Post by Bonobo on Nov 14, 2021 21:13:24 GMT 1
www.onet.pl/turystyka/idziemydalej/swidermajery-niszczeja-remont-jednego-oszacowano-na-10-mln-euro/3me50gw,30bc1058
Świdermajery are deteriorating. The renovation of one was estimated at EUR 10 million
"These are gems that Warsaw has not yet seen in this number and variety. Each of them entertains the eye with a beautiful form, stucco, carvings, upholstery ornaments or vivid color" - wrote Prus. Świdermajery , because we are talking about them, are light, wooden buildings, standing among pine forests on the so-called Otwock line. Their style was inspired by the construction of alpine shelters and Russian dachas . To this day, they are a showcase of several towns near Warsaw.
Joanna Kurcińska, Krzysztof Mańkowski
April 26, 2021, 11:26
The author of the humorous name świdermajer , which refers to the bourgeois style of Biedermeier and the river Świder, is Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński , who used it in his poem "Trip to Świdra" . And it should be emphasized right away that the świdermajery have nothing to do with the Biedermeiers.
A trip to Swider
is the residential village,
called menacingly borer,
a small river of the same on-bullish
shines for villas behind
here at night the August,
when the stars go,
dropping some of the stars,
but not for these villas,
fall without ex-plo-sia
the poor my head,
and villas in a dangerous style
as they are standing, so they stand -
day and night; and again at night a
faint glow illuminates them;
what im “Concerto grosso” by
Fryderyk Jerzy Handel!
These villas, according to the mayor,
are in the "świdermajer" style.
KONSTANTY ILDEFONS GAŁCZYŃSKI
Every year, the number of characteristic buildings decreases , and the fate of many of them is highly uncertain. That is why it is worth going to Otwock and the surrounding towns to see beautiful houses, villas and guest houses. Early spring is a good time for such a trip: at this time of the year, trees that are still bare after winter do not obstruct the view and it is easier to see architectural gems standing on wooded plots.
Otwock - the cradle of świdermajers
The area of today's Otwock was once covered with vast forests with coniferous trees. Thanks to the construction of Kolej Nadwiślańska , connecting Kowel with Mława, and thus Lublin with Warsaw, launched in 1877, the area attracted the first settlers, and soon Otwock became a sanatorium and health resort . Convenient access from the capital combined with the extraordinary climatic qualities of pine forests and the vicinity of the Świder River made it a popular summer resort . Already in 1893, thanks to Dr. Józef Marian Geisler, the first permanent lowland sanatorium was established here. This was met with some disbelief at first, as so far patients with tuberculosis had been sent to the mountains, but it soon turned out that treatment in Otwock brought similar results. Otwock was granted city rights in 1916, and the official status of a spa town in 1923 .
Michał Elwiro Andriolli - creator of the świdermajer style
There would be no beautiful wooden architecture in Otwock had it not been for Michał Elwiro Andriolli , an outstanding draftsman and illustrator, incl. Mickiewicz's "Pan Tadeusz". In 1880, he bought from Zygmunt Kurtz a property with an area of about 200 hectares, stretching on both sides of Świder . Andriolli called his estate the Shores . He decided to build there a manor house for himself and a dozen or so villas with a view to renting out to vacationers. He built some houses himself, and some of the buildings were erected on the basis of pavilions that were used during the Warsaw Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition in 1885. Andriolli brought them to Otwock and gave them a unique character by adding verandas and vestibules to them, as well as adding openwork decorations . They used to come to Brzegi for summer holidays, incl. Władysław Reymont, Józef Piłsudski, Henryk Sienkiewicz and Bolesław Prus.
The Nadświdrzański style , called the Świdermajer style in the post-war period , quickly gained many followers who began to build similar houses along the entire Otwock line.
What distinguishes the Świdermajer style?
Buildings in the świdermajer style , also called andriollowki after the first builder , were erected exclusively from pine wood . A typical villa of this type does not have brick elements, and individual storeys are distinguished by the direction of wooden beams on the facade. A characteristic element of this construction are gable roofs, bay windows, verandas, wooden shutters, as well as rich decorations .
The verandas, surrounded by openwork balustrades, were not only decorative, but also functional. You could spend whole days on them, lying down and breathing in the fresh air from pine forests. The verandas were usually wooden at the bottom and glazed at the top. It is worth paying attention to the stained glass, often colored, geometrically arranged panes. The verandas on the ground floor served as an additional exit, often connecting the house with a garden or forest. The holiday villas usually consisted of several rental apartments and usually each of them had a separate balcony.
