Lublin in the times of epidemic

Lublin in the times of epidemic

During this walk, you will have the opportunity to follow the chronology of plague, smallpox, cholera, typhus, syphilis, tuberculosis, and flu epidemics. You will get to know where they came from and what was their specificity. The guide will tell you what then residents thought about the causes of the epidemics, as well as how they defended against them. The scenario of the walk includes the stories about doctors and social activists who fought against these dangerous diseases and tried to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants by popularising hygiene or creating hospitals and shelters.

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.

Topic

Language:
Polish, French, Polish, French
Topic:
Specialised tour, Specialised tour
Days:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Monday, Friday, Tuesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Niedziela, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Duration:
 , up to 3 hours
Route length:
Number of participants:
2-35
Price:

300 PLN

For kids
For adults
For the elderly
For people with special needs
For pets

Reserve the walk by phone or e-mail using a contact data below

Beata Petkiewicz

Beata Petkiewicz

I have been a guide for 9 years. I belong to the Society of City Guides in Lublin PTTK and the Lublin Association of Pilots and Tourist Guides “Pogranicze”. I work as an academic teacher and translator. Tours are available in Polish and French. Contact with people of different ages, professions and from different parts of the world is what attracts me the most in being a guide. Also, I would like Lublin and the Lublin region to become recognizable both among the inhabitants of our country and guests from abroad. People who contributed to the history of the city are the inspiration for my walks. Famous, but also nameless… they give it character, identity and build a unique atmosphere.

Phone:
505 166 235
E-mail: