A simple e-book showing traditional and regional Polish legends created by Polish students and teachers from Adam Mickiewicz Junior High School no 30 in Łódź, Poland.

1. Polish Legends
and Other Stories
Translated by students and teachers of
Adam Mickiewicz Junior High School no 30 in Lodz (Poland)
Multidisciplinary Flipped Learning with ICT
Erasmus+ KA2 Project
FLwICT
(2015 – 2017)
‘This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.’

2. Contents:
The Marine Eye.............................................................................4
Wars and Sawa.............................................................................7
About Krak, the Wawel Dragon and the Princess Wanda..........11
Torun Ginger-breads.....................................................................14
A Story about Lech......................................................................16
The Golden Duck.........................................................................17
The Knights Sleeping under the Wawel Castle............................22
Treasures in the Tenczyn Castle...................................................23
The Devi’ls Bridge........................................................................25
Mr Twardowski............................................................................27
The Story of Golden Five-roubleCoins in Poznański Palace.......31
‘
2

4. The Marine Eye
ey! Can you see these rocks? It wasn't long ago that you wouldn’t see anybody here in this
land. The forests were as impenetrable as they are now. Hey !
There, one rich nobleman lived in those old times and his name was Marineman. Huge properties,
spacious fields and boroughs all belonged to him. He intended to give it all one day to his beloved daughter.
- I love you, too - he said to her - and no matter the treasures in the world, they mean nothing to me
compared with you. I will make everything for you, my girl, but I will never allow you to do one thing: You
won't marry a person coming from a different royal home, even if he is aprince or a king. He must come from
our own royal line.
This is what Marineman said to his own daughter. Hey! You should know that at that time in a
neighboring country there sat a Hungarian prince, or was he a king, who saw Marineman's beautiful daughter
and he decided to marry her. He began to send his messengers but Marineman had a heart of stone.
- Futile - he said- are all your interventions and all trials because he who loves his country very much,
like my own child, won't give away what is dearest to him, she will not give away her land to a stranger! This
is what he said. Hey!
You are probably wondering what happened next? A big war broke out.
Nobody knows who they were- Tatars or Germans, they invaded the country, they burned houses and grabbed
and robbed people of precious things.
On seeing all of this, the nobleman gathered many people, gave asword, armor to everyone and they
struck the enemy. Marineman knew that his people, his own folks are brave and won't surrender their land.
Hey!
So this is what Marineman did. He was happy that he could help his country. Before he left his city he
locked his daughter in a convent. He didn't want the Hungarian prince to find her and capture her as a bride.
When he was about to leave, he told her that she couldn’t break her promise.
Yet, the foreigner gave her many precious jewels. He promised her that he would build acoral castle
with golden rooms for her. And a gypsy woman put a spell on her that one day she didn’t obey her father’s will
and fled from the cloister to meet her prince. One night, when everybody was sleeping, the Hungarian prince in
disguise of a monk, went inside the cloister and kidnapped Marineman’s daughter. Then, they got married and
they lived in acoral castle.
They were happy together and years passed. They bore seven children. Marineman was never to come
back as somebody later told them that he had died. The princess soon forgot about the spell and she didn't worry
about this. She spent her years bringing up and playing with her children. She liked running through the
meadows and dancing.
4

5. This dream was beautiful but not eternal. Hey! Everyone knows that who is disobedient and
treacherous must be punished. And it happened one day that at last Marineman, the father of disobedient
princess, came back home and he began to look after her. His heart nearly stopped beating when he learned that
his daughter lived with the Hungarian prince in a coral castle.
On the day of the meeting with her father, the princess wore her most precious jewels, pearls and
golden earrings. She wanted to boast of her happiness but father was very angry and upset. He turned the
castle into ruin. Hey! He cursed the foreigner's castle. The daughter wanted to tame her father's anger and she
showed her children to him, now they were his grandchildren. He became even more upset and he screamed:
-You aren't my child anymore! These aren't my grandchildren! Shed your own tears and let your
children drown in them!
This way he cursed her and everything at once changed into a stone. Soon, high mountains grew in this
place. And one mountain got a name Monk like the Hungarian prince who disguised himself as one monk to
escape his fate. But the curse has quick steps and he was punished severely.
When the princess saw it all happening, she went to fairies to ask for help. Yet, fairies couldn't advise
anything, each of them took each of her seven children and they ran away. Strangely enough, some stones grew
on the way of the fairies and they couldn’t pass through. All they could do was just sit and wait for a sure
death. You couldn’t hear anything but only groans, cries and grudging. Children called their mother and the
mother cried out so many tears that now in this place there is a waterfall in the Roztok valley. And out of the
tears of those poor seven lads seven ponds were created. It is believed that in each of these mountain ponds
there lies achild buried underneath its waters. The princess wanted to escape before this flooding water so she
sheltered on apeak that we call Rysy today and there she cried till her death.
One of the eyes of the disobedient princess flowed down from the peak into a valley which is covered by
perpetual snow and it created apond, which is now called the Marine Eye.
In her sorrow, the princess threw her treasures and jewels into alake because she didn't need them anymore.
Every time people fished these treasures up, they didn't bring luck but only sorrow and pain.
And then, when there was nothing but only mountains and waters the princess herself indulged in
them and disappeared. The waters of the mountain lake are dark because she died in mourning. You can hear
her groans and complaints sometimes, meanwhile the curse still prevails and those of you who feel pity for her
must beware of the snow which can devour you one day in the mountains. Hey!
Author: Jan Kasprowicz
5

