Archaeological museum in Biskupin (Part 1 - Neolithic long houses)

I will take you today to a unique place that every Polish child learns about at school. Biskupin is a small village where human settlements existed for the last twelve thousand (!) years. It is the most important archaeological site in the country. It is so amazing, that it deserves more than one post. You will not regret it, I promise. So ladies and gentleman - welcome to the Archaeological Museum in Biskupin.

Biskupin lies in the Wielkopolska region. Humans were living here for several thousand years. Therefore, it is possible to visit here villages from different periods.

We will start with a visit to the neolithic village where people lived some six thousand years ago.

They have lived in Biskupin in so-called long houses.

These are called long houses because, not surprisingly, they were up to thirty meters long.

They had the shape of a large trapezium, with the longer edge on the South part, where the main entrance was. This allowed to bring sunlight and warmth into the house.

Inside, the house was really large.

The little holes in the walls allowed to lit the place up. In winter time they were filled with straw to insulate from wind and cold.

On the other hand, the large holes in the floor were used as fridges. They would be covered with earth and experiments show that the temperature in such a neolithic fridge would be close to that in modern fridges we have in our houses.

What is interesting, archaeologists have found in the long houses pieces of ceramics but not fireplaces.

Neolithic humans were sleeping on beds made of branches and grass. Surprisingly comfortable.

And pretty warm if you would cover yourselves with animal furs.

You could also try to weave some linen clothes on those prehistoric looms.

Neolithic humans were hunters and farmers. When they were out of their long houses, they would stay in huts.

They could keep there also their fishing equipment.

What I found interesting is that they were fishing in boats made out of a single trunk of a tree, in which they would pick a whole to sit in.

If you are curious why the neolithic people have chosen Biskupin for their settlement, the main reason is actually water. Or more precisely this spring, which used to be the source of drinking water for inhabitants of Biskupin over severeal millenia. Many of them believed it to be a sacred place as well. So why don't we stop here today to meditate and feel the connection with the nature and our ancestors.

Kites' festival

I must tell you honestly that I am not a huge fan of autumn. When it gets dark and windy, my motivation to travel falls significantly and all I dream of is a warm blanket and a bucket of hot water.

But some humans manage to turn the biggest disadvantes of autumn into an opportunity for good fun. Windy autumn is the best time for a kite festival! If you want to play with kites, especially in a bigger group, you need space. A large field will be best.

First, the kites will pass by a jury who will assess the construction and the decorations. The two most popular shapes are a hexagon and a diamond.

Some participants prepared decorations which are cute and funny, like those smiling vegetables.

 Others decided to scare their opponents. Pirates of the air, ahoy!

Personally, I liked a lot this rose in a pot.

Finally, the jury calls the participants to move on their marks. The kites will fly on long string. They also have a tail, usually decorated with bows and fans.

 All participants are aligned in a row, ready to launch the kites.

And here they go!

I think that I know who might win this race, just look at this one, flying soooo high.

 In the end, windy autumn does offer some reasons to go outside.

Jasna Góra

It is hard to believe but almost six years have passed since we have visited Częstochowa with my friends from Postcrossing.com. When we were there, we did not visit the shrine of Jasna Góra, the most important place for all Catholics in Poland. We will visit it today.

The road to the shrine is bordered by national flags of all the pilgrims. Every year, three million pilgrims visit Częstochowa.

The main entrance is decorated with the coat of arms of the Polish Pope John Paul II. Totus tuus means "All yours".

The shrine of Jasna Góra is surrounded by tall walls. They used to protect the monks and the treasures of the shrine from military attacks. In 1655 Jasna Góra was under siege, when Swedish army has invaded Poland. The fact that the shrine did not surrender was the pivotal point of the war. Today, the moat outside the wall includes the stations of the Road of Cross. As you walk around, you can withes Jesus Christ falling ...

... and dying.

The beating heart of the shrine is the basilica. Here is the main entrance. On top you can see two sundials. Unfortunately, they do not work on a rainy day.

The first basilica was built in the sixteenth century. It was rebuilt a number of times, last time in baroque style.

But the most important place in the basilica is the side chapel. It is always full of people.

 They all came with one thought in their minds - to place all their hope in the queen of Jasna Góra.

The miraculous painting of Our Lady of Jasna Góra is a national treasure. One of the Polish Kings has officially declared her the Queen of Poland. Her dark face gave her the nickname "the Black Madonna".

And if you do not believe in miracles, just look on the walls. All those crutches were left here by people who do not need them anymore.

The walls of Jasna Góra are filled with items that the pilgrims leave to Our Lady so that she gives them what they need the most. You can find there gold, silver and jewellery.

But also modest wooden rosaries. Because Virgin Mary cherishes rosary beyond all human treasures.

Baden

Today we will walk through the city of Baden, in the Swiss canton Aargau, by the river Limmat. Baden means literally Baths and is a reference to hot sulphur waters that were recognised already by ancient Romans who called Baden Aquae Helveticae or otherwise Swiss Waters.  

You can walk through the health spa park if you wish, its focal point is the Grand Casino. 

Next to it, you will find several nice buildings in a style that is very Swiss in my eyes.

Sick people tend to look for support everywhere. So you will not be surprised that besides going to the health spa, they also prey. Baden offers a wide variety of service, just to name a synagogue ...

... and churches of many Christian confessions, both large and small.

Those of you who like me have spent some time in Switzerland must have realised quite quickly that the main street in town is usually called "Train station street". Baden has its Bahnhofstrasse as well.

The entrance is guarded by a tower, quite similar to those that we have seen in Bern or in Zug.

The residential buildings along the Bahnhofstrasse are renovated and often house exclusive boutiques.

Many of them have a name. And a date. Yes, this is not a mistake, it definitely says 1430. How many houses made of brick were there in your hometown six hundred years ago?

On the top of the hill you will notice the ruins of a castle. The Stein castle has been in ruins for three hundred year now so I guess we can skip the climbing up the hill.

As we move along the downtown, you can see same building as in most Swiss cities - nicely maintained residential building with window blinds.

But there is one special building in Baden that I wanted to show you. It is called Villa Boveri.

Villa Boveri used to be the house of the family of Walter Boveri, the co-founder of the engineering company Brown Boverie Cie (now part of ABB Group).

Inside, the original decorations were maintained.

So can you sit in this cosy living room and imagine yourself as a passionate inventor in the middle of the industrial revolution.

But the most amazing thing about the Villa is the park that surrounds it.

You can walk down the lanes and listen to the water pouring slowly from many fountains.

The park houses several statues.

It is full of flowers, even in late autumn. I have seen gardeners planting new ones even now!

I think that living in Villa Boveri must have been a great experience. Today, it is operated by a foundation and you can come here any time - admission is free!

Why don't we take a break and enjoy this chilly but sunny afternoon in the lovely Villa Boveri Park.