Plock (Poland) – the most detailed information about the city with photos. Main sights and attractions in Plock with descriptions, travel guides and maps.
City of Plock (Poland)
Płock is a city in Central Poland in the Mazovian Voivodeship. It is located on the banks of the longest river in the country – the Vistula. Płock is a quiet and picturesque city with several interesting sights and a rich history. It is the historical capital of Masovia and the capital of the Polish state in 1079-1138.
Geography and climate
Plock is located in the Vistula River valley, 110 km from Warsaw. The city has a temperate climate, with warm summers and cool winters.
The main part of Płock is located on the high, right bank of the Vistula River. The highest point of the city is the Tumski Hills (105 m).
Information for tourists
- Population – 121 thousand.
- Area – 88.06 km2.
- Currency – Polish zloty.
- Language – Polish.
- Visa – Schengen visa.
- Time – Central European UTC + 1.
History
Plock was founded in the late 10th century. In the early Middle Ages, it was an important center of the Slavs. In 1079-1138, Plock was the capital of the Polish state. In 1237, it received city rights.
Later Plock was the capital of the Principality of Plock. From 1837 to 1917, the city was the center of the eponymous province as part of the Russian Empire.
Getting there
The nearest international airport is located in Warsaw. Plock can be easily reached by bus from the Polish capital, Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Wroclaw and other cities.
Attractions
The Old Market Square is a square in the center of Plock, founded in the 13th century. The square was formed after the granting of city rights and retained its medieval shape and layout. In the southeastern part there was the Gothic Town Hall with a tower and a basement that served as a prison. The old town hall was demolished after the Napoleonic wars and a new building was constructed on the square.
Most of the medieval houses on the old market square were wooden, and the streets were lined with wooden beams. Due to the fires and wars that destroyed the center of Płock many times, the oldest existing buildings date from the first half of the 18th century. The defensive walls of Plock were demolished when the city was part of Prussia.
The modern town hall was built in the 19th century and is one of the most striking buildings in the classicist style in Poland. A clock tower was later added to it.
The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an amazing brick Gothic church with two large towers and a dome. The first building on this site was constructed in the 11th century. Initially, the church was a three-nave Romanesque basilica, rebuilt after a fire in 1530 in the Gothic style. In the second half of the 17th century, the towers were decorated with Baroque domes. In the early 20th century, the cathedral underwent a major reconstruction and regained its fully Gothic appearance.
Plock is famous for its zoo, which is one of the largest in Poland. It covers an area of 15 hectares and houses over 3,000 animals belonging to 350 species.
Plock Castle is a Gothic structure built during the reign of King Casimir III the Great. Nowadays it looks quite strange – a brick main tower and castle buildings connected to more modern buildings.
The castle and the cathedral form a single complex that occupies the top of the Tumsk Hills. The first fortress on this site was built in the 11th century. In the first half of the 12th century, the residence of Polish kings was located here. In the 13th century, the castle was damaged during the wars and rebuilt in the Gothic style. In the first half of the 16th century, due to the erosion of the base of the hill, a landslide occurred, as a result of which most of the medieval fortress was damaged. The defensive walls were dismantled in the 19th century.
Also on the Tumski Hills is the former Benedictine abbey, whose presence dates back to the beginning of the Christianization of Masovia. It now houses the Diocesan Museum.
The parish church of St. Bartholomew is a baroque church founded in the 14th century. Originally it had a Gothic look. In the early 18th century, as a result of damage to the walls, the vaults collapsed. At that time, the city did not have the funds to restore the church, so the building was handed over to the Jesuits, who rebuilt it in the Baroque style. The highlight of the interior is an early Baroque marble altar made in the 17th century.
The Marianist Monastery is located in the suburbs of Płock near the village of Dobrzyń. It was founded in the late 19th century on the site of a medieval chapel. The monastery has an impressive cathedral basilica with elegant towers.
Płock is located on the banks of the picturesque Vistula River, so a walk along its embankment is very popular among locals and visitors. Several bridges cross the river. There is also a long pier (about 400 meters).
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