Wooden shutters were necessary to secure the house in the winter season, when summer vacationers left Otwock until the next warm months. They were often painted blue.
Andriolli was also a pioneer of decorative elements. With the help of a special thin saw (called a laurel saw), which guaranteed precision, he cut out various ornaments in wood with plant or animal motifs - he was the author of some patterns, others he cut out of ready-made templates.
The style invented by Andriolli, drawing on Swiss houses, Russian dachas with regional elements, created a mixture that is completely exotic for Mazovia and unheard of in other Polish or even European resorts.
From the heyday to the fall of the świdermajer style
The greatest boom in construction in the Świdermajer style took place after the death of Andriolli in 1893. Not only summer houses were built in this style, but also pensions, sanatoriums, residential houses, schools and hospitals . According to some sources, before World War II, there were about 500 such buildings in Otwock alone , and probably several thousand in all the neighboring towns . Interestingly, the development of this style was largely influenced by the Jewish community, which at the beginning of the 20th century accounted for over half of all inhabitants of the town.
With time, Otwock became a popular summer resort and health resort. The extremely favorable microclimate allowed the development of sanatoriums. Until the outbreak of World War II, over 170 specialists practiced there. On one side of the Świder river , tuberculosis was treated, and on the other, people with cardiovascular problems, rhinitis and pharyngitis, neuroses, and convalescents were treated . In the interwar period, Otwock was able to host even twice the number of inhabitants, i.e. about 40,000. patients and holidaymakers. At that time, there were two hotels, 40 guesthouses, 1,300 villas and manors, as well as three restaurants and five eateries.
The outbreak of World War II interrupted the dynamic development of this unique spa and recreation center. Many wooden buildings were destroyed as a result of hostilities , and those that survived were established as communal premises . Flats were allocated to returning and new residents, although the conditions in them were not easy. Most of the houses were not adapted to living all year round, and in many of them there was no sewage system and running water.
Some of the buildings during the Polish People's Republic became slums, locally called "Beijing", others were destroyed as a result of fires. Unfortunately, today there is no trace of the first villas from Andriolli's colony . Houses with a soul, however, can still be admired not only in Otwock itself , but also in: Anin, Międzylesie, Radość, Miedzeszyn, Falenica, Michalin, Józefów, Świder situated on the route of the Otwock line.
Where to see the Świdermajer style buildings?
Wooden houses are scattered over a fairly large area on the Otwock line, but the largest clusters can be found in Otwock itself. It will be impossible to track them all, but by following the most popular route, the so-called On the Andriolli Route , you will have the opportunity to see a lot of beautiful buildings. It is also worth taking a look at Kościelna and Kościuszki Streets . At their intersection, there are drills representing various architectural styles. Also note the numbers of 14, 18, 19, 22 and 23 Kościelna Street and Kościuszko Street: 5, 7, 15, 19 and 21. Świdermajery can also be found at Warszawska and Wierzbowa Streets . On the other hand, Zaciszna Street is considered a model of the contemporary Świdermajer. The author of the designs of these houses isMarek Przepiórka , who is very close to the Świdermajer style, and who wants to save the characteristic Masovian style from oblivion.
Below you will find a map that shows the approximate direction of the trip. The route begins and ends at the Świder railway station , runs along ul. Majowa, Kraszewski, Wierzbowa and Mickiewicz. We also marked on the map all the buildings in Otwock entered in the provincial register of monuments in 2017, as well as other noteworthy buildings.
Coming back from Otwock, you can stop for a moment in Józefów to see a few stately houses. For example, Hanka's villa at 68 Wyszyńskiego Street or a characteristic villa with a turret at 65, 3 Maja Street. Several dozen numbers further, at 3 Maja 100, there is the Benkówka villa , one of the best-preserved houses in Józefów, which has belonged to Janusz Korwin since the 1980s -Mikke. On the other hand, on Zielona Street, there is the villa Irenka from 1900, which was recently entered in the register of monuments.