7. Wars and Sawa
n former times our country was covered with impassable forests, full of wild animals. There
weren’t any cities and villages and people lived in little settlement. A young fisherman lived
there by the Vistulariver in Mazowiecki forest. His name was Wars. He was an unusually
hard-working man, and he devoted his life to his occupation. He always went fishing on a
boat which he built himself and he came back with fishing-nets full of fish. He loved
adventures admired landscapes observed animals’ life and listened to birds singing.
Particularly he loved night hunting because he could admire the life of forest in the moonlight.
During one of such expeditions he was sitting, as usually, in his boat and something unusual happened
to him. As water in the river was moving restlessly there appeared abeautiful girl. She had long fair hair and
beautiful eyes. Wars looked at her full of enchantment and he couldn’t stop looking at her. But he was very
suprised when he noticed that that wonderful girl had afish tail covered with silver scales.
-but it’s mermaid? - he whispered to himself
She did not notice him and unaware that somebody is observing her, she began singing a song. Her
sonorous voice caused emotion in the fisherman’s heart. He fell in love at once but he understood he would not
be able to live without her. Every night he arrived at the same place. He watched the mermaid and he listened
to her singing. Then he decided to talk to the mermaid and reveal his love. He left the place very silently. The
mermaid stopped the song and with surprise and hidden anger asked.
-Why are you spying on me?
-Forgive me, please but I must tell you something. I’m a fisherman and...
-I know that you are a fisherman
-She answered
-I see you on the Vistulariver when you are fishing
-He said silently with atrembling voice:
-I saw you for the first time and i heard your song. Just then I fell in love with you. Stay with
me, please...
-But how is this possible? You are a man and I’m a mermaid. You live in ahut and I can not live
without water.
-It doesn’t mean, it’s not important my dear mermaid
-Saying this he took her in his hands and hugged her.
-Will you be my wife?
-He asked and he looked at her with love.
-Yes, I want this very much
-She answered.
Wars kissed her and suddenly something unusual happened the fish tail changed into legs. However,
the old prophecy came true
-Said the mermaid.
7

9. The prophecy says that if a man falls in love with amermaid and she loves him back and she wants to
be his wife, then she becomes awoman. Happy wars took Sawa.
This was a prophecy about his beloved. He took her in his arms to his house where soon they got
married. They lived happily ever after. In time, abig fishing settlement, appeared around their house and it was
called – Warsaw – from their names – Wars and Sawa. It got bigger and bigger now it’s the largest city in
Poland and it’s capital – Warszawa.
Author: Edyta Wygonik
9

11. About Krak, the Wawel Dragon and the Princess Wanda
nce upon a time, in an old city of Cracov, Krak, the ruler of the city, thought how to kill a
terrible dragon. That dragon was terrorizing villages, even though he was full. After 7 months
of thinking, Krak invented amethod. He told Skubato kill an ox and a sheep, then stuff them
with sulphur, pitch and incandescent red coals. Next, Skubaplanted the stuffed animals at
dragon’s cave. The hungry dragon ate them and then he screamed in anger. The toxic materials
were burning him from the inside. He rushed to the Vistulariver to drink some water to put
out the fire inside his stomach. He drank, drank, and drank so much that he burst out. That
was the end of the dragon’s terror.
In the nearby town, Krak, was getting old. He knew he would die really soon, but he didn’t care at all
about the future of his kingdom and his own children. He had 2 sons: Krak and Lech, and a daughter, Wanda.
Then, one day, the king Krak died...
Villagers were in mourning in memory of their beloved king. Krak’s sons divided the country into two
to rule each one in his half. However, Lech was scared of the elder brother. One day, Krak suggested hunting
for bears and deer in the deep forests. Lech agreed. Wandastopped them and said that she had had a bloody
dream the night before. She didn’t want them to go without any servants. Krak jeered at her saying that he
wasn’t afraid of anything. And so they set on a journey.
They drove into the forest. Then, the younger brother, Lech, stopped and said: “Now, brother, you will
die. I will rule the whole country.” After these words, he threw ahammer at Krak’s head. Krak started bleeding
and fell down on the ground dead. But aproblem arose: What to do with the brother’s body? So the bad
brother slayed the corpse into small pieces and buried them under the ground.
Lech was coming back to the village, crying and screaming to everyone who stopped in amazement at
his sight: “Oh no! An evil creature killed my brother in the forest! You see the blood on me because I was trying
to defend him.”
Now Lech ruled the whole country. However, in the same ground where Krak’s body was buried, light
lilies grew and began blooming. And when they bloomed they began telling ahorrible story to the winds: “Here
lies Krak, killed by his own brother…”
One night some people were going through the same forest where Krak was killed. They heard the weird
sounds. And then, they saw Krak’s body. They took it to the castle. The villagers were shocked and at the same
time afraid that now the brother-killer will be banned from the country.
Now, there was only Wanda left, their younger sister. People wanted her to become aqueen.
-Do I have to be your queen? Me, who swore to God Almighty that I wouldn’t get married?– Wandasaid.
“Wanda, Wanda, Wanda! You are our sea, you are our soil, you are our air, our queen” – people sang and yelled
– “Krak’s daughter to the queen!”
11

