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"I must have been inspired" Joseph Conrad
Napoleon

Extraordinary story behind discovery of 16th century Greek masterpiece in sleepy Polish village 60 years ago retold in fascinating new documentary

The sensational discovery nearly 60 years ago of the El Greco painting is the subject of a documentary that premieres tonight. Radek Pietruszka/PAP

Through blending eye-witness commentary with cinema-style re-enactments, Katarzyna Kowalska’s documentary Polski El Greco (The Polish El Greco) which premieres Monday night, took four years to make and, says the director, “is the story of the struggle of two female inventors, unheard, unappreciated, who for many years no one wanted to take seriously. It is a story about the extraordinary passion of two young women who did not doubt for a moment what their intuition told them.”

Home fit for a prince: apartments of Prince Józef Poniatowski open to the public

The apartments, furnished with period furniture and the prince’s own possessions, give an insight into the life of one of the greats of Polish history.

In Napoleonic times, Danzig (now Gdańsk) was a republic… not a lot of people know that

It’s widely-known that the city was granted independence in 1920, but today in 1807, the Treaties of Tilsit between Emperor Alexander I of Russia and Napoleon I of France saw the then city of Danzig also become independent, if only for seven years.

Napoleonic necklace

This week we take a look at the story behind a necklace that French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte gave to his Polish lover Maria Walewska.

From Napoleon with love! Gold and diamond necklace French leader gave his Polish mistress goes up for auction

The original receipt that came with the necklace shows that it was purchased in Breslau, now Wrocław, on May 4, 1810, just six days before Walewska gave birth to their lovechild.

Ten out of Tleń: The First News goes to the east of Poland to explore a hidden gem

Take the road to Tleń and you follow in history’s footsteps. Napoleon and his Grand Armee took the same road on their way to destruction in Russia in 1812, crossing the River Wda before skirting a small wooded hill, where, according to legend, the emperor stood to review his troops, and then on and eastwards.

Top 5 articles:

  • Mayor offers reward to first couple to have a boy in village where only girls are born
  • It’s official! Kraków is the best place in Europe for food, says European Academy of Gastronomy
  • Poland in COVID-19 LOCKDOWN! PM orders bars, restaurants, shopping centres and borders closed - and cancels ALL flights
  • Villager finds stash of 17th-century coins after falling off his bike while looking for mushrooms
  • The systematic massacre of all children under 10 will forever be a stain on humanity, says TFN’s Stuart Dowell
Life

With increased flexibility that remote working has brought, pandemic sees record numbers take to van life

Inspiring the wave of newcomers are a series of well-established bloggers that have helped romanticize the world of van life with their stunning pictures and beautiful portrayals of life on the road.

The first report:

  • Smolensk tragedy committee chair hopes to present final report in April
  • European Commission questions Polish gov't economic plan - daily
  • Two explosions caused Smolensk air crash, claims film
  • Ceremonies across Poland commemorate presidential plane disaster
  • Polish Investment Zone starts 96 projects in 1st quarter - ministry

Exclusive

Forgotten composer who played for Polish king and co-founded Edinburgh Festival rediscovered after distant relative finds online ad for his rare piano

Josie Dixon had little idea that her great-great-great-great grandfather Felix Yaniewicz was one of the 19th century’s most notable composers until a chance conversation about a Stradivarius violin led her on a path of discovery.

The Debrief
Rocking it! New UNESCO Geopark opens in Holy Cross Mountains
Webber's World
Caught red-handed between the past and the future, Praga is a sensory explosion of noise and colour

Events

  • 21/05 - 22/08 Matejko to be first EVER Polish artist exhibited at London’s National Gallery
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