„The Vistula River makes the air clean and the visibility excellent in Kazimierz. It absorbs dust and works as a prism for sun rays. All the contours in this light – sharply and specially define. Also, sky-blue mist, which suspends in the air over the river in sunny days and widely spreads over the banks , gives specific, pastel colours to the landscape, not seen anywhere else” (Konrad Bielski „Spotkania z Kaziemierzem” ‚Meetings with Kazimierz’).
This is only one from the whole range of reasons which caused Tadeusz Pruszkowski, the rector of Warsaw Art School, fell in love with this little town, built a house with a huge studio and organized outdoor paintings. Together with Antoni Michalak, they caused that Kazimierz has become Mecca of painters and a source of inspiration for all kinds of artists such as Maria Kuncewiczowa, Grzegorz Ciechowski, Romuald Lipko, Edmund John or Daniel Olbrychski.
In 1926, on professor Pruszkowski’s initiative, the film „Szczęśliwy wisielec, czyli kalifornia w Polsce” (Happy hanged man, i.e. California in Poland) was shooted in Kazimierz. In the end, even King Kazimierz the Great himself was pleased by Kaziemierz – Californian aura, ruins of his castle, proudly looking at the town from the hill under a bastille, testify to it.
Time slows down and a human being becomes calmer, happier, more sensitive in Kazimierz.
A brain starts to broadcast on different wavelenghts – Kazimierznikejszyn wavelenghts. There is no wonder, since even local Landscape Park looks like a brain cortex with its lay of the land.
Kilometers of picturesque gorges wind around the entire area, insanely branch off through wild thickets, fabulous orchards and magical meadows. The landscape, changing in a minute, leads to wandering for hours. It is a perfect place for bicycle trips.
The most Californian place is still a beach. When the Vistula subsides, it exposes sand-gold spreads. The view from here on surrounding hills and the town is devastating. Broad warm fords are a real paradise for skimboarding lovers.
After a nature-recreational day full of adventures and sensations, it is necessary to call by a Market Square. There, among colorful galleries and noisy bars, it befits to get into passionate and humorous conversations about art, philosophy or about local legends with locals, because „lubi radego ludu ten spend Kazimierski WISŁEJLEND”. (this Kazimierz gathering Vistulaland likes the one who likes folks).
autor: Sylwester Doraczyński