Top 15 Must-See Attractions in Lublin, Poland

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was established in Lublin in 1569, marking the city’s historical significance as the site where this important agreement was signed. Lublin, strategically located on the historic route between Kraków and Vilnius, boasts a rich legacy evident in its architectural and cultural treasures.

In Lublin’s Old Town, visitors find a Renaissance castle that stands sentinel over the historic area, alongside well-preserved burgher houses and a network of cellars below the streets, showcasing the city’s vibrant past. Furthermore, the complex history of Lublin’s Jewish community is both poignant and compelling, reflecting broader historical narratives, including the existence of a complete Nazi death camp in the vicinity.

Below are the top attractions in Lublin:

1. Lublin Castle

Lublin Castle, an ancient royal residence established in the 12th century by High Duke Casimir II the Just, represents one of Poland’s oldest fortifications. Initially a wooden structure, it evolved into a stronghold with stone walls during King Casimir III the Great’s reign in the 14th century.

The castle includes a 20-meter tall keep featuring walls four meters thick at its foundation, complemented by a Romanesque bifora window near the summit. Additionally, the castle houses exhibitions from the Museum of Lublin, detailing the city’s historical journey within the context of the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

2. Chapel of the Holy Trinity

Situated in the courtyard of Lublin Castle, the Chapel of the Holy Trinity was constructed concurrently with the keep and was extensively remodeled in the early 15th century under King Władysław Jagiełło’s commission. The chapel features exquisite Byzantine-style frescoes, completed in 1418, which embody the harmonious relationship between the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church.

These frescoes remain in remarkable condition, vividly illustrating biblical narratives, along with contemporary portraits of King Władysław Jagiełło.

3. Majdanek State Museum

Following its liberation by the Soviet army in 1944, the Majdanek death camp was transformed into a museum, formally recognized as Poland’s first State Museum by 1965. Both emotionally impactful and historically significant, Majdanek is considered one of the most intact camps remaining from the Nazi regime, primarily due to the German army’s hasty retreat during which they lacked the opportunity to demolish the site.

Within its confines, nearly 80,000 lives were lost in the main camp, with an additional 130,000 across its sub-camps. The museum presents poignant artifacts from other camps, alongside archival photographs and personal testimonies of the atrocities witnessed.

The site features a mausoleum of ashes and a gas chamber whose walls bear the telltale stains of Zyklon B gas, presenting a deeply disturbing reality.

4. Lublin Village Open Air Museum

Inspired by the Swedish “Skansen” model, the Lublin Village Open Air Museum, situated in the Sławinek District, offers visitors a vivid representation of historical rural life in the Lublin Province. This extensive site spans nearly 30 hectares, allowing visitors to wander through paths and lanes leading to reconstructed traditional cottages, windmills, and workshops dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

Within the museum, there are exhibits showcasing vintage tools, furniture, and personal belongings, while farm animals, including goats and chickens, reside in designated enclosures. Additionally, a mock town center housing a dentist, bar, post office, and barber shop provides an added layer of realism, coupled with a picturesque lake perfect for photographs.

5. Trinity Tower

Previously an integral part of the city gate adjacent to Lublin’s Jesuit College, this tower was elevated to a height of 60 meters by Italian architect Antonio Corazzi in 1819. Dominating the skyline, the tower is crowned by a tin finial shaped like a cockerel, which is said to alert the city of any impending dangers.

Available for those seeking a challenge, the ascent involves climbing 207 steps along a narrow, winding staircase, rewarding visitors with breathtaking views of Lublin’s urban landscape, complemented by numerous paintings and sculptures gracing the staircase.

6. Old Town

Stretching between the castle in the north and the Rynek (Market Square) in the south, Lublin’s Old Town presents a compact yet charming space to explore. The main thoroughfare, Grodzka street, features buildings in diverse states of restoration, each holding a distinct charm, even those aged and weathered.

During summer, the area comes alive with ice cream vendors, inviting terraces at bars and restaurants, and street performers showcasing their talents at every turn. The most striking burgher houses are located in the Rynek (Market Square), such as No. 8, the Lubomelski family residence, known for its vibrant red facade adorned with a balustrade, and No. 12, associated with the Konopnica family, featuring detailed ornamental merlons and beautifully decorated window frames.

7. Archcathedral

Constructed by the Jesuit order in the late 17th century, Lublin’s cathedral is one of Poland’s earliest examples of Baroque architecture. The design closely resembles the Chiesa del Gesù in Rome, conceived by the Italian Jesuit monk and architect Giovanni Maria Bernardoni.

Following a devastating fire in 1719, the interior was embellished with frescoes depicting biblical scenes, painted by Józef Meyer, the court artist of Augustus III of Poland. With the dissolution of the Jesuit order in Poland in 1773 and the establishment of Lublin’s diocese in 1805, the cathedral became its seat, now housing the crypt containing the tombs of the bishops of Lublin, along with various religious artifacts.

