Zabytkowy Park Przygód (Mosaic Miniatures Park) in Wisła

In Wisła, the town near the source of Poland's longest river, you can walk the river's entire course in a few minutes. Zabytkowy Park Przygód, roughly "Heritage Adventure Park", in Kopczyński Park is a set of 10 miniatures of the best-known buildings from towns along the Vistula, all made of colourful mosaic. From the presidential residence in Wisła to the medieval crane in Gdańsk, the models form a kind of map of the river.

The river in ten mosaics

The collection opens with the President of Poland's residence in Wisła, known as the Zameczek (Little Castle), built in 1929–1930 for President Ignacy Mościcki. Next come Kraków's Wawel, the castles in Janowiec, Sandomierz, Kazimierz Dolny and Świecie, and the palace in Puławy. The Royal Castle in Warsaw, the cathedral in Toruń and the Gdańsk Crane complete the river's journey.

What makes the models special is the material: instead of paint and plastic they are covered in a mosaic of small, colourful tiles that shimmer in the sun. The site is not large, which makes it a good short stop on a walk around the town centre.

Avenue of Tales and Legends

In the same park, right next to the Stanisław Hadyna Amphitheatre, runs the Avenue of Tales and Legends. Both sides of the path are lined with wooden sculptures of characters, creatures and demons from the fairy tales and stories of Cieszyn Silesia. Each sculpture has a sign describing the figure, so the walk easily turns into storytime for children.

Tripto tip

Kopczyński Park lies right in the centre of Wisła, with cobbled paths, so you can walk here from anywhere in town. Fifteen minutes is enough for the miniatures, and about an hour with the Avenue of Tales and Legends. The mosaics look best on a sunny day when the tiles catch the light, but their colours also stand out nicely against snow. It is a good outing for families with young children, who can "visit" Wawel and the Gdańsk Crane without a long journey.