26 May 2016 - 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 April 29 to May 01 and were assisted by the MFA’s Protocol team led by Deputy Director Michael Kanabus.

Upon arrival in Wrocław, 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 Wrocław Mr. Rafal Dutkiewicz and the Chairman of the Wrocław City Council. The NFM Wrocław Philharmonic under the baton of Mr. Andrzej Kosendiak gave a mini-concert which was a suite from the film score Pan Tadeuz composed by Mr. Wojciech Killar.

The envoys went to the Wrocław University (Uniwersytet Wroclawski) and were welcomed by the Rector Professor Marek Bojarski who showed the university’s Aula Leopoldina, the university’s grand Baroque Ceremonial Hall which was named after Emperor Leopold.

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 against the Russian Army 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. 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 which now features a light and sound show using video-mapping technology. 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 Church of Peace in Swidnica 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 ambassadors were welcomed by a band of folk musicians and Mayor Tadeusz Wlazlak to the small spa town of Szczawno Zdroj (Szczawno Springs) in Watbrzych County. The first Mineral Water Pump House was built in about 1820 and is known for 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.” 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 Wrocław Opera House.

On May 01, 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. 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.” END