There are also a few gems in Radość. At 9 Drwali Street, there is a beautiful villa Flirtówek from 1929, which may look familiar to fans of the series "Father Mateusz" . It was not a typical summer resort, but it met the holiday needs of the owners' family. At 6 Herbaciana Street, there is the Lodusieńka larch villa , which survived the occupation, the stationing of Soviet troops at the end of the war, post-war vacancy, and then accommodation. Currently, it looks really impressive, and recently it houses the Museum of Military and History of Willa Lodusieńka. Villa Dianafrom 1916, at ul. Żwanowiecka 120/122 is one of the best-kept wooden clogs in Wawer. It used to be a hunting lodge and is said to have been arranged as such. You can also find two świdermajery at Kąkolowa 72B Street and at Halki Street (at the intersection with Jagoda). It is also worth taking a look at Zasobna 46/48 - the building at this address is entered in the register of monuments.
When it comes to Anin, you should take a walk along the Poprzeczne streets when looking for Świdermajerów. You can find a few treasures at IV Poprzeczna Street (No. 5), V Poprzeczna Street and VI Poprzeczna Street at the intersection with Trawiasta, as well as X Transrzeczna Street (No. 12).
These are of course only examples, and wooden houses can also be found in Falenica and other towns along the Otwock line.
Świdermajery and tourism
Świdermajery is a huge, though completely untapped tourist potential . The cities located along the Otwock line are really charming and encourage walks. Unfortunately, the historic, wooden architecture is treated negligently by the city authorities. There is a lack of markings, maps, information facilitating orientation in the field, and above all, precisely marked trails . The approach of the city authorities is best illustrated by the fact that on the official website of Otwock, in the description of the "Andriolli route", we can find completely outdated data (as of April 26, 2021). One of the main streets of the city is still called Świerczewskiego there, although in 2009 it was changed to John Paul II.
Even if you find an information board next to some of the buildings, it will be a unique sight. Of course, someone may say that wandering around the city and looking for drillers has its own charm, but in our opinion, it is asking for a few walking and cycling routes along the trail of wooden buildings. This could become a truly unique attraction of the region that could possibly help to save the cultural heritage .
ŚwidermajerŚwidermajer - Joanna Kurcińska, Krzysztof Mańkowski / We go further
Of course, you can try to plan the route according to the addresses we have provided and found on the Internet. Or you can simply adopt a strategy: walk without a map and with high probability you will find many beautiful buildings during this time. Although some of them are hidden between trees and not so easy to see them. The matter is not made easier by the fact that all the towns are scattered over a large area. During one trip, it is probably better to limit the selection to one place.
Świdermajer - what's next with beautiful wooden houses?
When visiting the villages on the Otwock line, it is hard to resist the impression that most of the wooden houses are in a very poor condition today . Approximately 400 buildings in total have survived in the entire region , of which 176 in Otwock were entered in the provincial register of monuments in 2017 . Unfortunately, literally only a few of them have been included in the register of monuments so far , thanks to which the conservation authorities receive the right to interfere with the monument (the entry itself in the register does not actually entail any consequences). Until now, property issues and many years of neglect, as well as the lack of institutional protection mean that the chances of saving świdermajerów decrease every year. Many houses are abandoned, as their condition was most likely unsuitable for further habitation, and the wooden structures are not protected against weather conditions in any way. Houses are often plundered and fires are not infrequent . In place of beautiful wooden houses, modern investments are being made, which will permanently change the character of the once summer resort.
Gurewicz - the most valuable treasure of Otwock
Fortunately, there are also buildings that please the eyes of passers-by and residents. Abram Gurewicz's guesthouse has undergone one of the most spectacular changes in recent years . The facility is located at the intersection of Filipowicza and Armii Krajowej Streets . It is the largest wooden building in Poland and one of the largest in Europe. It used to be a guest house and a medical and dietary facility, which could accommodate a total of 80 patients. They stayed there, among others Julian Tuwim and Janusz Korczak.
ŚwidermajerŚwidermajer - Joanna Kurcińska, Krzysztof Mańkowski / We go further
The building was built gradually between 1906 and 1921 and finally consists of seven wings. Inside there was a playroom, a concert hall, a dining room and a games room. The resort was surrounded by a beautiful English-style park with fragrant pine trees and exotic plants, including supposedly banana trees. By pre-war standards, it was very modern. The rooms had running water and central heating, and the guests could use the car and chauffeur services.
Unfortunately, the war put an end to the health resort's activities , and in the following years the building served as the headquarters, and then as a military hospital. In 1948, the Gurewicz family sold the entire property to the Warsaw Local Government Board. Then the Central Aviation Hospital operated here , and later the Medical Secondary School. In 1997, the building was taken over by the Polish Alzheimer's Foundation, but due to huge negligence, as a result of a court trial, it was recovered by the Poviat Starosty .
