Zgierz: Weaving History, Museums and Trails

Weavers’ Houses and the City’s History

The “Miasto Tkaczy” Cultural Park preserves the weavers’ houses and makes the influence of the weaving trade on Zgierz a starting point for exploring the city. The park hosts walks, workshops, exhibitions, and local events. The weavers’ house is also home to the Zgierska Pracownia Tkacka and the museum exhibition “Dziecięcy świat, zabawki z dawnych lat”. Educational activities for children and young people from Zgierz are held there regularly. If you are travelling with children, you can keep these activities in mind as a possible cultural element of your trip, while deciding whether to include other excursions or trails as well.

Another glimpse into the city’s history awaits at the Muzeum Miasta Zgierza. It is housed in the “Dom pod lwami”, a building constructed in 1828. The collection comprises around 5,000 objects relating to the history and present-day life of the city and the Powiat zgierski. It spans history and archaeology, ethnography and art, as well as numismatics. This gives visitors several ways to explore the area’s past and present, rather than limiting the city’s history to a single theme.

The historic urban landscape can also be read through its individual buildings. The town hall was built in the Empire style between 1846 and 1847, marking the end of the historic urban axis of Długa Street. The neo-Gothic Church of St Catherine was built between 1910 and 1920 to a design by engineer S. Lemene; its historic works of art include examples dating back to the 17th century. The Pomnik Stu Straconych monument commemorates the execution of 100 Poles on 20 March 1942. It was unveiled in 1969.

Hiking Trails and Cycling Routes

For active days, there are trails of different lengths to choose from. The blue Zgierz–Lućmierz hiking trail is around 16 kilometres long and leads to memorial sites commemorating the martyrdom of Poles. The green Zgierz–Rezerwat “Ciosny” hiking trail is around 9 kilometres long.

There are also several specific cycling options: the Zgierz–Kębliny–Dzierżązna–Zgierz circular route is 40 kilometres long, while the Zgierz–Gieczno–Rosanów–Zgierz route is 43 kilometres long. Zgierz is also one of the points on the blue-marked “W centrum Polski” cycling route. This route is over 300 kilometres long and passes through the Powiate kutnowski, łęczycki, and zgierski, as well as the city of Łódź. If you are planning a cycling trip, you can choose between the shorter named tours and this longer route.

Parks, Water and Trails into the Surrounding Area

With its picturesque pond and island, Park Miejski im. Tadeusza Kościuszki offers a different focus from the museums and historic buildings. The park is popular for Sunday walks. At the city pond, Marina–Przystań Zgierz rents out pedal boats and kayaks. You can treat culture and outdoor activities as different priorities for your trip without having to devote every day to a single programme.

Łaźnia Miejska opened in February 1929 and has a 10 × 17-metre indoor swimming pool. It is another specific place to visit in Zgierz, while hiking and cycling routes offer other ways to spend time actively. If Łódź is also one of your destinations, tram line 45 runs from Zgierz to Łódź. This connection may help you decide whether to make Zgierz the main focus of your trip or include Łódź in your plans.

For further orientation in the list of places: Głowno, Ozorków, Skórka, Zgierz, Aleksandrów Łódzki, Stryków, Leźnica Wielka, Sokolniki-Parcela, Lućmierz-Las, Rąbień, Smardzew and Sokolniki.

For the broader travel overview: Lodz.