Five things which you must see in Przemyśl

Founded over a century ago, today it has 200,000 exhibits in its holdings. These include a treasure considered to be one of the most valuable artefacts in Polish collections - an engraved gem made of heliotrope, which is a magic amulet from the Byzantine Empire, dating from the 11th or 12th century. There are only four similar gems in the world - in Ephesus, Oxford, Moscow and Maastricht. The fifth one was found in Przemyśl. It happened like this. A long time ago, an 8-year-old girl named Ewa found a pebble with mysterious signs in a pile of gravel brought from the San River to the backyard of a tenement house on Władycze Street. On one side of the pebble, someone had carved the head of Medusa surrounded by snakes, and on the other side, a figure of Holy Mary. Eve gave the pebble to her brother, and her brother sold it to a friend.

The purchaser, 14-year-old Kazimierz Osiński, was a passionate collector. Years later, in 1909, he was among the founders of the Museum initiated by the Przemyśl Society of Friends of Learning. Kazimierz and his brother Tadeusz donated their private collection, including this engraved gem, which soon became famous all over the world. During WWII, both the Germans and the Soviets searched for it in Przemyśl. Yet, the magic pebble safely survived the war, hidden by the museum employee Aniela Leśniak - she kept it in her hair wrapped in a bun. Today, the amulet is on display, as part of the permanent exhibition ‘Credo for Two Voices’. Those who hear its story reflect not only on the Byzantine methods of curing health problems, but also on the paths travelled by such valuable objects and by treasure seekers.

The National Museum of the Przemyśl Region at its main location at Berka Joselewicza Street also presents fascinating permanent exhibitions entitled The Story of the Jews in Przemyśl, The Old Classroom, The Crafts of Hutsul People, and The Shattered City. There are also interesting art vernissages, film screenings and discussions. At another location (Rynek 9) you can visit the Museum of Przemyśl History. In fact, all this is too much for just one visit, and there will be reasons to come back here many times.

If you want to find out how Przemyśl became rich, beautiful and famous, you should visit the cellars. The route leads through several underground corridors and chambers, as well as the old sanitary sewer, which shows that the sewage network was built here as early as 400 years ago, during the golden age of the town when it was one of the most important places in this part of Europe.

It watched over the border area and was an important trade centre. During this period, the local craftsmen of over 60 different specialities used to ship their products via the San River northward to Toruń and Gdańsk. Three languages were heard in the Town Square as Poles, Ruthenians and Jews lived here, bravely defending themselves against successive invasions. During a visit underground the sound of battles can be heard side by side with religious chants. The ancient walls of the underground route are furnished with many multimedia attractions - there are interactive screens, a magic mirror, as well as holographic displays. You can even print out a recipe from the famous herbarium of Master Syrenius and take it home with you along with unforgettable impressions..

It simply had to be created in this city famous for bell-founding and pipe making. It is located in a very special place, in the Clock Tower which is one of the most valuable landmarks here. It was built in 1777 on Władycze Street, inhabited mainly by the Ruthenians. They wanted to build a new Greek-Catholic church, and started with the construction of the Baroque bell tower. However, the whole project ended there, because the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, who had promised funds for the tserkva, passed away and her successor Joseph II preferred to offer the Ruthenians an existing church rather than give them more money.

This way they acquired the former Carmelite church, and the abandoned 38-metre tall belfry was taken over by the city. It was used as a fire watchtower. There was also a time when the city guard would play the town’s bugle call from here. Now tourists can admire the panorama of the old Przemyśl from the upper terrace. The museum opened here after renovation in 2002. It is a tribute to the old masters of bell-founding and pipe making in Przemyśl. The renowned Felczyński family have been producing bells here for over 200 years. In 1927, at an exhibition in Paris, the company won the Grand Prix. They have created works as unique as the largest Polish bell, Joseph, weighing over 11 tonnes, for the sanctuary in Licheń.

The bronze bells from Przemyśl can be heard in churches on almost all continents. The products of the Przemyśl pipe-makers must also have travelled just as far. A visit to the museum will show with no doubt that the pipe, once an inseparable companion of the soldiers of the Przemyśl Fortress, can also be a masterpiece.

The town for centuries played an important strategic role, which is why a defensive castle was built here in the 14th century by King Casimir the Great after his victorious expedition to Ruthenia. Over the course of a thousand years, Przemyśl had to endure a hundred wars. During the time when this part of Poland was part of the Austrian Empire, the town was transformed into a fortress comparable to that in Antwerp and Verdun, in preparation for possible conflicts with Russia. It was surrounded with two rings of fortifications, which comprised dozens of forts, as well as many kilometres of entrenchments, ramparts and moats.

During the First World War, they were defended by 128,000 soldiers. The Russians only managed to take the Przemyśl Fortress by starvation. Today, this is a fascinating tourist destination, accessible to those into hiking and cycling. One of the most impressive forts is the Salis Soglio in the forest in Siedliska. The entrance gate, reconstructed in 2023, leads through the wooden bridge over the moat to the area between fortress walls that seem to merge with the hill. The arcadian arches in the concrete walls and the mysterious forest are an excellent theme for photographers. So you must take a selfie here.

You can see them leaning against benches, or crouching by the walls of townhouses and in parks. Although made of bronze, the bears of Przemyśl are very busy creatures. One is repairing a wheel, another is carrying a Christmas tree and yet another is working in front of a laptop. There is Bear the Plumber, Bear the Bell-maker and Bear the General. The local pigeons spread the gossip that the bears were made by the sculptor Jan Mogilany from Zagórz in the Bieszczady.

There are twelve of them and they can be spotted all over the old town of Przemyśl. Perhaps you may see them sitting neat their favourite patisserie, indulging in ice cream. Well, they are known for their excellent appetite. They are not very big, so how can you find them? A map from the Visit Przemyśl app will be helpful. Once you have tracked down the Przemyśl Bears, don't forget to visit the Mama Bear from the fountain in the Town Square. She stepped off the city's coat of arms for a moment to take care of her two baby bears. Or perhaps she is also guarding the coins that tourists throw into the fountain to make sure they will come back here…