A TRIP ROUTE
EVENTS FROM THE PAST
ORP Orzeł was a torpedo submarine, which was launched in 1938 at the Dutch shipyard De Schelde. The ship was 84 meters long and developed speeds of 19.44 knots on the surface and 8.9 knots in draft. It was armed with 20 torpedoes fired from 12 launchers. In 1939, the ship was officially incorporated into the Navy and was part of the Submarine Squadron. ORP Orzel took part in the initial period of the defense of the Coast, and on September 15, 1939, due to pressure from the German Reich, he was interned in Tallinn. Commanded by Capt. Navy of Jan Grudziński, the disarmed ship became famous for her daring escape to Great Britain, from where she continued the fight at sea alongside the Royal Navy. These events became a pretext for the establishment of Soviet military bases in Eastonia, and then incorporation into the Soviet Union.INTERESTING STORIES
The history of Poles in Estonia dates back to the 16th century. At that time, the southern territories of present-day Estonia belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. By the decision of the Polish king Stefan Batory, a Jesuit center was established in Dorpat (now Tartu), later transformed into a college, and during the reign of Gustav II Adolf into a university. During the partitions, when the language of instruction was not Russian, but German, many prominent Poles graduated from this university, including Benedykt Dybowski, Aleksander Czekanowski, Bolesław Limanowski, Józef Siemiradzki, Tytus Chałubiński and Stanisław Wojciechowski (later president of the Second Polish Republic). It was in Dorpat that the first Polish academic corporation "Konwent Polonia" was established, as well as organizations such as the Circle of Polish Youth and the Society of Polish Theologians. University graduates, known as "Dorpatczyks", established the intellectual and scientific elite in independent Poland.IT IS WORTH KNOWING
Stanisław August Poniatowski died in Petersburg on February 12, 1798 as a result of an attack of apoplexy. The body of the ruler in the uniform of an officer of the Polish Crown Guard and with a crown on his head was displayed in a specially prepared funeral chapel. Tsar Paul I, who suspected that the Polish king might be his biological father, gave him a dignified funeral, which took place on March 5 at the Catholic church of St. Catherine. The ceremony was truly royal. The highest officers were on guard at the coffin, the army presented weapons and fired an honorable salvo three times, and next to the coffin, Tsar Paul I rode a horse. they were quickly destroyed. In connection with plans to demolish the church, the Soviet authorities handed over the royal ashes to the Polish side in July 1938. In 1995, the ruler's ashes were buried in a symbolic tomb in the basement of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Warsaw.INTERESTING FACTS
While in St. Petersburg, I decided to visit Pskov. Since the Polish king Stafan Batory was there, I wanted to. Everyone knows the painting by Jan Matejko entitled "Batory at Pskov" describing the events of the Polish-Moscow war over Livonia, waged at the end of the 16th century. The scene presented by the artist comes from the final period of negotiations leading to the conclusion of peace in Jam Zapolski. The picture was supposed to remind us of the glory of the Republic of Poland in the period of the "golden age". The meaning of the work is emphasized by the bent necks of Moscow envoys before the king, who represents the majesty of the Polish state. This sight undoubtedly helped to refresh the hearts of my countrymen during the partitions. Today, too, little remains of the former power of the Pskov Republic. The neglected provincial city has only a few dozen churches and impressive defensive walls. In one of its episodes, you can still see the traces of the breach made by Poles during the memorable assault on September 8, 1581.May 2016
I used this year's picnic to continue visiting the Baltic states. As Estonia does not have many attractions, during the trip I made a one-day ferry trip to the capital of Finland, and visited the North-West Region of the Russian Federation.
After reading some of the entries on travel forums, I was a bit afraid of going to Russia, but completely unnecessarily. Apart from the meticulous triple control of the border crossing with Estonia in Koidula, there were no problems. Russians like others, want to earn money from tourists, but everything within the limits of decency. Petersburg is dazzling, but in small towns and villages you can see poverty after leaving the market square. But it is precisely such small towns as Pskov or Pechory that are full of charm and not yet contaminated with commercialism.ESTONIA
Tallinn
Of the cities in the Baltic countries that I have visited, Tallinn charmed me the most . Most of the tourist attractions are concentrated in the old town, which is an architectural gem. The most frequently recommended way of sightseeing by locals is hiding a guide in a backpack and walking along the picturesque streets of the old town. Wandering through the alleys of Hanseatic Tallinn, I got lost a few times, but that was the coolest thing.
Rocca al Mare
Rocca al Mare, located on the Kopli bay , was at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries the summer residence of a wealthy merchant fascinated by Italian culture, and now it houses the Estonian Village Museum. Despite the fact that open-air museums are not the first attractions to visit, I went there to take a break from the crowded Tallinn. The forest, peace and quiet fulfilled their task, and the original Estonian farmsteads, churches and windmills were worth the hardships of the trip.
Tartu
Visiting Tartu I was a bit disappointed. Considered as the intellectual and cultural capital of the country, the city does not have many attractions. The beautiful gothic church of St. Jana and the university. Tartu, once called Dorpat, also had a Polish episode. For several years, at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, it belonged to the Republic of Poland, and a memento of those times is the flag in Polish national colors given to the city by King Stefan Batory.
RUSSIA
St. Petersburg
Building the dream of Tsar Peter I cost the lives of nearly a hundred thousand people, but today no one remembers it. Petersburg delights and it has been recognized by Unesco as one of the greatest urban complexes in the world for a reason. I too succumbed to his charm. Two days to get to know the city is definitely not enough, but at least I managed to feel the atmosphere while walking along the embankments of the canals, Nevsky Prospect or admiring the collections of the Hermitage.
Tsarskoye Selo
The palace in Tsarskoye Selo is one of the most famous residences of the Romanovs. The palace complex, built in the 18th and 19th centuries, is on the Unesco World Heritage List. Although the entire palace is dazzling with splendor, the replica of the famous Amber Room made the biggest impression on me . The impressive work of Prussian craftsmen, a gift from Frederick I to Tsar Peter I, was lost during the last war and may be located in Poland.
Peterhof
Located on the Gulf of Finland, Peterhof was the suburban residence of Peter I. Although I did not have enough time to visit the palace interiors, I took a walk in the Upper and Lower Park, the greatest attraction of which is the Great Cascade. The system of fountains and dozens of gilded sculptures made an amazing impression on me. I also left the Tsar's egg a`la Faberge from my visit to the town.
Pskov
When a Russian whom I met during a trip around China asked me why he wanted to visit Pskov, I replied that if the Polish king Stefan Batory was there, I would like to. The morning walk along the banks of the Velikaja River was an amazing experience. The silence around and the domes of the orthodox church reflecting in the water made an amazing impression. The walls of Pskov even today look impressive and it is no wonder that the Poles did not manage to capture the city.
Pechory
When I was planning the route of the trip, Pechory was supposed to be only one part of the journey from Russia to Estonia. On the spot, however, I found out that the Pechorski Monastery, founded in the 14th century, is a place worth visiting by all means. Besieged by the Polish army during the Polish-Russian war at the end of the 16th century, the monastery delighted me with a sea of colorful domes and impressive defensive walls.
FINLAND
Helsinki
Helsinki is a bit like St. Petersburg, but far from the original. Unfortunately, I visited the capital of Finland on Monday, when all museums were closed. I was most impressed by the Temppeliaukion church carved in the rock and the monumental stairs in front of the cathedral, where the Finns celebrate the new year. However, I was disappointed visiting the Suomenlinna fortresses, but there is certainly an important reason why these fortifications, built in the 18th century, were included on the Unesco List.