Things to do in Opole
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Franciscan Church of the Holy Trinity
The Franciscan Church of the Holy Trinity, off the southern corner of the Rynek, was built of brick around 1330, but the interior was reshaped later on various occasions. It boasts an ornate high altar, an 18th-century organ, and a domed Renaissance chapel in the left-hand aisle, separated by a fine, late-16th-century wrought-iron grille. The highlight of the church is the Chapel of St Anne (Kaplica Św Anny), which is accessible from the right-hand aisle through a doorway with a tympanum. The Gothic-vaulted chapel houses a pair of massive double tombs (interring the local dukes) carved in sandstone in the 1380s. They were originally painted but the colour has almost disap…
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Holy Cross Cathedral
The Gothic Holy Cross Cathedral, a short walk north of the Rynek, features 73m-high towers and mostly Baroque interior furnishing. The chapel in the right-hand aisle shelters the red-marble tombstone of the last of the Opole dukes, Jan II Dobry (John II the Good), who popped his ducal clogs here in 1532. A Gothic triptych (1519), the last survivor from the church’s original collection of 26 pieces, is also displayed in this chapel. The lovely bronze gate at the western entrance was erected in 1995 to mark the church’s 700th year.
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Opole Village Museum
Opole has an excellent skansen, the Opole Village Museum. Located in the suburb of Bierkowice, 5km west of the centre, the 20-hectare skansen has a variety of rural architecture from the region. A shingled church from 1613, a windmill from 1734, a smithy from 1726 and a couple of large granaries are among the showpieces. Several houses are fully furnished and decorated and can be visited. It’s accessible by bus 9 with ‘Bierkowice’ written in front.
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Rynek
Opole's Rynek, badly damaged during WWII, has been rebuilt. It is lined with attractive sand-coloured Baroque and Rococo houses and, particularly on the west side, pubs and bars. The 64m-high tower of the oversized town hall in the middle was modelled after the one at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence and looks a little out of place here. The original, dating from 1864, collapsed in 1934 but was rebuilt in the same style.
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Restauracja Zagłoba
One of our favourite restaurants in provincial Poland, this cellar eatery serves inspired modern Polish food in historic vaults and has won several local awards. Try the excellent Casimir’s Delight (pork loin with wild mushroom sauce). Brunch is served from noon to 4pm at the weekend and is popular: make sure you book ahead.
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Piast Tower
The only vestige of the dukes’ castle is the 33m-tall Piast Tower, a sturdy watchtower with 3m walls and foundations 6m deep. Built in the 14th century, the castle was pulled down in the 1920s to make room for office buildings. You can climb the 163 steps to the top for a panoramic view over the city.
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Twinned-Cities Post
Opole is even madder than most Polish municipalities over matching up with towns and cities worldwide, judging from the Twinned-Cities Post southeast of the town hall, which lists 13 twins of Opole - from Roanoke in the American state of Virginia to Grasse in France and Carrara in Italy.
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Restauracja Maska
Maska is a charming establishment divided into a pub and restaurant, so you can dine on varied Polish cuisine to an incongruous soundtrack of funky house classics. Jerzy Grotowski’s Theatre of 13 Rows operated in this house from 1959 to 1964.
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Opole Silesian Museum
Two blocks east of the Rynek, a former Jesuit college (1698) houses the Opole Silesian Museum. The permanent display features the prehistory and history of the surrounding area and city, and there are always temporary exhibitions.
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John Bull Pub
This facsimile of a pub from provincial Britain (right down to the busy carpet and fruit machines) has a huge ‘African-style’ terrace (go figure) on the Rynek that stays open till midnight in the warmer months.
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Restauracja U Mnicha
This modern, monk-themed basement restaurant (modernised with air conditioning) serves up sandwiches, pizzas and hefty salads and holds regular summer barbecues in its small garden area.
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Smażalnia Naleśników Grabówka
Enjoying a riverside location and gorgeous terrace, this tiny place offers authentic-tasting sweet and savoury crepes with a choice of two dozen different fillings.
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Aquarium
Soaked in UV light, the basement Aquarium brings on some top dance nights, including an entertaining kitsch funk party. It’s serious clubbing for over-21s.
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Kaiseki
This very stylish and very Japanese eatery in a modern shopping mall in the centre serves sushi by the piece as well as more substantial mains such as tempura.
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Highlander Pub
A good central place for a beer and a bop, the friendly but not-very-Scottish Highlander hosts DJs playing anything from tribal house to Latin and dancehall.
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Kawiarnia Artystyczna Dworek
A leafy terrace tucked out the back of the Old Town, the ‘Arts Palace Café’ shelters a pub, art gallery and music club.
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Galeria Cepelia
Opole is famed for its porcelain hand-painted with fine floral motifs, and Cepelia is where you’ll find the widest selection.
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Restauracja Pod Pająkiem
‘Under the Spider’ is a large Hungarian restaurant northeast of the Rynek that has live music on some nights.
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Delikatesy
This late-night sundries shop is conveniently located on the Rynek.
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