A lot of the industrial architecture those cosmopolitan pioneers left behind is no less impressive

today than in the past. There are more than 200 palaces and villas, religious buildings and cemeteries in Łódź. The city boasts of the largest Jewish cemetery in Europe and the famous Old Cemetery where Catholics, Protestants and Russian Orthodox believers are buried. Art Noveau residential buildings are being restored and industrial-era mansions are regaining their former splendour. The redeveloped facilities house apartments, retail centers, entertainment complexes, as well as cultural and artistic interiors. You won’t find anything like it anywhere else in the world. Particularly noteworthy are the Manufaktura retail and entertainment center, once the site of the manufacturing empire of textile magnate Izrael Poznański (1833-1900), and Księży Młyn (Prince’s Mill), housed in what used to be an industrial-residential district entirely owned by Poznański’s competitor Karol Scheibler (1820-1881). Łódź is home to no end of cultural and entertainment events and the city’s concerts, film, photo, music, and theatre festivals attract people from all over the globe. The most important festivals are the Festival of Dialogue of Four Cultures, Camerimage (International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography), the Explorers Festival, the Art Biennial, the International Festival of Photography, the International Festival of Comics, and the Film Music Festival. Łódź is famous for its film traditions. The Leon Schiller National School of Film, Television and Theatre is one of the best known and most prestigious in Europe. Internationally acclaimed directors Andrzej Wajda, Roman Polanski, Krzysztof Zanussi, Krzysztof Kieślowski and Kazimierz Kutz are among its graduates. The city has its own Walk of Fame on Piotrkowska Street, modeled after Hollywood Walk. Łódź Cinema Museum is the only one of its kind in the country and is a treasure-trove of Polish cinematic history. Piotrkowska Street, with its slew of stores and 100-plus pubs, clubs, restaurants and discotheques, is the city’s main entertainment area. The most famous clubs include Łódź Kaliska where art school students get together, Lizard King, a rock music hangout, Klub Jazzga, the place to be for jazz concerts and club events, Peron 6, which offers more than 160 kinds of beer, Irish Pub, Rolling Stone and Bagdad Cafe. Łódź was one of the first cities in Poland to apply for the title of European Capital of Culture 2016 and has been campaigning hard since January 2007. The city has the support of an honorary committee that includes film director Andrzej Wajda, translator and promoter of Polish literature Karl Dedecius, world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, Scottish artist and modern art collector Richard de Marco, and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, MEP. Moreover, the city’s promotional campaign has been enjoying the support of reliable Kapitan Kultura (Culture Captain) (www.kapitankultura.pl). The incomparably rich cultural and artistic life of Łódź with its countless entertainment venues make it far and away the best candidate for the European Capital of Culture 2016. But don’t take our word for it. See it all for yourself at www.cityoflodz.pl and www.lodz2016.com or, better still, come and visit the city. We guarantee that once you’ve seen it for the first time, you will surely want to return.