Taking in the Lovely Little City of Rzeszow, Poland

Sometimes the only reason you need to visit a place is that it seems picturesque. That mindset and a single photo of Rzeszow were what drew me to this city in southeastern Poland, close to the border with the Ukraine. It can be hard to find places to visit in Poland after you’ve seen the main ones like Warsaw and Krakow, but I’ve had plenty of practice by now. Sometimes you’re unsure whether a place will be worth your time, but I can safely say that to visit Rzeszow was worth the trip. Not only is this small city more attractive than you might realise, but also quite lively, especially when I was there.

Rzeszow City Hall and Market Square

With my visit to Rzeszow, there was nowhere else I planned on starting with than the local City Hall. After all, it was a photo of the striking City Hall that first caught my eye. While its history stretches back centuries to 1591, this building today looks incredibly fresh-faced with its mixture of neo-gothic and renaissance revival styles.

That’s because it has only been a bit over 100 years since its most recent remodel. And while it’s not possible to visit inside as a tourist, being able to admire it from the square is definitely good enough.

Speaking of the Market Square, it too is quite scenic in its own right. Although the City Hall is the most prominent landmark here, it’s certainly not alone. Around the square you can also see a dignified statue to Polish national hero Tadeusz Kościuszko and the quaint little well with its covered stand. All of that’s not to mention the dozens of restaurants, bars and taverns around the sides of the square which only grow livelier as the day grows long.

Interestingly, my first moments in the centre of Rzeszow weren’t what I expected. Turns out, the weekend I was there the city was holding a big festival, specifically centred on Market Square. The place was positively buzzing with people, and had marquees set up, plus a huge stage in the centre of the square. All day and into the evening there were performances of local dance and music which was fun to watch even if most of it was lost on me.

3 Maja Street

While there are certainly other parts of the Old Town that you’ll enjoy exploring, one of the best is the great long 3 Maja pedestrian street. Only a short walk from the Market Square, this long shopping parade evokes the same kind of charm as the square really. Along here are plenty more traditional buildings, as well as some major landmarks like the Regional Museum and the Church of the Holy Cross. Best of all, it takes you down to some of the city’s other highlights…

Rzeszow Castle

If there was one sight in the city that really surprised me upon first glance it was Rzeszow Castle. Even though I knew it was heading straight for it, I was anticipating something a little smaller. With its dramatic high walls and grassy green moat it sure does have the look of a remote fortress.

While the original fortress here was built in the 16th century, this castle was rebuilt at the start of the 20th century. Judging by its history, the castle has been used to suit whatever need the occupants at the time needed of it. Even though now it hosts the provincial court, not too long ago it was prison.

Not to be overlooked, there are a few other spots nearby worth a look. Across a small road from the castle you’ll find the Lubomirski Summer Palace, although it frankly wasn’t in the best state. A nice concession though was the nearby garden square and fountain directly below the summer palace.

Called the Multimedia Fountain, it seems like this fountain is part of a choreographed light display at night-time. I only saw it in the daytime, but still nice nevertheless.

Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre

A great little find while I was out wandering through the city centre was this exquisite theatre near the Old Town. A little similar in design to the Rzeszow City Hall, the Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre is the only dramatic theatre in the city. It didn’t seem to be advertised as a city attraction but I do think this is one attraction you’ll want to see regardless.

Revolutionary Act Monument

Go beyond the historic centre of Rzeszow and you find that the rest of the city is more or less modern. While not much of that was really all that interesting, it was hard to miss the sight of the Revolutionary Act Monument. This towering memorial is dedicated to those caught up in battles fought in the region of Rzeszow. I honestly didn’t find much more information on the monument but thought it and the gardens nearby were an intriguing place to stop.

Visiting Rzeszow Poland

Considering how relatively unknown Rzeszow is, the city isn’t all that hard to reach. For starters there’s the fact that the city has its own airport with Ryanair flying there from many major European cities. If you’re already in Poland however, Rzeszow is just a 2 hour 20 minute train ride from Krakow and closer to 4 hours from Lublin. It can also be a great place to cross the border into Ukraine, with Lviv only 4 hours away by train.

As for where to stay in Rzeszow, I’d happily recommend the Hotel Pod Ratuszem from personal experience. It may not be much decor-wise, but it’s mere meters from the main square and the staff are nice. Alternatively, you can take a look at the other places to stay in Rzeszow, as there is a decent selection.

Have you heard of or had the chance to visit Rzeszow before? Do you give off-the-beaten path destinations a go even if you’re not sure what to expect? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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