Opole Old Town

Opole is on the Oder and is the smallest of the Polish regional capitals, with an old town whose market square is dominated by a town hall rebuilt in the 1930s in imitation of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, tower and all - the tower collapsed during that rebuilding and was put up again. Behind it the Mlynowka, a mill channel of the Oder, runs between the backs of houses that come straight down to the water, and this stretch is the Opole Venice, best seen from the bridges. The Piast Tower on Pasieka island is what is left of the ducal castle, thirteenth-century, thirty-five metres, climbable. The city is the seat of the German minority in Poland and bilingual signage appears in the surrounding villages. It is best known nationally for the Polish Song Festival, held in the amphitheatre by the river every summer since 1963, which is why the pavement has a walk of fame of singers on it.

What you actually see

• A Florentine town hall - rebuilt in the 1930s after the Palazzo Vecchio.
• The Mlynowka channel - houses down to the water, the Opole Venice.
• The Piast Tower - thirteenth-century, thirty-five metres, on Pasieka island.
• The song festival amphitheatre - by the river, running since 1963.

When to go

April to October; June for the festival. A day.

Honest expectations

The old town is small and covered in a couple of hours. The Venice comparison covers one short stretch of water. Festival week fills the city and prices rise. Much of Opole outside the centre is postwar building.

Nearby

Gora Swietej Anny is south-east; Moszna is south.