13. After some time, one German heard about the virgin who was the queen. His name was Rytgar. One
day he ordered his army to follow him in the direction of the border. When he finally arrived at the Krak’s
kingdom he shouted:
- “I want to be your husband, Wanda” – he said – “or we will destroy yourcountry.”
- “I swore to God Almighty that I would not get married. Do you want a war? Let it be then, war!” –
Wanda answered
The war began and Wanda, with asword in her hand rode her horse in the front of her army. “Watch
out, German!”- she screamed. Rytgar looked at his army but there was no army! It ran away from his strict
ruler. Angry Rytgar grabbed his sword and killed himself. The queen came back to her village and she called her
people.
- “It’s time for me. I’ll give my life to God’s grace instead of giving it to the one wants power.”
Having said so she threw herself into the Vistulariver and died.
Author: Józef Ignacy Kraszewski
13

14. Torun Ginger-breads
few centuries ago, in Torun, a beautiful town in Poland, which is famous for delicious
batches, there lived amaster called Bartłomiej. Not only in Toruń, but also in other towns he
was famous for baking the best cakes. Some people claimed that it was rather Bogumił’s own
apprentice who could bake better and who really knew his work. This boy was very
hardworking and unusually modest; and moreover he was extremely in love with Rose, the
only daughter of his master.
Rose was a very beautiful girl with blue eyes and hair of honey color. However, both master Bartłomiej,
and his plump wife Mrs. Marcjanna didn’t approve this love. They preferred to give their daughter ahusband
who would be wealthy, somebody who would assure her with more comfortable life. They already singled out a
candidate for her- a rich widower, master Pankracy. But miss Rose didn’t fancy him because in contrast to the
young, handsome and joyful Bogumił, Pankracy was old, fat and boring.
Wanting to get into favor of miss Rose, Pankracy gave her many presents: amber and silver jewellery
that he bought from overseas trade folks together with colored beads and colorful ribbons. He also gave her a
glove embroidered with beads which was worn only by great ladies. Bogumił couldn’t afford buying such
presents; he could only bake for Rose some sweet cakes and bring her flowers from a meadow or forest.
When one day he was strolling along a forest road, he saw over the lake a group of blue forget-me-nots
and he decided to give them to his sweetheart. He bent down after them to collect and he saw in the waters a
drowning bee. Immediately, he offered it aleaf and he drew it out from the water. Within ashort moment the
sun dried its wings and it flew away.
Meanwhile, Bogumił heard anice quiet voice. He turned away and there he saw atiny figure in a
golden crown sitting on a twig. Because in his childhood his grandmother told him many fairy tales, which
remained forever in his heart, he realized immediately that it is the queen of fairies before him. So he knelt down
and he bowed in front of her. I thank you so much, good Bogumił- she said with a sonorous voice- that you
rescued my dear bee. It is the mother of the bee’s living in the hive. It is thanks to these bees that we have honey
and honey is the only food of my people. What you did for us was great and I appreciate it very much. So I want
to reward you for this. I will tell you abig secret which will make you joyful and it will survive ages. Remember
then that if you are baking cakes, we will add one more ingredient to the cakes and that is sweet honey. Then the
taste of your cakes will be incomparably better. And the bees whose mother you rescued will always be happy to
give the honey to you. Remember also that if you listen to my advice, you will always be happy.
Bogumił bowed in front of the queen of bees to thank her and he didn’t see her anymore, only the twig
which she was sitting on swayed slightly. He couldn’t believe his eyes so he wiped his eyes, wondering if this
was a dream or not. He was astonished that he set on a journey towards the city forgetting even about his
forget-me-nots.
When he reached the city, he found there abig movement, people were speaking loudly.
- What do happened?- he asked some of the guys he approached.
14

