The walk will start on Krakowskie Przedmieście, in front of the Church of St. Spirit, which was built next to the hospital funded here earlier by the townspeople. Why outside the walls? It is an interesting story… Then, we will see the remains of a medieval water tower on Dolna Panny Marii Street. It will be a good excuse to talk about hygiene in our city.
Passing by the Church of St. Paul, we will find out what a dangerous disease the royal doctor Wojciech Oczko fought against. There is an epitaph inside the church which commemorates the doctor.
Then we will wander by the streets of the Old Town. In front of the Crown Tribunal, we will familiarise ourselves with a story of the trial of the Lublin gravediggers who were accused of spreading the plague in the 18th century. Various social groups were accused of the same at different times. Even Jews, who were ill rarely and led a more hygienic way of life than Christians – because of their religion, were suspected.
The Church of the Dominicans will be an opportunity to talk about the most important way to overcome the epidemic in those times – the prayer.
In Po Farze Square, we will look at the remains of people buried in an already non-existent cemetery, located here until the end of the 18th century. We will get to know what happened to the former necropolises of the city and what was their connection with the spread of the epidemic.
Going down the narrow Ku Farze Street, we will reach Rybny Square, and then walking along the picturesque stairs – in the Hartwigs Alley, where the former city gutter ran, we will go down to Kowalska Street. There we will learn about the living conditions of the former Jewish district. We will also get to know how it influenced the spread of typhus or cholera there.
Passing through Zamkowy Square, we will reach the well at the main bus station, and from there we will go to the Jewish street (painted as graffiti) next to the shopping mall. After that, we will follow the Czechówka River’s course. In the past, it was a terrible poisoner, and today it hides shamefully under the ground.
WARNING!
Viruses, bacteria, plague air, poisoned water, spoiled food, fleas, and rats will accompany us. Please, stock up on beak-like masks and frogspawn infusion.
