Philippine envoy to Poland Ambassador Patricia Ann V. Paez together with other ambassadors accredited to Poland visited Dolnoslaskie/Lower Silesia Voivodeship and discovered its rich heritage and multifaceted wonders. Upon the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Poland, the envoys visited the Lower Silesia Voivodeship from 29 April to 01 May and were assisted by the MFA’s Protocol team led by Deputy Director Michael Kanabus. Upon arrival in Wroclaw, the ambassadors headed to the National Forum of Music (NFM) where they were welcomed by the Marshal of the Lower Silesia Voivodeship Mr. Cezary Przybylski, the Mayor of the City of Wroclaw Mr. Rafal Dutkiewicz and the Chairman of the Wroclaw City Council.

The envoys went to the Wroclaw University (Uniwersytet Wroclawski) and were welcomed by the Rector Professor Marek Bojarski who showed the university’s Aula Leopoldina. It is the university’s grand Baroque Ceremonial Hall which was named after Emperor Leopold who gave land grant for a castle of the Piast dynasty, on which now stands the university which was founded by the Jesuits in 1670.

The ambassadors then went to the Panorama of the Batlle of Raclawicka which is the oldest and only existing example of 19th century panorama painting in Poland. It was conceived by painter Jan Styka to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the victory of the Polish insurrectionist forces composed of regular soldiers and peasant volunteers led by Gen. Kosciuszko against the Russian Army led by Gen. Tormasov who fought in Raclawicka on April 4, 1794. Jan Styka worked with renowned battle painter Wojciech Kossak and the panorama painting was officially unveiled on June 5, 1894.

They also went to the Centennial Hall and Discovery Center (Hala Stulecia). The Hall was completed in 1913 through the collaboration of Max Berg, the city’s official architect and another architect Hans Poelzig. It can accommodate an estimated 10,000 people and was used by Adolf Hitler for political rallies. Listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, the Hall is hailed as “one of the most important architectural monuments of the early 20th century.” In later years, it underwent a major renovation. It now features a light and sound show under its dome which used video-mapping technology. The complex light show, which is choreographed to music, highlights the uniqueness of the structure. Lower Silesia Voivode Pawel Hreniak hosted a dinner for the ambassadors at the Pergola Restaurant of the Centennial Hall.

On 30 April, the ambassadors visited the Ksiaz Castle at Walbrrzych, the Church of Peace at Swidnica and a mineral water facility at Szczawno Zdroj. Ksiaz Castle is the third largest castle in Poland and is surrounded by forest within a nature reserve. Originally a fortified fortress, it was “transformed into an aristocratic residence by one of Europe’s most powerful families, the von Hochbergs.” During the envoys’ visit, the castle was hosting its 28th Flowers and Arts Festival.

The ambassadors visited the Church of Peace in Swidnica which is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. It is the largest wooden church in Europe which can accommodate 7,500 worshippers. Its altar was installed in 1752 and was the work of Dresden sculptor August Gottfried Hoffman. The church’s original Baroque organ which was installed in 1666 still works.

The ambassadors proceeded to the small spa town of Szczawno Zdroj (Szczawno Springs) in Watbrzych County and were welcomed by a band of folk musicians and Mayor Tadeusz Wlazlak. The town has “naturally carbonated spring water which is high in bicarbonates, sodium, calcium, and magnesium.

The first Mineral Water Pump House was built in about 1820 and has a deep well inside. The “healing properties of (its) mineral waters have been known and used for centuries but were first examined by a court physician Hochberg-Caspar Schwencfeldt” and since 1816, there has been intensive development of the spa. The spa theatre which was built in 1896 is still being actively used as a venue for cultural performances and events. In the evening, the ambassadors were invited to the premiere performance of “The Pearl Fishers” opera by Georges Bizet at the Wroclaw Opera House. One of the main actors was a guest artist from South Korea.

On 01 May, the ambassadors went to Ruda Sulowska and toured the MIlicz Ponds which is the largest complex of about 285 fishponds in Europe. The fishponds were started in the 13th century by the Cisterian monks to stock fish, specifically carp, for human consumption. Covering an estimated 77 square kilometers, the fishponds are drained once in year, sometime between September and October, to collect the carp and other fishes for consumption. About 2,000 tons of fish, mostly carp are “harvested” every year. The site was designated as a nature reserve in 1963 and is now part of a “larger protected area known as the Barycz Valley Landscape Park which has six important bird areas.”