FESTIVAL ROUTE IN OPOLE

Wrocław boasts its dwarves and the people of Opole have… birds. The Festival Route was created in 2016 and runs through locations associated with the National Festival of Polish Song. The trail is marked by birdhouses. Their design alludes to the city's symbol – the Piast Tower. In addition to the birdhouses, along the route, you can also encounter "navigator birds" which indicate the direction of the route. Each birdhouse has a QR code, which, when scanned with a smartphone, allows you to learn about the history of the given location.

The birdhouses and birds are made of bronze. The models were created at Jerzy Piechnik's Artistic Craft Studio. They were designed by local artist Andrzej Czyczyło. The birdhouses are 50 cm long and hang approximately 2 meters high. Below them, at eye level, is a QR code. The birds symbolize the singing city of Opole.

The Festival Route begins at the Main Railway Station and leads along Krakowska Street, past the Mercure Hotel – formerly the Hotel Opole and previously the Dworcowy Hotel. Then, it turns to the Artistic Manor at the intersection of Sempołowska and Klasztorna Streets. There is the Artistic Manor Music Club in the manor and the Opole Walk of Fame located on the wall. The next stop is University Hill with Artists' Square, where you can find monuments to outstanding artists such as Agnieszka Osiecka, Czesław Niemen, Jerzy Grotowski and others. After the concerts, all the musicians would meet in the market square at the former "Pająk" restaurant to party together. The next stop on the route is the Walk of Fame in the Market Square and the monument to Papa Musioł (the founder of the National Festival of Polish Song and the Amphitheater). The route then leads to Barlicki Pond, where you can listen to the fountain playing Polish hits. The trail ends at the Amphitheater. A must-see here is the Museum of Polish Song in Opole.

In front of the museum stands an obelisk commemorating Mateusz Święcicki and Jerzy Grygolunas – the originators of the festival.