Łódź is the synonym of an industrial Polish city. From the beginning of the 19th century, it was the textile industry that shaped the urban space and culture of the city. Textile industry attracted people of different nationalities and faiths to Łódź, which resulted in the multicultural character of the city. Another factor that shaped Łódź's identity was cinematography, which developed here in the second half of the twentieth century.
The booming of Łódź took place in the 19th century. At that time, huge factories belonging to the Poznański, Scheibler and Grohman families were established. Complexes of these buildings are currently the most important monuments of Łódź. Many factories have gained a second life. The most spectacular example of this is the adaptation of the Izrael Poznański factory to the Manufaktura shopping and entertainment center. You can also visit other old industrial plants, including Księży Młyn, where you see not only the old factories, but also a workers' settlement. On the site of the former Geyer factory, there is the Central Museum of Textiles with the heritage park, where you can learn about the industrial history of Łódź.
From the middle of the 20th century, Łódź has been the most important film center in Poland. The Film School operates here, from which derive the greatest Polish actors and directors including Małgorzata Szumowska, Andrzej Wajda, Roman Polański and Krzysztof Kieślowski. You can learn about Polish film traditions can in the Museum of Cinematography located in the former Karol Scheibler Palace.
The 19th century Łódź was a city where Poles, Jews, Russians and Germans lived side by side. Therefore, in the city you can still see the nineteenth century, richly decorated Orthodox church, evangelical churches and cemeteries of various faiths.