The renovation was valued at a minimum of EUR 10 million . Social activists and pop culture stars took part in saving the building, thanks to which it was entered in the register of monuments. This in turn meant that modernization of the building would have to follow strictly established procedures, which could further deter potential buyers.
But this story has a happy ending. After many tenders, the property was purchased by the car dealer Carolina Car Company, who decided to create a modern orthopedic clinic there. So you could say that history has come full circle. In addition, the building has a restaurant, a cafe with access to the garden and a conference center. The park at Nowy Gurewicz is open to everyone.
ŚwidermajerŚwidermajer - Joanna Kurcińska, Krzysztof Mańkowski / We go further
And if you want to get to know the course of works in detail, we encourage you to watch the material in which Agnieszka Kowalska talks with architects about the problems they encountered during the renovation:
When to go?
Świdermajery can be seen all year round. Winter and early spring are so much better than other seasons that it is easier to see houses hidden among trees. On the other hand, in summer, a trip to Otwock can be combined with a picnic by Świder, and thus you can feel the atmosphere of the former summer resort.
ŚwidermajerŚwidermajer - Joanna Kurcińska, Krzysztof Mańkowski / We go further
How to get to the towns located on the Otwock line?
As the name suggests, the village on the Otwock line can be reached by a suburban train. Otwock - the southernmost point, is about 25 km from the center of the capital. Other stations in the direction of Warsaw that are worth considering are Świder, Józefów, Michalin, Warszawa-Falenica, Warszawa-Miedzeszyn, Warszawa-Radość, Warszawa-Międzylesie, Warszawa-Anin and Warszawa-Wawer.
All these places can also be easily reached by car. A good solution is also a bicycle trip, for example along Wał Miedzeszyński.
Where to eat
Świder Food Truck is the first food truck in Warsaw (or perhaps in Poland) serving dishes inspired by Jewish cuisine. It is best to check the current location of the food truck on a regular basis on Facebook - swiderfoodtruck. The foodtruck serves, among others, burgers and wraps, as well as the iconic sandwiches with rye bread, sauerkraut and pastrami, as well as cholent and goose pipettes.
Świdermajery are deteriorating. The renovation of one was estimated at EUR 10 million
"These are gems that Warsaw has not yet seen in this number and variety. Each of them entertains the eye with a beautiful form, stucco, carvings, upholstery ornaments or vivid color" - wrote Prus. Świdermajery , because we are talking about them, are light, wooden buildings, standing among pine forests on the so-called Otwock line. Their style was inspired by the construction of alpine shelters and Russian dachas . To this day, they are a showcase of several towns near Warsaw.
Joanna Kurcińska, Krzysztof Mańkowski
April 26, 2021, 11:26
The author of the humorous name świdermajer , which refers to the bourgeois style of Biedermeier and the river Świder, is Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński , who used it in his poem "Trip to Świdra" . And it should be emphasized right away that the świdermajery have nothing to do with the Biedermeiers.
A trip to Swider
is the residential village,
called menacingly borer,
a small river of the same on-bullish
shines for villas behind
here at night the August,
when the stars go,
dropping some of the stars,
but not for these villas,
fall without ex-plo-sia
the poor my head,
and villas in a dangerous style
as they are standing, so they stand -
day and night; and again at night a
faint glow illuminates them;
what im “Concerto grosso” by
Fryderyk Jerzy Handel!
These villas, according to the mayor,
are in the "świdermajer" style.
KONSTANTY ILDEFONS GAŁCZYŃSKI
Every year, the number of characteristic buildings decreases , and the fate of many of them is highly uncertain. That is why it is worth going to Otwock and the surrounding towns to see beautiful houses, villas and guest houses. Early spring is a good time for such a trip: at this time of the year, trees that are still bare after winter do not obstruct the view and it is easier to see architectural gems standing on wooded plots.
