a prominent entrance through which royal and parliamentary processions passed. It also functioned as an observation point for the fire brigade, and the town bugle call was sounded from its balcony. A clockmaker once resided here, tending to the clock located on the gate; however, he was likely not a very skilled craftsman, as a poem lamenting the state of Lublin's clocks once declared: "Everywhere the clocks are often wrong, but those in Lublin are the most reliable liars."

 

Walking along Królewska Street, we reach the Trinitarian Tower and the Lublin Archcathedral.

 

Trinitarian Tower

"On its tower a tin cock fluttered, another - bore a clock that hummed a tune." So begins Józef Czechowicz's Poem on the City of Lublin. This cockerel, perched atop the Trinitarian Tower, is said, according to legend, to have warned the townspeople of approaching danger. Today, it is believed to crow whenever a virtuous maiden passes through the gate. The tower's name refers to the Trinitarian Order, which owned the former Jesuit buildings at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Designed by the Italian architect Antonio Corazzi, the building was completed in 1827, and its appearance has remained unchanged since. The interior houses the Museum of the Lublin Archdiocese, featuring a collection of sacred sculptures, paintings, and many other fascinating exhibits. At a height of 40 meters, an observation deck offers stunning views of the Lublin panorama. To reach it, visitors must climb several levels and ascend a total of 207 stairs. 

Archcatchedral

The magnificent Lublin Archcathedral is a must-see when visiting Lublin. Originally a Jesuit church, it was built between 1586 and 1604, designed by the Italian architects Giovanni Maria Bernardoni and Josef Bricci in the Baroque style. The church was modeled after the Roman Jesuit temple Il Gesù. In 1604, it was consecrated by the Bishop of Krakow, Bernard Maciejowski, and dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. Alongside the church, the Jesuits established a college, the buildings of which once surrounded today’s Cathedral Square. Following a fire in 1752, the church was rebuilt and the famous illusionistic polychromies by the master Joseph Mayer were created.

Another highlight of the Archcathedral is the remarkable acoustic vestry, where visitors can whisper to each other while standing back-to-back in opposite corners of the room. The ticket also grants access to the unique treasury and the crypts where the bishops of Lublin are buried. The exhibition titled "Worship - History - Legends. Lublin Archcathedral - Heir to Monuments and Tradition," located at the choir, showcases real treasures, including an 18th-century unique processional canopy.

 

Passing through the gate in the Trinity Tower, we make our way down the shortest street in Lublin, President Teodor Gruell Street, until we reach the Old Town Square.

Market Square

Situated in the heart of the city, Lublin's Old Town Market Square takes the shape of an irregular quadrangle. Its location was influenced by the pre-existing buildings and the contours of the hill. Historically, the square served administrative, judicial, commercial, and cultural functions, where townspeople, noblemen, and merchants conducted their business. Monks would travel to the nearby Dominican monastery, while court deputies ascended the stairs to the Crown Tribunal. The square was particularly lively during the four annual fairs, which attracted merchants from distant corners of the world.

The tenements surrounding the Market Square belonged to affluent bourgeois families. Their appearances have evolved over the centuries in line with changing architectural styles, and they have also been shaped by disasters such as fires and wars. One of the largest fires in Lublin's history occurred in 1575, allegedly ignited by Jadwiga, a careless burgher, who accidentally set fire to her cakes before a fair, leading to the destruction of a significant portion of the city. During the bombardments of Lublin in 1939 and 1944, some of the tenement houses around the square were destroyed.

In the 1950s, the tenements were rebuilt, retaining the original division of plots. It was during this time that many buildings were adorned with characteristic sgraffito decorations on their façades. The Market Square is now home to numerous cafés and restaurants, making it an excellent place to relax and enjoy a meal. Additionally, the entrance to the Lublin Underground Route can be found here.

 

While strolling around the Market Square, be sure to pay attention to Złota Street, which leads to one of Lublin's most magnificent churches—the Basilica of the Dominican Friars.

Basilica of the Dominican Friars

One of Lublin's most important monuments is the church and monastery of the Dominican Friars, which was established in the city in the 1330s. In 1342, following the Tartar invasion, a brick Gothic single-nave church dedicated to St. Stanislaus the Martyr was built to replace a wooden temple. The church underwent several extensions over the years, with the most significant reconstruction occurring after a fire in 1575, which added features of the Lublin Renaissance style, designed by architect Rudolf Negroni. In 1569, a thanksgiving service was held here to commemorate the conclusion of the Union of Lublin. In 1967, Pope Paul VI elevated the church to the status of basilica minor.

The adjacent monastery was constructed in stages from the 15th to the 17th century, with the oldest section preserving cross-ribbed vaults and a 15th-century portal. One of the most intriguing parts of the monastery is the former refectory, which features a distinctive palm vault supported by a single column. According to monastic tradition, the Union of Lublin was signed in this very refectory in 1569.

