11. Citizens 4 Towsn event – Lodygowice

The 11th event in our series took place between September 12 and 14, 2025, in Lodígowice, Poland.

The delegations arrived on Friday at the picturesque Miedzybrodzie reservoir on the shores of the Zywiec Lakes. After checking into their accommodation, the guests had lunch together and then had the opportunity to explore the sports and hiking opportunities in the area.

The official welcome and opening ceremony began at 7 p.m., slightly delayed by the weather. Mayor Tadeus welcomed all the guests, gave a short presentation, and briefly summarized why we had gathered and what awaited us over the coming weekend. He mentioned the civil organizations he would like to thank for making the previous and current programs possible through their volunteer work, and proudly reported on the diversity and number of civil organizations in his municipality. Taking advantage of the location, the mayor showed how a region can use water energy for energy production and storage, as the reservoir on whose shore we were standing also has this function in addition to its tourist value. Lodygowice, Citizens for Cities - Europe for the Climate - What Can a Small Town Do? we saw how the local reservoir, by utilizing water energy and participating in energy production, can have an impact on mitigating the environmental effects of climate change in a small town; how they achieve a balance between sustainable local infrastructure and a green environment, and, in addition to all this, create tourist attractions.

This was followed by a communal dinner and a light evening program with music, in preparation for the long program the next day. After breakfast, the delegations traveled by bus from their accommodation to the historic part of Lodygowice, where they visited the wooden church of St. Simon and St. Jude Thaddeus, which has been in its current form since the 17th century, and Lodygowice Castle. In the library, we were able to view the works of local arts organizations. The guests were given a comprehensive guided tour, providing insight into the history and architectural heritage of the town. Upon arrival at the palace, another local civil organization, the local housewives' association, welcomed the guests in traditional costumes with coffee, homemade cakes, and a presentation on when the association was founded, what community activities they carry out, and how many members they have.

After the coffee break, the whole group returned to their accommodation for another shared lunch, from where they took another bus trip to the All Saints Church in Zarzecze for a joint Holy Mass, which is an important part of the Harvest Festival. From 4 p.m., the guests, local tradition keepers and civilians, clergy and residents marched together in a long harvest procession with musical accompaniment along the main street of the town to the sports field where the events were held. At the end of the approximately 2-kilometer-long procession, local citizens once again offered refreshments to the foreign guests, dressed in traditional costumes, and welcomed the delegations on stage. Local bands played harvest music continuously throughout the festival, and the fair and harvest atmosphere was excellent. The few hours spent there flew by, so our hosts from Lodygowice accompanied us to the evening dinner venue, where we once again discussed our experiences of the past two days and exchanged ideas about the future.

On Sunday morning, the guests left their accommodation and Poland with a heavy heart, as they had to end a weekend rich in experiences and beautiful places.