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Polish famous people - Lech Wałęsa

PL PRESENTATION/CATEGORY 10

Category 10

Lech Walesa

By Jakub K.

History

In August 1980 Walesa led the Gdansk shipyard strike which gave rise to a wave of strikes over much of the country with him seen as the leader. The primary demands were for workers' rights. The authorities were forced to capitulate and to negotiate with Walesa the Gdansk Agreement of August 31, 1980, which gave the workers the right to strike and to organise their own independent union.

In September 1981 he was elected Solidarity Chairman at the First National Solidarity Congress in Gdansk.

Wałęsa held his position until 13 December 1981, when General Jaruzelski declared martial law. Wałęsa, like many other Solidarity leaders and activists, was arrested

In November 1982 Walesa was released and reinstated at the Gdansk shipyards. Although kept under surveillance, he managed to maintain lively contact with Solidarity leaders in the underground. While martial law was lifted in July 1983, many of the restrictions were continued in civil code. In October 1983 the announcement of Walesa's Nobel prize raised the spirits of the underground movement, but the award was attacked by the government press.

In December 1988, Wałęsa co-founded the Solidarity Citizens' Committee. Theoretically it was merely an advisory body, but in practice it was a kind of political party and won the parliamentary elections in June 1989 . Wałęsa was one of Solidarity's most public figures; though he did not run for parliament himself, he was an active campaigner, appearing on many campaign posters. In fact, Solidarity winners in the Sejm elections were referred to as "Wałęsa's team" or "Lech's team," as all those who won had appeared on their election posters together with him.

In December 1990 in a general ballot he was elected President of the Republic of Poland. He served until defeated in the election of November 1995.

The greatest achievements

Establishment of of the first non-communist trade union behind the Iron Curtain in 1980.

Round-table talks that led to the first partially free elections in June 1989

NSZZ Solidarność Trade Union        

It was created by an agreement concluded in 1980 between Lech Walesa (Delegate workers) and representatives of the Communists. This ended a wave of strikes in August 1980

Polish landscape - Błędne Skały

PL PRESENTATION/CATEGORY 6

Category 6 Błędne Skały By Dawid Ś.

… have you ever thought… About a place where you can get lost?

About a place where you will go to… and never go back?

A place made by humans… to trap you for eternity?

...what about a place made by nature… a place which will never let you out?

WOULD YOU BELIEVE A PLACE LIKE THIS ACTUALLY EXISTS…?

 

 

BLEDNE SKALY

The Landscape

The name “Błędne skały” roughly translates into misleading rocks.

The name is made up after how the place is filled with all kinds of rocks which form multiple corridors that make it look like a labyrinth.

Location

Błędne skały is a place in the southwest part of Poland in Sudety środkowe of Mt.Stołowe. It’s placed near the border of Czech Republic, between Kudowa-Zdrój and Karłów. The place is 850m high, and it goes for 2.5km.

Creation

Thick layers of sandstone settled at the bottom of the sea. In the Tertiary they were lifted with Sudety mountains. Then the process of erosion began. As a result of different composition of single rock layers, spreading in 3 different directions, a few-metres deep corridors were created.

Interesting facts

The interesting thing is that the place was created only by nature, with no human interference whatsoever.  There are also many different types of rocks there and some of them even have their own names like Stołowy Głaz, Kurza Stopka or Kuchnia.

My opinion

I think the place is absolutely amazing. The idea of a naturally created labyrinth is one of the more interesting things nature can make. It really shows how nature can play with our world, to create all sorts of unimaginable things.

Polish cemetery - Skull Chapel in Czermna

 PL PRESENTATION/CATEGORY 4

Category 4

Skull Chapel in Czermna

By Kevin S

Do you know what could it be?? Still don’t know?? These are skulls. Skull Chapel in Czermna is a chapel situated in Kudowa Zdrój, Poland. This unusual chapel was built in 1776 by the local parish priest Wacław Tomaszek. It is the mass grave of people who died during the Thirty Years War (1618–1648), three Silesian Wars (1740–1763), as well as of people who died because of cholera epidemics and hunger. Together with J. Schmidt and J. Langer, Wacław Tomaszek collected the casualties bones and put them in the chapel. Walls of this small, baroque church are filled with three thousand skulls, and there are also bones of another 21 thousand people hidden in the basement of it. Every bone in this place is authentic. Skulls of people who created the chapel are put in the centre of it and placed on the altar. It is the only such monument in Poland, and one of three in Europe. It is situated in one of the oldest villages in Kłodzko County, near Kudowa Zdrój, in the Lower Silesia, Poland. And this is The Shrine of Skulls In chapel are also situated bones of: reaper Langer, Mayor of Czermna, 2 meters high Swede, and characteristical Tatar’s skull. Skull of Mayor Martinc have hole after bullet.While  Seven Years War austrian army was conducted by Mayor Martinc throught Błędne Skały. He was shot for it and his wife was hit by blunt thing when she tried to protect her husband.

 

 

 

Polish Statues - Stefan Czarniecki in Tykocin

PL PRESENTATION/CATEGORY 3

Category 3: Statues

Statue of Stefan Czarniecki in Tykocin

By Jakub G.

Stefan Czarniecki (*~1599 in Czarnca, + 16 II 1665 in Sokołówka) crown field hetman, foreman, governor. The owner of the Tykocin Lands, wich were given to him for his service. The hero of the “Swedish Deluge” and Chmielnicki revolt. Tykocin is a small city (population is almost 2000 people) in  eastern Poland in Podlaskie province. It was visited frequently by Polish kings and dukes.