Following renovations completed in 2012, an exhibition was established in the north wing of the monastery to showcase items related to the Dominican order. Among the most valuable exhibits in the monastery's treasury are a collection of antique books, liturgical vestments, and gold artifacts. For several centuries, the Dominicans of Lublin possessed one of the largest relics of the Holy Cross in the world, which came to Lublin from Kyiv in the 14th century. Unfortunately, this relic was stolen in 1991 and remains missing to this day."

 

After leaving the church, turn right onto Archidiakonska Street to reach Po Farze Square.

Po Farze Square

The name Po Farze Square—roughly translated as the "Post-Parish Church Square"—refers to the fact that the Church of St. Michael the Archangel stood here for several hundred years. It was the first parish church in the city, hence the name "fara." The temple was likely built in the 13th century. According to legend, the church was erected by Prince Leszek the Black as a votive offering after his victory in the battle against the Yotvingians. The prince, who came to Lublin to confront the invaders, reportedly fell asleep under a large oak tree that grew where the church later stood. In a dream, the Archangel Michael appeared to him and gave him a sword to defeat the Yotvingians. The temple was impressive in size, with its church tower visible from a distance of five Polish miles (approximately 7,146 meters). In 1844, a decision was made to demolish the parish church, officially citing its poor technical condition as the reason. A mock-up of the church and a reconstruction of its foundations can now be seen in Po Farze Square, the result of revitalization work carried out in the early 21st century.

 

We continue through the Old Town and stop at the Grodzka Gate.

Grodzka Gate

The Grodzka Gate was constructed in 1341 following the Tartar invasion, during the reign of King Casimir the Great. It served as a passage through the city's defensive walls. In the late 18th century, the gate was rebuilt in a classicist style by order of the Commission of Good Order (Boni Ordinis), which resulted in the removal of its defensive features. Elements visible from the Old Town side, such as the date MDCCLXXXV and the monogram SAR (Stanislaus Augustus Rex - Stanislaw August the King), recall this reconstruction. The Grodzka Gate also symbolized the link between the Christian and Jewish communities, which led to it being colloquially known as the Jewish Gate. Today, it houses the Grodzka Gate - NN Theatre, where you can view a model of the former Jewish district and various exhibitions documenting everyday life in pre-war Lublin.

 

Pass through the gate and make your way towards Lublin Castle.

Lublin Castle

Perched on a hill, Lublin Castle stands as one of the architectural and historical symbols of the city. It is believed that an early medieval settlement existed on the castle hill as early as the 6th century AD. By the 12th century, the castellan had established his seat here, and the tower that still stands today was likely constructed in the 13th century. A significant turning point in the castle's history occurred in 1341, when the Tartars invaded Lublin. In response, King Casimir the Great ordered the construction of a brick castle to replace the earlier wooden structure.

The castle became a frequent residence for kings; Władysław Jagiełło visited often, and Jan Długosz, Polish chronicler, cared for the sons of Kazimierz Jagiellończyk for two years. In the 16th century, during the reign of Sigismund the Old, the castle underwent further reconstruction. Notably, on July 1, 1569, the Polish-Lithuanian Union was signed here during a general assembly attended by King Zygmunt August, marking the first genuine interstate union in Europe.

The castle fell into disrepair during the Swedish Deluge in the 17th century. It wasn’t until the 19th century that plans were made to construct a prison building to replace the ruins, resulting in a magnificent neo-Gothic structure designed by engineer Jan Stompf. From the mid-19th century until 1915, the castle housed mainly political prisoners, including Aleksander Głowacki (Bolesław Prus) and Andrzej Strug. Subsequently, it served as an investigative prison for the Gestapo, and later for the NKVD and Security Service.

In 1957, the Lublin Museum was established here, now known as the National Museum in Lublin, which boasts extensive collections in archaeology, numismatics, military history, and ethnography. The painting gallery features Jan Matejko's renowned work "Union of Lublin." While visiting Lublin Castle, be sure to explore the Holy Trinity Chapel, famous for its stunning Ruthenian-Byzantine frescoes.

 

On the castle hill, our walk comes to an end. Thank you for exploring with us.

 

This is just one of many fascinating itineraries. If you have more time, be sure to visit the Open Air Village Museum and the Botanical Garden of Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. Don’t forget to try the Lublin cebularz (wheat flatbread, sprinkled with onions and poppy seeds) and stop by the Regional Museum of Cebularz. The Zemborzycki Reservoir is an ideal spot for long walks or cycling trips. An important sightseeing destination in Lublin is the State Museum at Majdanek. 

 

See you again soon!