15. - Don’t you know?- They answered.- Tomorrow our gracious ruler arrives to Torun, the king of
Poland will be here! The whole nation will have the chance to see him. Together with him there
arrives the queen’s husband and together with royal children.
- Oh, what a news!- he called and he ran over quickly to his master. When the master saw him, he said
with an angry voice:
- Where the hell have you been? Don’t you see what is happening here, what movement and how many
work before us?! Every man in Torun, all masters prepare themselves to host the king appropriately.
And what will I show? We haven’t done anything yet, and more than this, you went away and I was
left without an apprentice! It will be thanks to you that I will experience such ashame! If you don’t
prepare cakes and ginger-breads on time, I will sack you, and then you can look for a new job for you!
Bogumił went to his occupations in humility and he began preparing for dough on ginger-breads. He
sifted flour, prepared spices and then, when all was ready to make a cake he recalled the conversation with the
queen of bees in the forest. Shall I experiment to improve the taste of my cakes?-he wondered.- What will it be
like if I listen to her advice and add honey to the cake? His heart trembled at this thought. And what will
happen if master Bartholomeus finds out about this? Yet, he decided to try and he made the cake with honey.
Next, he put it into a form and crusted. Forms had different shapes of: knights, ladies, hearts decorated with
flowers…
In the morning, when the whole city was waking up, Bogumił was finishing his work. The day of truth
began. The arrival the royal family was a big event in Torun. The king with wife and children visited the market
and were hosted by the best masters and craftsmen. Ginger-breads were brought on silver trays by master
Bartholomeus. The royal family tasted the cakes and everybody was astonished. Nothing tasted better than
Bogumił’s ginger-breads spiced with honey. The royal children simply loved them.
- Which master prepared this delicious thing?- the king asked.
- My apprentice, Bogumił - Bartholomeus answered trully.
The delighted king ordered his royal writerto prepare an official document stating that Toruń is granted
the royal privilege that only this city has the right to bake honey ginger - breads and send them to other different
cities. Thus, he thanked Bogumił. Today, Torun is famous for unusual honey’s ginger-bread cookies and cakes,
though this event which I described here took place over four hundred years ago. And what happened to
Bogumił afterwards? He managed to win the fame thanks to the Polish king and there were no longer any
obstacles for him to make his dream come true and marry his beautiful Rose.
Author: Edyta Wygonik
15

16. A Story about Lech
long time ago, could be 1000 years, 3 brothers Lech, Czech and Rus parted and went into 3
directions of the world to found new countries for themselves. Lech went north. He went for a
long time through wild primeval forests covering our earth. His way led through bushes and
swamps. He was guided only by the sun and the river flow, until he reached aplain at the
river-banks of Warta.
Enchanted by the beauty of the country, the richness of its soil, the wealth of fish and animals, he
decided to end his journey here and found the city here. When all the trees were cut as Lech had ordered, the
nest of the white eagle was created. Lech took it for a good sign and he chose the white eagle as a war sign, and
the city that was built here was called by him as Gniezno (the Nest Town). The town is considered by the
Polish people to be the first capital of Poland.
Author: CecyliaNiewiadomska
16

17. The Golden Duck
nce upon a time, there was aman- a cobbler from Warsaw. His name was Lutek. He was a
good man, he was cheerful and diligent but as poor as a church mouse. He worked at his
master’s shop in the Old Town. The master as a typical master, saved every penny and Lutek
was living in a big poverty.
The master gave little food to Lutek. Oh, God! Only some water and potatoes and nothing else. And he
dressed him, of course, but these clothes were hanging on Lutek’s body because they were his master’s old
clothes. Such state even adog would not endure, not to mention a human being! Everybody said to Lotek: you
must be patient, wait, and it will be better one day!
But when?! Years passed and what Lutek experienced was only poverty. He was bored and fed up
with his life. He wanted to escape.
– Maybe I will join the army?- he said- I will go and I will become asoldier. Maybe I will become a
marshal or a general…
But he could only wait and as he was waiting he was suffering. One evening, to an inn to have fun by
a pint of beer. Nice! They ate, drank, chatted. Suddenly they started talking about fables from Warsaw.
Some old crippled shoemaker said:
- Oh, oh! In Warsaw, it is easy to find a job and be famous. You must only have courage in the
heart and reason in the head.
Lutek became interested and he asked:
- What are you talking about? Where is that?
- In the dungeon of an old castle there is a young princess who was made into a golden duck. Those
who will capture her, is already awinner. She can tell you where great treasures are and how to
become a rich man.
- When can we spot her?
- At Cupid’s Night.
Lutek remembered that and but till the Cupid’s night he had to wait three days.
A dark evening fell on the city of Warsaw that day. In the streets, there were many people: lovely
women were strolling along and next to them some young men, mostly officers. There were soldiers dressed in
their fancy colorful uniforms: infantry and artillery; hey! Spurs buzzed, sabers buzzed, putts flashed, what a
nice view it was!
17

