Odra Trail – Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski [12]

pl en

A view of the Ostrów Tumski.

A view of the Ostrów Tumski.

 

 See location on the map

 

The Odra boulevard, with walking paths leading from Most Pokoju to Most Piaskowy, is part of nineteenth-century Old Town Promenade, built upon the site of the former city walls. A scenic mount – Polish Hill (Wzgórze Polskie) – was created after a partial demolition and backfilling of the Brick Bastion (Bastion Ceglarski) which was a part of the city fortifications.

 

Cruise ships harbour.

Cruise ships harbour.

 

Probably since 1358, at the place of today’s Market Harbour (Przystań Targowa), operated the oldest Wrocław port (since the sixteenth century its functions have been performed by the city port on Kępa Mieszczańska). Since the 1870s operated here one of the most important harbours for passenger steamships, which in summer travelled up the river regularly. Odra was full of tourist steamers, including Germania, Silesia, Oder or huge Traumschiff, which could take up to 500 people. Increased traffic on the Odra river in the second half of the nineteenth century was described by the German writer T. Fontane: Tugs and passenger boats go up and down, and pillars of smoke from the chimneys cast a shadow over sails of the ships that take cruises in whole squadrons.

 

A view of the boulevard on the Sand Island 1820-1840.

A view of the boulevard on the Sand Island 1820-1840.

 

Even in the nineteenth century seeing rafters drifting timber was no uncommon event. They came from Upper Silesia, were called Odrokowie, matackarzowie (from rafts called matacka) or Wasserpolocy (water Poles). Rafters would spend weeks sailing down the Odra river. At that time, they worked and lived on their rafts. In the evenings they started bonfires illuminating the river, and the water carried their songs: Our life is fun / we’re happy with our Odra river / want to swim at mataczka / for all our healthy years.

 

Timber drifting by the boulevard.

Timber drifting by the boulevard.

 

In June 2016 shortly after the refurbishment of wharfs and revitalization of the promenade, boulevard gathered the audience of many thousands on one of the biggest events of the European Capital of Culture – music and light show about the history of Wrocław, titled Flow. The river was not only the background, but also the heroine of the show, telling, among others, of the flood of the millennium, that took place in 1997.

 

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

 

At the foot of [Brick Bastion] Odra, silent, pliant, strongly in shores enclosed, saddled by a bridge, to rafts and galleys harnessed, not wide, but dark, opaque, as if to hide the secret depths in deceit.

F. Faleński, Tygodnik Ilustrowany, 1869. [unofficial translation]

 

One of the finest steamers, Germania.

One of the finest steamers, Germania.

 

A view of the boulevard from the air.

A view of the boulevard from the air.

 

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

 

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

 

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

 

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

 

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

 

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

 

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

 

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski

 

 

 

ODRA TRAIL:

  1. Stopień wodny Opatowice, Śluza Opatowice
  2. Stopień wodny Bartoszowice, Śluza Bartoszowice
  3. Przystań ZOO, Port STANICA, Port RANCZO
  4. Przystań Zwierzyniecka, Most Zwierzyniecki, Kanał Miejskiego
  5. Szczytniki Barrage, Szczytniki Lock
  6. Wyspiański Shore
  7. Ujście rzeki Oława, Port Węglowy, Odra Centrum
  8. Grunwaldzki Bridge
  9. Kanał Żeglugowy, Śluza Zacisze
  10. Boulevard of Lech and Maria Kaczyński
  11. Gondola Bay
  12. Boulevard of Xawery Dunikowski
  13. Włostowic boulevard
  14. Most Tumski, Mosty Młyńskiej
  15. Sand Bridge, the Tamka Island
  16. The upper barrage, Sand Lock
  17. Słodowa Island
  18. Most Uniwersytecki, Marina
  19. The lower barrage – Burgher’s Lock
  20. Mieszczański Stopień Wodny, Elektrownie wodne
  21. Port Miejski, Kępa Mieszczańska
  22. Stopień wodny Różanka, Śluza Różanka
  23. Barrage Psie Pole, The City Lock
  24. Most Milenijny, Zimowisko Barek Osobowice 1
  25. Port Popowice
  26. Zimowisko Barek Osobowice 1
  27. Stocznia Kozanów
  28. Stopień wodny Rędzin, Śluzy Rędzin
  29. Home page

 

 

See also our Partner: www.WroclawNadOdra.pl [eng]

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