The altar within the chancel, crafted from black stone, is embellished with golden columns and is complemented by Baroque paintings illustrating the Feast of Herod and the Last Supper.

8. Crown Tribunal

The Crown Tribunal, an impressive Neoclassical edifice located in the heart of the Rynek, served as the highest appeals court in the Polish Kingdom from 1578 until 1794, established by King Stephen Báthory to adjudicate legal disputes amongst the nobility. The building received an architectural redesign by Domenico Merlini, the court architect of King Stanisław August Poniatowski, in the 1780s.

Unfortunately, the tribunal lost its judicial powers with the Partition of Poland in 1794. Today, its dungeons serve as the entrance to the Lublin Underground Trail, which offers a glimpse into the city’s hidden historical narrative.

9. Grodzka Gate

As you stroll from the Rynek to Lublin Castle, you will pass beneath the Grodzka Gate, a pale yellow structure that once marked the entrance to Lublin’s Jewish quarter. In recent years, it has been repurposed into a cultural center that celebrates Lublin’s rich Polish-Jewish heritage. At its core is the exhibition titled “Memory of the Place,” which evokes the memories of Lublin’s Jewish community that was largely lost during the Holocaust.

Drawing upon extensive research and over 2,700 color photographs discovered in 2012, the museum brings a human element to the stories of Holocaust victims and revitalizes the interwar city atmosphere through Kaiserpanorama (Stereoscope) displays. Additionally, a room honors the Righteous Among the Nations, showcasing non-Jewish citizens acknowledged by the State of Israel for their efforts to rescue Jews.

10. Brama Krakowska (Kraków Gate)

Located in the southwestern corner of the Old Town, Brama Krakowska stands as the notable upper of Lublin’s two city gates, erected by King Casimir the Great following a Tatar assault in 1341. This historically significant gate served as the main entrance for visitors arriving from Kraków, situated approximately 300 kilometers to the southwest, while also functioning as a sounding board for the “Hejnal” trumpet call and a watchtower for fire detection.

The gate underwent a Baroque redesign in the 17th century and now serves as a symbolic threshold between Lublin’s Old Town and the bustling new downtown. Visitors are encouraged to stop by at noon to enjoy the trumpet call from the balcony, as well as to explore another branch of the Lublin Provincial Museum housed within.

11. Po Farze Square (Parish Church)

Po Farze Square, conveniently positioned between the Rynek and Grodzka Gate, serves as a popular meeting spot for Lublin’s residents. The square derives its name from the parish church that existed here during the Middle Ages but was demolished in the mid-19th century due to decay. Excavations in the 1930s unearthed the foundations of this historical church, and in the 2000s, these enigmatic Medieval stones were integrated into the square’s design.

This square offers a unique atmosphere, especially in summer, where visitors can enjoy street performances and outdoor concerts.

12. Maria Curie-Skłodowska University Botanical Garden

Located on the northern slope of the Czechówka River, the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University Botanical Garden was first established in 1956 and spans 25 hectares in total. The garden features diverse collections, including an arboretum, rock garden, rose garden, marshland, greenhouses, and formal apothecary gardens, showcasing over 6,500 plant species.

Even for those who may not be particularly botanically inclined, the picturesque landscaping offers scenic trails winding through lush woodland and tranquil water features. A delightful café further enhances the visit.

13. The Pod Fortuną Cellar

Located at Rynek No. 8, the Lubomelski house conceals a fascinating museum within its basement established in 2012. This museum houses multimedia displays that illuminate various aspects of Lublin’s history, encompassing topics such as the lifestyles of the city’s burghers during the 16th and 17th centuries, the diverse religious communities, and the impacts of industrialization in the 19th century.

The highlight of the visit is the tenth exhibition room, the former wine cellar, adorned with authentic Renaissance frescoes featuring intricate floral patterns and mythological references.

14. Dom Słów (House of Words)

Located at Ulica Żmigród 1, this historic printing house established in 1932 has now been transformed into a museum. Prior to World War II, the left-wing “Popularna” press published works by avant-garde poets and political thinkers, such as Józef Czechowicz and Józef Łobodowski. During the German occupation, the press produced illegal pamphlets, leading to the execution of 14 of its printers.

The exhibition features vintage bookbinding, typesetting, and printing machines spanning various historical periods, along with educational workshops where visitors, particularly children, can engage with mid-20th-century printing techniques.

15. Lublin Underground Trail

The Lublin Underground Trail invites visitors to embark on a captivating adventure through the interconnected cellars beneath the city’s 16th and 17th-century townhouses, starting at the dungeons of the Crown Tribunal. Initiated in 2006, the trail extends nearly 300 meters and leads to 14 exhibition rooms featuring scale models that depict Lublin’s evolving urban landscape from the 700s to the end of the 17th century.

Within these historic storage spaces, guests can discover pivotal events that shaped the city, including invasions, epidemics, the signing of the Union of Lublin, and the catastrophic fire of 1719.