18. Lutek the shoemaker was going along a street in the Krakow’s outskirts and approached a place people
were talking about in the inn. The golden duck was somewhere in here! So Lutek quickly made asign of the
cross and was ready for everything.
Lutek wasn’t afraid of anything. He was a resolute man but he didn’t like to make agreements with an
evil power, whatever it might be. However, he already decided to pursue his happiness so he didn’t resign. He
spotted a window over his head in one of the walls. It didn’t have any windowpane and only some bars in it. It
was easy to get through the bars inside the building and as he was skinny he could make it quite nicely. Go! He
thought to himself and climbed on the bricks to go through the window. One, two, three! And he was in!
In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit! The shoemaker made a sign of the cross again! It
was dark inside! He lit up a candle- he went further inside. A long narrow hall was twisting and leading him
lower and lower into the dungeon. After aquarter he reached abig basement with a small pond in the middle.
By the insipid light of the candle that he was holding in his hand, Lutek saw this pond and -oh, God!
It was true what the crippled cobbler said about the golden duck! The duck was swimming and rustling its
wings in the water.
- Come, come! My beautiful duck!
Suddenly, the duck changed into a lovely virgin: aprincess. Her golden hair was hanging loose long to
the ground, her lips were as red as a raspberry, her eyes were so lovely one could not endure! Oh, kneel all the
nations before her!
- What do you want from me, boy?- she asked.
- Oh, your highness- Lutek said- I don’t want anything, I can do whatever you want.
- Good- princess answered- so I tell you! I will give you treasures that nobody in the world has ever
had and you will be arich lord. But it can happen only if you fulfill what I say.
- I’m listening, your highness.
- You have 100 coins; tomorrow you must spend this but only on things for you, for your own need;
you cannot give this gold to anybody, even apenny, even apenny! Remember!
- Ha, ha, ha! Lutek laughed- And is the difficulty of this? I will eat, I will drink, I will have fun! I
will spend 100 coins easily. And what later?
- Later, you will get treasures but you cannot give anybody any penny! Remember!
- Ok, princess! Give me the money!
And princess gave Lutek the money, smiled in an odd way and disappeared. Fear devoured the poor
shoemaker. He found the way out through the same window he came inside and strolled towards the Old Town.
The next morning, Lutek went to town with his money. “What can I do first- he thought- maybe I will
find myself clothes suitable for a lord”. Ok! That’s right! He went to Świętojańska Street and entered aclothes
shop. He bought a hat, some clothes and a coat. What an elegance! A real count!
He was going along a street whistling and waving his cane because he bought a cane, too. He didn’t
know what he could buy next. “It isn’t easy to spend 100 coins. Ha! Think!”- he said to himself.
18

19. It was ten o’clock maybe and he became hungry. Let’s eat then! Young and healthy was the shoemaker
so there was nothing unusual that he was always hungry. He dropped at a nearby inn. He ordered some
sausages, some black pudding, some beer and rolls. He was eating and his ears were shaking from the way he
was eating the food which he was not used to. He ate so much that it would do for the next three days or so!
- How much is it?
- It’s 2 zlotys.
- Not more?
- 2 zlotys and 10 groszys tip maybe.
“Be wise. How can one spend 100 coins?”- he was thinking hard. Lutek went on an expedition outside
town then. He rented acart with four horses and rode to Wilanow. Together with the cart and horses he rented
a musician who was to play the trumpet to make his journey pleasant. What a joy!
He arrived to Wilanow. He gave some man near the park a nice sum of money and he went into the
gardens. He spent the whole day walking around the gardens and the noon passed quickly. It’s time to be back!
And Lutek came back to Warsaw again. What else could he be doing? Where to spend all this money? Lutek
had already spent five coins. And then, he saw a board and a notice on the board inviting people to see a
theatrical performance at the National Theatre. “Let’s go to the theater then!”- he thought.
In the theater he had lots of fun. He had never been to the theater before. No wonder! He was poor
after all. For a guy like him to pay 2 zlotys for a seat was an expensive thing. He laughed alot, enjoyed
immensely and after all this, he went home.
It’s late. It’s little time left to spend all the money as the duck wanted. God was the witness that
Lutek didn’t know what to do with the money. He was walking like that and meditating. And then, on the
corner, he noticed an old man.
- Mister- he said- the second day is passing and I haven’t had anything in my mouth. I’m an old
soldier. I was in Samossiera, in Smolensk, in Moscow with the duke Joseph in Lipsk- please, help
me!
Lutek looked at the old man: he was an invalid without ahand and on his chest he had medals:
Honorary Legion d’honeur and Virtuti Militari. So the shoemaker reached for some money in his pockets he
gave the man a handful of gold.
- God will reward you! You will be happy and rich- said the veteran to Lutek.
Suddenly, aflash of lightning was seen and a clap of thunder was heard. In front of Lutek’s eyes there
appeared the magic princess.
- You didn’t keep your promise. You didn’t spend all of your you money. And she disappeared.
On hearing these words, Lutek looked around: an old man was standing as before and he said:
- No money can give happiness but a job and health. Only the money which is earned is worth
something and all that is for free brings bad luck.
19