The statue is outstanding, because its the oldest statue of secular person in Poland (the oldest is the statue of Zygmunt III Waza, but it was renewed after WWII, so generally speaking that one is the oldest ;] ). It was founded by Jan Klemens Branicki, grand-grandson of the Hetman, and was made by Pierre du Coudray, French sculptor between 1761-1763.  The statue is made of sandstone.  The hetman is holding  a golden mace- symbol of strength, power, and authority.

 

Polish castle - Malbork

PL PRESENTATION/CATEGORY 2

Category (2)
Malbork
by Patryk S.

Malbork Castle was founded in 1274-1457 by Teutonic Order, a German Roman Catholic religious order. It consists of three separate castles - the High, Middle and Lower Castles, separated by multiple dry moats and towers. It’s one of the biggest castles middle age’s castles in Europe.

Malbork Castle was built in Gothic architecture. It is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture. Gothic architecture is most familiar as the architecture of many of the great cathedrals, abbeys and churches of Europe. It is also the architecture of many castles, palaces, town halls, guild halls, universities and to a less prominent extent, private dwellings.

Most Gothic buildings in Poland are made of brick, and belong to the Baltic Bric Gothic, especially in northern Poland

It was first named Marienburg after the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the Order. Since 1945, when it became part of the nation of Poland after World War II, it has been called Malbork.

In 1410, after the Battle of Grunwald, castle was besieged by the armies of Władysław II Jagiełło and Vytautas the Great

in 1456, during the Thirteen Years' War castle was sold to polish king Kazimierz Jagiellończyk for 190 florins.

During the Thirty Years' War, in 1626 and 1629 Swedish forces occupied the castle. They invaded and occupied it again 1656 to 1660 during the Northern Wars.

After Prussia and the Russian Empire made the First Partition of Poland in 1772, the town became part of the Kingdom of Prussia province of West Prussia. At that time, the officials used the rather neglected castle as a poorhouse and barracks for the Prussian Army.

In 1945 during World War II combat in the area, more than half the castle was destroyed. At the conclusion of the war, the city of Marienburg and castle became part of Poland. A fire in 1959 caused further damage.

During siege of Malbork started 10 days after Battle of Grunwald in 1410 Happened something interesting. Armies of Jagiełło didn’t have enough infantry to storm such a big fortress. They blocked supply of food and started artillery fire with hope defenders will surrender. Plan of Teutonic fortress was widely known and they knew about the specific design of the Summer Refectory. With a single pillar holding ceiling, it could become a tomb for all the elders of Teutonic order, without which the defense of the castle would not be possible.  They brought great bombard and when in the Summer Refectory daily meeting took place, the polish agent showed cap in the window that was a sign for servant of bombard. Unfortunately ball missed the pillar. After that Henry von Plauen was talking it was miracle and God won’t allow to capture the castle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Czech cemeteries - The Jewish cemetery of Praha

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1RJR1ANOQI

Czech holidays - Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdDbPQuVOmU

Czech famous people - Jaromir Jagr

 

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French Actor - Catherine Deneuve

 
♥ Some of her movies :

- Les Parapluies De Cherbourg ( The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg), a musical film by Jacques Demy (1964).           

- Les Demoiselles De Rochefort (  The Young Girls of Rochefort), a musical film by Jacques Demy (1967)

- Peau D’Âne ( Donkey Skin), a musical film by Jacques Demy (1970)

- 8 Femmes ( 8 Women), a musical comedy film by  François Ozon ( 2001)

  
♦Her Awards

-César of the Best Actress in 1981 and 1993 for Dernier Métro (The Last Metro) and Indochine.

-The Palme D’Or of honnor in 2005.

 ♣ Her Lovers

- Roger Vadim ( director, she had one son with him)

- David Bailey ( photographer )

- Marcello Mastroianni ( actor, she had one daughter with him)

♠ Anecdote

- She was chosen in 1985 as model for the Marianne’s bust.

- She « won » 2 Gérards (= french equivalent of  Razzie awards, for the worst movies), one for Cyprien and for Après Lui .

 

♥ Quotes

« I don't see any reason for marriage when there is divorce. »

 « You suffer as an actor. It's difficult to be an actor and live a good life, especially today. »

Extract from her movies or commercials :

Paris by Catherine Deneuve : http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3hjmf_paris-by-catherine-deneuve-trailer_travel

Extract from "Les parapluies de Cherbourg" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs1NmsA-n-Y

Extract from "Les huit femmes": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttPhGfyyWQ4

French holidays - Noël

 
 
Why do people like it ?
At first, the day of christmas was a christian holiday, it was natural for practitioners to celebrate this holiday. Today, this date is especially appreciated by children for the gifts which are offered to them either the day before or in the morning. For adults, it's generally the family context which makes of Christmas holiday a festival appreciated.
 
 
 

What is the traditional Christmas food ?
The meal usually consists of a turkey for Christmas and ended with a Yule log. It can also be a goose. It is often preceded by a plate of seafood (oyster mostly). There is also a tradition known as the Thirteen desserts, in memory of Jesus and his twelve apostles, which comes from Provence (south of France.
 
Is christmas just commercial feast ?
Some people may think that Christmas is a commercial holiday. However it is a variable point of view. Even if it is true that the commercial side is important in this day, there is also a traditional and religious aspect.