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.

This site uses "cookies". By staying on it, you agree to the use of cookies.

Accept
Learn more