Experience the best of Łódź

Łódź grew almost from nothing in the nineteenth century into a great textile centre, nicknamed the Polish Manchester, and its factory owners built palaces, mills and workers' housing. Piotrkowska Street, over four kilometres long and lined with cafés, courtyards and old townhouses, is the city's main street. Manufaktura, a vast cotton mill converted into shops, museums and restaurants, shows the scale of the industry.

The Izrael Poznański Palace, a grand mill-owner's residence, now houses the city museum, and the Księży Młyn district keeps rows of worker housing around red-brick factories. The film school that trained directors such as Andrzej Wajda and Roman Polanski is based here, and a walk of stars on Piotrkowska honours its alumni. Large murals cover the ends of buildings, and the Łagiewniki forest is one of the biggest urban woodlands in Europe.

Pierogi, żurek, a sour rye soup often served in a bread bowl, and roast pork knuckle are the Polish dishes of the city's cafés and milk bars. Winters are cold and grey, and the parks turn green in summer.