20. Lutek went home happy and full of joy. He woke up without money another day. He had spent only
ten coins and the rest that he was left with he gave away to the old man. But from that day on, he lived as
never. He learned and became amaster very soon. He married with agirl who was beautiful who gave him
children. They lived happily ever after.
Nobody knows what happened to the golden duck. She just disappeared. Thank God! Because she must
have been an evil since her only conditions were: to keep to yourself and not give others. No! Don’t think this
way and try to feel as the Poles feel! We, the Poles live differently: first we think about the poor and then
about ourselves! Then no matter the job, God is willing to help you.
Author: ArturOppman
20

22. The Knights Sleeping under the Wawel Castle
he highlanders who often visited Krakow told stories about the glory of the castle which
stands tall in the mountain called Wawel. But they also used to say about another castle
which is in the heart of the mountain, that castle stands alone but it isn’t as quiet, gloomy and
sad as the one in Wawel. The other castle is quite the opposite: beautiful, dear, wonderful,
made of shiny gold with a coral roof, always lit by the clear sun. Once it is nice to look at that
castle just as it was nice looking at the Wawel castle, which is now deserted.
There, deep down underground there is avast chamber which resembles achurch. At its walls there is plenty
of armor: shields, sabers and flags. In the middle of the chamber, there stands a table and around this table
there are Polish kings sitting in the coronation apparels. Once in a year, people can hear a huge boom and the
neighing of horses, the noise of whirlwinds and some rumps of war. Then king Boleslaw Chrobry stands up from
the table, the sword which he got from an angel is shining with aweird clarity on his arm. He exits the
underground castle at midnight, he strolls slowly through the castle courtyard and you can only hear his iron
armor on him. If anybody mortal meets with him at that night, it is a good person, he can see the king in his
finest shape and it will make his soft heart joyful. However, if this is abad person, he will not see him at all, on
the contrary, he will feel trepidation, fear and regret will turn his brain and he will faint inevitably.
The entrance to this underground castle is said to lead through the pit of the dragon which can be found at
the very foot of Wawel. This entrance is dark, secret, and for a very long time it was praised by poets as a
beautiful spot. But then, a German hand redecorated the king’s castle into a citadel and to see through the
ancient beauty of the castle is nearly impossible.
The people of Krakov claim that when a huge misery falls on the city, one can hear from the underground
castle and the cathedral nearby sounds as if a massive cry. A man who can hear this miserable call cannot
refrain from crying himself.
Author: Kazimierz Władysław Wójcicki
22

23. Treasures in the Tenczyń Castle
t has been said by some people that in a forest near Tenczyń there are some treasures hidden
and in a dungeon there is a weapon called "Escape" leading for a church in Tenczyń. People
have been repeating this from generation to generation, but nobody ever tried to search for the
treasure in fear of some bad punishment by the power guarding that treasure. However, one
day there appeared some dare-devils who decided to pursue their luck. Thus, they set on their
conquest late at night.
The night was dark, the moon was concealed behind thick clouds so one could not see anything that was
even one step before him. In a narrow path leading to the dungeon there glimmered only four lights. They were
the lamps of miners, who, armed with their axes, were approaching the entrance of the dungeon.
After a long and back-breaking work to open the great oak doors, to iron soundly shod. They have smashed
them with strong impacts of their pickaxes and entered an enormous vaulted cavern. There stood agreat marble
table in the center with an iron cross on it, but two pistols crossed before the cross and three great nails. Under
the table there was an opening with stairs leading to a cavern. Miners hesitated, fear took them over, no one
had enough courage to go through the mystical opening to the cave.
At last, one of them swindled and with his fellows’ assistance he entered the depths of the dungeon. When
he reached the bottom, he looked around the cavern and became petrified with admiration: the walls were paved
frank golden plates, incrusted with of all sorts of precious stones, under the walls there stood chests, full of
gold, silver, diamonds and rubies. Everything was glittering with red brilliance in the light of some invisible
lamps.
The miner spread his hands in admiration in order to grip as much as he could. But all this was in vain. Some
invisible power pushed him back and it didn't allow him to touch the treasure each time he approached it. Some
time passed on this straining battle with the unknown opponent, when suddenly atriple crow of a cock was
heard. At once, the ground quaked, the walls of the cavern parted and two powerful men came out of these
walls. They were all dresses in golden metal crass with two wings in the rear spread like an eagle and their
shoulders were coated with aleopard skin. They approached the miner who was staying silent and astonished,
their strong hands caught him and took him up aiming to nail him to the wall with diamond hook nails.
The miner was overcome with fear, he couldn't speak aword. The prospect of losing his life was so obvious
that he strained all his might and he cried from the depth of his heart:
- Help me, St. Barbara !
The cavern shook and the ghosts disappeared. The unknown power took the miner down on the ground.
Although he saved his life, his mind was lost and he never gained it again.
Author: Edmund Jezierski
23