Otwock - the cradle of świdermajers
The area of today's Otwock was once covered with vast forests with coniferous trees. Thanks to the construction of Kolej Nadwiślańska , connecting Kowel with Mława, and thus Lublin with Warsaw, launched in 1877, the area attracted the first settlers, and soon Otwock became a sanatorium and health resort . Convenient access from the capital combined with the extraordinary climatic qualities of pine forests and the vicinity of the Świder River made it a popular summer resort . Already in 1893, thanks to Dr. Józef Marian Geisler, the first permanent lowland sanatorium was established here. This was met with some disbelief at first, as so far patients with tuberculosis had been sent to the mountains, but it soon turned out that treatment in Otwock brought similar results. Otwock was granted city rights in 1916, and the official status of a spa town in 1923 .
Michał Elwiro Andriolli - creator of the świdermajer style
There would be no beautiful wooden architecture in Otwock had it not been for Michał Elwiro Andriolli , an outstanding draftsman and illustrator, incl. Mickiewicz's "Pan Tadeusz". In 1880, he bought from Zygmunt Kurtz a property with an area of about 200 hectares, stretching on both sides of Świder . Andriolli called his estate the Shores . He decided to build there a manor house for himself and a dozen or so villas with a view to renting out to vacationers. He built some houses himself, and some of the buildings were erected on the basis of pavilions that were used during the Warsaw Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition in 1885. Andriolli brought them to Otwock and gave them a unique character by adding verandas and vestibules to them, as well as adding openwork decorations . They used to come to Brzegi for summer holidays, incl. Władysław Reymont, Józef Piłsudski, Henryk Sienkiewicz and Bolesław Prus.
The Nadświdrzański style , called the Świdermajer style in the post-war period , quickly gained many followers who began to build similar houses along the entire Otwock line.
What distinguishes the Świdermajer style?
Buildings in the świdermajer style , also called andriollowki after the first builder , were erected exclusively from pine wood . A typical villa of this type does not have brick elements, and individual storeys are distinguished by the direction of wooden beams on the facade. A characteristic element of this construction are gable roofs, bay windows, verandas, wooden shutters, as well as rich decorations .
The verandas, surrounded by openwork balustrades, were not only decorative, but also functional. You could spend whole days on them, lying down and breathing in the fresh air from pine forests. The verandas were usually wooden at the bottom and glazed at the top. It is worth paying attention to the stained glass, often colored, geometrically arranged panes. The verandas on the ground floor served as an additional exit, often connecting the house with a garden or forest. The holiday villas usually consisted of several rental apartments and usually each of them had a separate balcony.
Wooden shutters were necessary to secure the house in the winter season, when summer vacationers left Otwock until the next warm months. They were often painted blue.
Andriolli was also a pioneer of decorative elements. With the help of a special thin saw (called a laurel saw), which guaranteed precision, he cut out various ornaments in wood with plant or animal motifs - he was the author of some patterns, others he cut out of ready-made templates.
The style invented by Andriolli, drawing on Swiss houses, Russian dachas with regional elements, created a mixture that is completely exotic for Mazovia and unheard of in other Polish or even European resorts.
From the heyday to the fall of the świdermajer style
The greatest boom in construction in the Świdermajer style took place after the death of Andriolli in 1893. Not only summer houses were built in this style, but also pensions, sanatoriums, residential houses, schools and hospitals . According to some sources, before World War II, there were about 500 such buildings in Otwock alone , and probably several thousand in all the neighboring towns . Interestingly, the development of this style was largely influenced by the Jewish community, which at the beginning of the 20th century accounted for over half of all inhabitants of the town.
With time, Otwock became a popular summer resort and health resort. The extremely favorable microclimate allowed the development of sanatoriums. Until the outbreak of World War II, over 170 specialists practiced there. On one side of the Świder river , tuberculosis was treated, and on the other, people with cardiovascular problems, rhinitis and pharyngitis, neuroses, and convalescents were treated . In the interwar period, Otwock was able to host even twice the number of inhabitants, i.e. about 40,000. patients and holidaymakers. At that time, there were two hotels, 40 guesthouses, 1,300 villas and manors, as well as three restaurants and five eateries.
The outbreak of World War II interrupted the dynamic development of this unique spa and recreation center. Many wooden buildings were destroyed as a result of hostilities , and those that survived were established as communal premises . Flats were allocated to returning and new residents, although the conditions in them were not easy. Most of the houses were not adapted to living all year round, and in many of them there was no sewage system and running water.
Some of the buildings during the Polish People's Republic became slums, locally called "Beijing", others were destroyed as a result of fires. Unfortunately, today there is no trace of the first villas from Andriolli's colony . Houses with a soul, however, can still be admired not only in Otwock itself , but also in: Anin, Międzylesie, Radość, Miedzeszyn, Falenica, Michalin, Józefów, Świder situated on the route of the Otwock line.
