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Ethnographic Park of Wielkopolska

August 31, 2013 by Lois Britton 3 Comments

The Ethnographic Park, one the largest open-air museums in Poland is only open during the summer, so today seemed like a good time to squeeze in a visit. Work on this project, to preserve the region’s folk culture, began in 1975, and the park was opened to visitors seven years later.

The displays consist of rural buildings, homes, barns, a church; moved from villages in Wielkapolska (this region of Poland) that date to the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. Most are constructed of timber with thatched roofs.

The church, complete with pipe organ
Kapliczli – little chapels, you see these everywhere in the countryside.

When Ed first arrived in Poland, someone told him that these roadside shrines were to bless your journey. I’ve just been doing some reading on the subject, and that seems to be a good quick answer.  They’re often near crossroads which were seen as dangerous spots.  You see these in every village, along the road as you’re driving though the farms, etc.  The color of the streamers all represent something: red – the suffering of Christ, blue and white are associate with the Virgin Mary, anyone know about the yellow?  There are so many and they seem to be used in so many ways, to express needs, gratefulness, or (along rivers) to invoke the patron saint against floods. I wonder if anyone has ever written their dissertation on the subject.

Hops – I seem to have a theme going this week
I’m a sucker for animal faces
They moved as far away as possible from the tracker plowing the field behind them
The windmill didn’t look so big until I saw Ed next to it
the stones outside the mill
a yoke and buckets for bringing water to the house

When we came to Poland, a friend recommend James Michner’s novel Poland, and I really enjoyed it. Poland was the only one of the author’s books I’ve been able to finish – get beyond the first chapter would be more accurate. The fictional characters are placed in well researched historical settings and involved the intertwining of lives through centuries.  From magnate and serf to farmer and communist party official, I can just see the earlier characters living and working in these buildings.

hundreds of cabbage heads, about to become a year’s supply of sauerkraut

The admission and parking fees are minimal, but it can be difficult to find.  This was our second attempt.  Ed did a lot of map study and with that preparation drove us right to the parking lot.  Let me give you the address for your GPS: Dziekanowice 23, 62-261 Lednogora.

This was the most surprising thing for me.  The pole attached to the ceiling beam with the wooden loop – it’s to hold the baby
Yep, pop the little one in there, I guess they can toddle around is circles, without getting under foot
Do widzenia
Lois Britton

An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com,  she loves connecting readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook, available on Amazon and on her website.

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Filed Under: Museums

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelley

    September 1, 2013 at 12:10 pm

    This has been on my bucket list of places to visit! After seeing the pictures I really need to see it now!

    Reply
  2. Lois B

    September 1, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Kelley – same for us and we're running out of time! They have a snack bar, and there are picnic tables near the windmills; it would be a nice place for a little picnic.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Inspired by the Polish Village of Zalipie - Polish Housewife says:
    November 2, 2018 at 8:22 am

    […] pictured something akin to the Ethnological Park of Wielkapolska, with a lot of whitewash and folk art added – a place where one could amble between one […]

    Reply

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