25. The Devil’s Bridge
n a valley Prądnik somewhere in the Polish mountains, a rich nobleman built acastle. One
day, he stood on one of the rocks near his castle and he decided to join his castle with the other
rocks by building abridge. However, when he suggested to people to make this enterprise,
everyone denied him – even though he promised ahigh salary in gold for making this bridge.
arrangement with the devil and he dived in the bridge pig. The irritated devil hit the bottom of the
bridge pillars and punched a hole. When he noticed that he destroyed the bridge, he desperately tried to patch up
the hole - but all in vain. Every time he wanted to repair the bridge, he tumbled in the abyss. Eventually, he
stopped patching the hole and abandoned the bridge. Today, this history is present in one Polish saying: “Be
wanted as a hole in the bridge ".
After a certain period of time there appeared ayoung bricklayer in the area. He agreed to build the
bridge. He liked the very ideaof making the impossible. He imagined that one day his work w ill present itself in
the landscape of the Ojcowski Park. Immediately, he started his work. Days and nights passed and he indulged
himself in a diligent work: he measured and drew sketches. But the more he thought about this project, the
more difficult it seemed. There appeared difficulties on the way to complete the work. One day, the bricklayer
got frightened that he would have to resign from building the bridge. Then he said to himself:
- I will build the bridge, even if an with assistance of the devil.
He did not even assume that the devil could hear these words. On hearing these words, the devil put
on a black suit to hide his tail, a pair of neat shoes to hide his hoofs and a wig to hide his horns. He came to
the bricklayer and he suggested that he would assist him in building the bridge. He promised that if helped him,
the bricklayer would overcome every difficulty. This comforted the master very much and they began their
cooperation.
- Now! A reward! –the devil said- I want to obtain the very first person who walks along this
new bridge!
- Agree!- said the bricklayer who was happy to have such a great helper.
The structure was soon finished and the devil wanted to be paid for his help. He knew that every
builder wants to check if his work is done properly and usually the constructor is the first person to enter a
bridge. This time as well, the bricklayer wanted to check if his work is good and firm. When the bricklayer
entered the bridge he heard awhisper: „Don’t go there!”. Suddenly, he remembered about the
Author: Edyta Wygonik
25

27. Mr Twardowski
wardowski was agood nobleman, both from his mother’s line and father’s line. Although he
was rich he wanted to have something no one else could have. He wanted to find the way to
escape death because he wanted to live forever. Once, he read in avery old book that he may
play a trick on the devil. At midnight, he went on ahill and he called the devil, The devil came
and together they made an agreement. The devil wrote along contract which Twardowski
signed with his own blood, all this to make it more reliable.
Among the conditions, there was one most important condition: Twardowski will live until he meets
with the devil in Rome. If this happens, Twardowski will have to die. Another condition was that Twardowski
could order the devil to do something for him. And Twardowski wanted to gather all the Polish silver and bring
this silver to Olkusz, atown where afamous mine was. The other order was that Twardowski wanted the devil
to bring him a big rock from a place called PieskowaSkała and put it on the most narrow top of the rock.
Again, although it was impossible the devil did it. So Twardowski ordered more things. He had
everything: he rode apainted horse, he flew in the air without wings, when he went on along trip, he used to
ride arooster and then he moved faster than on a horse. He and his mistress swam in the Vistula river without
a boat or oars. He could burn avillage when he was far away. Once he fell in love with awoman. He wanted
to marry her. She agreed to marry him but only if he guessed what insect was there in a jar she kept with her.
Twardowski said:
- It’s a bee!
He was right and they got married. However, before the marriage, Mrs Twardowska,
his wife, used to mould pots and she sold them at the market in Cracow. But now, Twardowski was arich man
and so he didn’t want his wife to sell anything. Thus, he ordered his servants to damage her pots every day. He
had more gold than sand because the devil always obeyed him and did whatever he wished for.
Every day, the devil got more and more angry as Twardowski didn’t want to go to Rome. So he made
up a tricky plan. He wore adisguise of a courtier and he went to Twardowski. He told him that some nobleman
must meet him and he must go with the devil to the town. Twardowski agreed.
Together they went to an inn. Twardowski didn’t know that this inn was called “Rome”. When they
went inside the inn, there were many ravens, owls and other birds under the roof. Twardowski got frightened
and he took a child in his arms. At that moment, the devil appeared inside “Rome”. The devil wanted to take
him but there was a problem: Twardowski had ababy and the devil couldn’t take him with the baby. So the
devil said:
- Verbum nobile debet esse stabile [noble’s word must be honoured].
Twardowski gave the child back and the devil captured Twardowski and they flew up. They flew and
flew. Twardowski could only see his home town, Cracow becoming smaller and farther. He sang a Christian
song. When Cracow’s farmers heard the song, they didn’t know where this was coming from. The devil left
27