Where to see the Świdermajer style buildings?
Wooden houses are scattered over a fairly large area on the Otwock line, but the largest clusters can be found in Otwock itself. It will be impossible to track them all, but by following the most popular route, the so-called On the Andriolli Route , you will have the opportunity to see a lot of beautiful buildings. It is also worth taking a look at Kościelna and Kościuszki Streets . At their intersection, there are drills representing various architectural styles. Also note the numbers of 14, 18, 19, 22 and 23 Kościelna Street and Kościuszko Street: 5, 7, 15, 19 and 21. Świdermajery can also be found at Warszawska and Wierzbowa Streets . On the other hand, Zaciszna Street is considered a model of the contemporary Świdermajer. The author of the designs of these houses isMarek Przepiórka , who is very close to the Świdermajer style, and who wants to save the characteristic Masovian style from oblivion.
Below you will find a map that shows the approximate direction of the trip. The route begins and ends at the Świder railway station , runs along ul. Majowa, Kraszewski, Wierzbowa and Mickiewicz. We also marked on the map all the buildings in Otwock entered in the provincial register of monuments in 2017, as well as other noteworthy buildings.
Coming back from Otwock, you can stop for a moment in Józefów to see a few stately houses. For example, Hanka's villa at 68 Wyszyńskiego Street or a characteristic villa with a turret at 65, 3 Maja Street. Several dozen numbers further, at 3 Maja 100, there is the Benkówka villa , one of the best-preserved houses in Józefów, which has belonged to Janusz Korwin since the 1980s -Mikke. On the other hand, on Zielona Street, there is the villa Irenka from 1900, which was recently entered in the register of monuments.
There are also a few gems in Radość. At 9 Drwali Street, there is a beautiful villa Flirtówek from 1929, which may look familiar to fans of the series "Father Mateusz" . It was not a typical summer resort, but it met the holiday needs of the owners' family. At 6 Herbaciana Street, there is the Lodusieńka larch villa , which survived the occupation, the stationing of Soviet troops at the end of the war, post-war vacancy, and then accommodation. Currently, it looks really impressive, and recently it houses the Museum of Military and History of Willa Lodusieńka. Villa Dianafrom 1916, at ul. Żwanowiecka 120/122 is one of the best-kept wooden clogs in Wawer. It used to be a hunting lodge and is said to have been arranged as such. You can also find two świdermajery at Kąkolowa 72B Street and at Halki Street (at the intersection with Jagoda). It is also worth taking a look at Zasobna 46/48 - the building at this address is entered in the register of monuments.
When it comes to Anin, you should take a walk along the Poprzeczne streets when looking for Świdermajerów. You can find a few treasures at IV Poprzeczna Street (No. 5), V Poprzeczna Street and VI Poprzeczna Street at the intersection with Trawiasta, as well as X Transrzeczna Street (No. 12).
These are of course only examples, and wooden houses can also be found in Falenica and other towns along the Otwock line.
Świdermajery and tourism
Świdermajery is a huge, though completely untapped tourist potential . The cities located along the Otwock line are really charming and encourage walks. Unfortunately, the historic, wooden architecture is treated negligently by the city authorities. There is a lack of markings, maps, information facilitating orientation in the field, and above all, precisely marked trails . The approach of the city authorities is best illustrated by the fact that on the official website of Otwock, in the description of the "Andriolli route", we can find completely outdated data (as of April 26, 2021). One of the main streets of the city is still called Świerczewskiego there, although in 2009 it was changed to John Paul II.
Even if you find an information board next to some of the buildings, it will be a unique sight. Of course, someone may say that wandering around the city and looking for drillers has its own charm, but in our opinion, it is asking for a few walking and cycling routes along the trail of wooden buildings. This could become a truly unique attraction of the region that could possibly help to save the cultural heritage .
ŚwidermajerŚwidermajer - Joanna Kurcińska, Krzysztof Mańkowski / We go further
Of course, you can try to plan the route according to the addresses we have provided and found on the Internet. Or you can simply adopt a strategy: walk without a map and with high probability you will find many beautiful buildings during this time. Although some of them are hidden between trees and not so easy to see them. The matter is not made easier by the fact that all the towns are scattered over a large area. During one trip, it is probably better to limit the selection to one place.
