Lublin is undoubtedly worth a visit, even if it attracts fewer tourists than Krakow or Warsaw. Over the centuries it saw Polish and Jewish cultures harmoniously coexisting while the city’s fibre developed. The remnants of Lublin's past deserve exploration, even if the sprawling suburbs might at first restrain you from going deeper. Overcome the temptation of bypassing Lublin, its Old Town is charming, though a little decayed. Besides this, the city offers other attractions, including a wild nightlife and a multitude of friendly restaurants and cafes.
Tourism
Its picturesque Old Town, located on a low, rounded hill, boasts many outstanding sights, and looks like a ready-made medieval film set. You cannot miss the Dominican Church and the monumental neo-Gothic castle with its chapel decorated with 15th-century frescoes.
Although historically Lublin was located on the junction of several important trade routes, with direct access to Warsaw, Berlin, Kiev, Odessa, the poorly developed infrastructure has a disadvantageous impact on the development of the modern city. This can put off people visiting Lublin, although there are plans to build a new airport with international connections.
Geography
History
The history of Lublin began in the Middle Ages, when the town was a trade settlement and a guard post on the eastern border of a young Polish state. The first written information about it dates back to the 12th century, and then in 1317 it was granted city rights. Its position was favourable on the trade route to the Black Sea, while its peripheral location resulted in numerous invasions.
In the 15th century Lublin was fortified, strengthened with towers and gates, and a castle of brick was constructed. Now only one tower and the Gothic chapel with its extraordinary frescoes funded by King Wladyslaw Jagiello survive from the original building. This monarch was particularly gracious for the city, making it the capital of a province and granting it many privileges.
Lublin (uitspraak: ong. loeblien) is een stad in het oosten van Polen, de hoofdstad van het naar de stad genoemde woiwodschap (provincie) Lubelskie. Lublin is de grootste stad ten oosten van de Wisła, zo'n 150 km ten zuidoosten van de hoofdstad Warschau en 180 km ten noordwesten van de Oekraïense stad Lviv. Het is een belangrijk industrieel, administratief, cultureel en wetenschappelijk centrum.
Lublin is sinds 1805 de zetel van een rooms-katholiek bisschop, al heeft de stad ook een orthodoxe en Grieks-katholieke minderheid.
De stad heeft meerdere universiteiten, waaronder de Maria Curie-Skłodowska Universiteit (UMCS) en de Katholieke Universiteit Lublin (KUL). Deze laatste universiteit was de enige onafhankelijke universiteit in het Oostblok. Karol Wojtyła was aan de KUL verbonden toen hij in 1978 tot paus Johannes Paulus II gekozen werd.
Binnen de stadsgrenzen bevindt zich het terrein van het voormalige concentratie- en vernietigingskamp Majdanek.
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