29. Twardowski on the moon and said:
- You will stay here until the judgment day.
Until now, people have been saying that sometimes you can see Mr Twardowski sitting on the moon.
Author: Kazimierz Władysław Wójcicki
29

31. The Story of Golden Five-rouble Coins in Poznański Palace
ot far away from the headquarter of municipal authorities of Lodz, near the town hall on
Nowy Rynek, at the Ogrodowaand Stodolniana crossroads, at the place where townsmen of
Łodz used to live for hundreds of years and sold their land to Poznański, the huge palace was
built.
It was a kind of industrial tycoon’s fortress, five times bigger than the town hall. Izrael Poznański
had the construction of the palace started, however, it was not finished until the times of his son Moryc.
The architect had serious problems with Izrael. When he asked him about the style the palace should
have been designed, he received the answer as follows: “What do you mean by STYLE? Build it in all possible
styles. I can afford it. It can be even like the fabulous Louvre”
And this is the way it all begun:
During the famous period of the fin de siecle every manufacturer was trying to build awesome and
splendid palace. The most affluent were pretending to follow noblemen in every aspect and built one by one a
few palaces at the same time. The palaces were usually surrounded by tremendous gardens, hothouses and palm
houses.
They wanted to have their home made lemons, oranges and palms on their table. The wanted to make
themselves resemble the noblemen’s prodigality. The nobleman were not only gliding their graves, crosses,
chapels but also roofs of their manor houses (they did it in accordance with a Polish proverb - there will be no
money to live on but there would be enough money to dazzle your guests with gold...) The manufacturers were
also gliding door handles, frames of paintings or ceilings!
However, all their efforts ware coarse, everything they did was deprived of good taste and style, it was
supposed to impress other manufacturers and show them that they are less affluent. Poznański was building a
few palaces and manor houses at the same time. One of them was built in Renaissance style, the second in
Moorish style the third one was a mixture of all of the styles. The biggest one on Ogrodowastreet was to
resemble French palaces. There were more than 300 rooms, in which Poznański lived with afew members of his
family and servants.
At the back of the palace there was a driveway similar to those in courts. He believed that the guests
who come by carriages or omnibuses to visit him were not seen. At the entrance to the palace there were two
statues with Roman clothes and colorful lamps. Next to them there were stairs made of white marble which led
to chambers in the tower and to the hall with mahogany panels and fireplaces in English style.
Everything was designed in order to make agood impression on the merchants, who had little lime
when they were making transactions and whose sharp eyes were noticing every single item in the palace. Next
to the palace there was a clock gate. Everyday athousand of workers was going to the plant thanks to which
Poznański was so wealthy. The money that he earned he spent on luxury and decoration of dining room, which
was later transformed in his office.
31

32. It was said that Poznańki had invited tsar for the opening day of the palace. However, he did not
come. Poznański wanted also to employ orchestra for the opening. He was offered to have a small concert,
which could be played in rooms. He was outraged over this and replied that he can afford a concert that can be
played in chambers.
Poznański soon felt that that he was not worse than noblemen, who had money on luxuries and
various whims. It is not sure if Poznański out of his boredom or out of his imagination decided to border the
floor of the ballroom with rouble coins. The coins were relatively small- they were of today’s 20 penny and the
hall was 500 square meters big. Yet he was at a loss as to how to arrange them. If they were they to be laid
eagle up, then the tsar portrayed on the coins would have been face-down to the floor. If they were reversed
people would tread on the tsar’s countenance. That is why, Poznański wrote to the monarch asking how the
coins should be placed. The tsar replied that the coins should be place on the edge and this is the way the tsar
outwitted the tycoon because Poznański abandoned the ideaof covering the floor of the ballroom due to lack of
money. Poznański needed at least 1 milliard of roubles but at that time he had 4 million.
Author: Zdzisław Konicki
The end