Świdermajer - what's next with beautiful wooden houses?
When visiting the villages on the Otwock line, it is hard to resist the impression that most of the wooden houses are in a very poor condition today . Approximately 400 buildings in total have survived in the entire region , of which 176 in Otwock were entered in the provincial register of monuments in 2017 . Unfortunately, literally only a few of them have been included in the register of monuments so far , thanks to which the conservation authorities receive the right to interfere with the monument (the entry itself in the register does not actually entail any consequences). Until now, property issues and many years of neglect, as well as the lack of institutional protection mean that the chances of saving świdermajerów decrease every year. Many houses are abandoned, as their condition was most likely unsuitable for further habitation, and the wooden structures are not protected against weather conditions in any way. Houses are often plundered and fires are not infrequent . In place of beautiful wooden houses, modern investments are being made, which will permanently change the character of the once summer resort.
Gurewicz - the most valuable treasure of Otwock
Fortunately, there are also buildings that please the eyes of passers-by and residents. Abram Gurewicz's guesthouse has undergone one of the most spectacular changes in recent years . The facility is located at the intersection of Filipowicza and Armii Krajowej Streets . It is the largest wooden building in Poland and one of the largest in Europe. It used to be a guest house and a medical and dietary facility, which could accommodate a total of 80 patients. They stayed there, among others Julian Tuwim and Janusz Korczak.
ŚwidermajerŚwidermajer - Joanna Kurcińska, Krzysztof Mańkowski / We go further
The building was built gradually between 1906 and 1921 and finally consists of seven wings. Inside there was a playroom, a concert hall, a dining room and a games room. The resort was surrounded by a beautiful English-style park with fragrant pine trees and exotic plants, including supposedly banana trees. By pre-war standards, it was very modern. The rooms had running water and central heating, and the guests could use the car and chauffeur services.
Unfortunately, the war put an end to the health resort's activities , and in the following years the building served as the headquarters, and then as a military hospital. In 1948, the Gurewicz family sold the entire property to the Warsaw Local Government Board. Then the Central Aviation Hospital operated here , and later the Medical Secondary School. In 1997, the building was taken over by the Polish Alzheimer's Foundation, but due to huge negligence, as a result of a court trial, it was recovered by the Poviat Starosty .
The renovation was valued at a minimum of EUR 10 million . Social activists and pop culture stars took part in saving the building, thanks to which it was entered in the register of monuments. This in turn meant that modernization of the building would have to follow strictly established procedures, which could further deter potential buyers.
But this story has a happy ending. After many tenders, the property was purchased by the car dealer Carolina Car Company, who decided to create a modern orthopedic clinic there. So you could say that history has come full circle. In addition, the building has a restaurant, a cafe with access to the garden and a conference center. The park at Nowy Gurewicz is open to everyone.
ŚwidermajerŚwidermajer - Joanna Kurcińska, Krzysztof Mańkowski / We go further
And if you want to get to know the course of works in detail, we encourage you to watch the material in which Agnieszka Kowalska talks with architects about the problems they encountered during the renovation:
When to go?
Świdermajery can be seen all year round. Winter and early spring are so much better than other seasons that it is easier to see houses hidden among trees. On the other hand, in summer, a trip to Otwock can be combined with a picnic by Świder, and thus you can feel the atmosphere of the former summer resort.
ŚwidermajerŚwidermajer - Joanna Kurcińska, Krzysztof Mańkowski / We go further
How to get to the towns located on the Otwock line?
As the name suggests, the village on the Otwock line can be reached by a suburban train. Otwock - the southernmost point, is about 25 km from the center of the capital. Other stations in the direction of Warsaw that are worth considering are Świder, Józefów, Michalin, Warszawa-Falenica, Warszawa-Miedzeszyn, Warszawa-Radość, Warszawa-Międzylesie, Warszawa-Anin and Warszawa-Wawer.
All these places can also be easily reached by car. A good solution is also a bicycle trip, for example along Wał Miedzeszyński.
Where to eat
Świder Food Truck is the first food truck in Warsaw (or perhaps in Poland) serving dishes inspired by Jewish cuisine. It is best to check the current location of the food truck on a regular basis on Facebook - swiderfoodtruck. The foodtruck serves, among others, burgers and wraps, as well as the iconic sandwiches with rye bread, sauerkraut and pastrami, as well as cholent and goose pipettes.