Czestochowa - what is it like?

I have had two job descriptions in my email today. One was for the region/town? of Czestochowa.

Can someone please tell me what it is like to live there? Is there much to do there?

Just wanted to check before I proceed with the application in case it's not what I'm looking for.

Thanks :)

Check in this topic. Maybe there's sth helpful.

ooh lazyness got the better of me, sorry.

thanks a lot though :)

Yes, I know the place very well indeed and you should avoid the place 'like the plague'. It was not so bad before but is very depressing now. It used to be an important town being like a little 'capital' town of its area but since they have redistributed regions, Częstochowa has been downgraded and they say that petrol costs more there than anywhere else in Poland. A sad boring concrete block sort of a place. The name sounds cool the place looks however, in reality, disgusting.

it's not that bad dude, there is a university or college of some sort there and every time i've gone (albeit only for a day or two) i've had a blast.

Please don't listen to what Michal has to say.

Czestechowa is a vibrant city. There are many reminders of the Soviet rule with the concrete blocks, that is true. But lately, many renovations have been taking place downtown, and on the outisde of town. Colorful apartements have sprung up, and new houses as well. Many stores have also been renovated, and built all around the city. Last time I went and visited my family there, I was surprised that I could barely recognize many parts of the city, and I hadn't been there for only 3 years.

It is a very religious and sacred place for Roman Catholics, because the Monastery Jasna Góra is located just north of the downtown area and is a huge attraction.

It is relatively easy to get to the larger cities like Warsaw and Krakow from Czestechowa as well, using the public and payed highways.
Transporation within is very easy. Trolleys and buses operate all around town. There is a small airport located nearby in Katowice named Pyrzowice and there is a decent amount of flights daily to Germany, Czech Republic etc...

I'm sure you will find it a very warm and welcoming place. It is under somewhat of a re-building phase, but that doesn't take anything away from it.

This is very general info, if you need any more information or help, please let me know.


Politechnikal Institute?

^that sounds bout right. and it's a much more objective description of the place. It's like any small city in Poland- don't expect disney land, you gotta make something out of it.

We are talking about Częstochowa in Poland not new York U.S.A.! Częstochowa is a Polish town-it certainly can not be described as a city be it vibrant or not. Besides from the long Alley called S. Maria and the Monastery there is nothing of interest in Częstochowa. There is a college or two but no university. There are even two railway stations but the second one looks like a coal yard! A sad dirty town with high enemployment. The young have fled in their thousands to live and work overseas. I was in częstochowa not so long ago and I went and met a friend of mine and she said "napewno to miasto spadło na psy" her own words. In short, its a dump.

Thanks for your answers guys. Guess one has to make up their own mind. Will try and use the old google for a few pictures as well.

thanks :)

Try youtube, there are some interesting and honest films that have been put together to show you whats in store!

Czestochowa is ok. I knew a lot of people there which helps but I found it quite easy to make friends with the locals also.

As far as things to do it depends what you like, Cinema City shows films both in Polish and English and is very modern, plenty of bars around also. The main night club is called "Don Kichot" and I've always had fun there, lots of latin/salsa dancing, a dance room and outside bar. Plenty of nice restaurants also.

There are some lovely places 10km or so outside of the city for walks and exploring, In winter they do a great sleigh ride with horses around the forests with plenty of vodka to beat the cold.

If you want to know more let me know.

Yes, but knowing you, this so called "friend," was just some homeless man to begin with.
Michal, your obvious contempt shows through every one of your posts about Poland. Please don't poision this mans mind with your bullshi$.

Take what Michal says with a pinch of salt. Read his previous posts and everything he says about seems to be negative. Sometimes he may be right but remember the boy who cried wolf ?

I visit Czestochowa every year to visit my friends. I'm not sure I'd call it a vibrant city but it's definitely not a dump either. It has quite a small town feel to it but the centre of the town is wonderful with a good selection of bars and stores.

It depends what you are looking for. It's not a metropolis or a cultural centre but I have a lot of affection for Czestochowa.

There are a number of Communist blocks around the city but some of these have been spruced up and have added new facilities. My friends live near the Real supermarket and the housing block community there has had a lot of money invested in it. Surrounding the blocks the town has created a lovely park with walkways, outdoor gym equipment, volleyball court (with sand), outdoor football table and loads more. I wouldn't mind living there myself !!

Michal's friend may not like Czestochowa but the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Ask anyone if they love the town where they live now and many will also criticise it.

I also find Czestochowa to inexplicably have the prettiest women in Poland.

Don't ignore everything Michal has to say but accept that some posters have certain characters and opinions that manifest themselves throughout their posts.

yes and michal is very talented at manifesting himself as an ignorant pr*ck. he hasnt been to Poland for 20 years and he still is certain nothing has changed there since. if anyone on this forum wants UP TO DATE advice and information about Poland, he is the last person you wanna ask. trust me.

Yes, have to agree with you there my friend : )

Czestochowa = the mecca of poland:) My grandma lives there so i visit often. It's just an average small city, i don't think i would like to live there though. I'd prefer to live in wroclaw - more young people, vibrant city etc. The main street of czestochowa has been renovated recently so it looks great but there's really not much else. The monastery is nice to visit, but after 1 or 2 visits you will find it boring - unless you're religious:) It seems like a quiet city except on religious holidays when people from all over poland swarm the city.

I do not know if this is true really. I am sure that there are pretty young women all over Poland and not just in the cities. My wife comes from Częstochowa so I must have good taste in women!

I might visit Czestochowa while im staying in Lodz. Does anyone know if it has any Jewish history? (Old synagogues, Jewish cemetaries, memorials). Or any other places to visit, i quite like parks and scenic walks.

I just want to get a feel for the REAL Poland, not just what you see in Warsaw or Krakow.
Thanks!

I think it does and I think there are references to this about Częstochowa if you visit the various youtube sites available.

Hi, it does not have any Jewish history as such. There is no synagogue or Jewish cemetary. I do not believe it has any Jewish memorials either. The communists planned to pollute the city by surrounding it with plastic factories and match factories. They also built a steel works in Rakow in the south of the city. There is no coal or iron ore occurnign in this region naturally. It was exactly the same with Nowa Huta in Krakow, the communist authorities simply wanted to pollute the city and flood the city with steel workers who would hopefully be atheists. Their plan backfired terribly.

It is not a bad place for a day trip though. If you avoid Jasna Gora - there is far less to see of course.

Combine a trip to Czestochowa with a visit to Olsztyn castle

There was a Ghetto in Czestochowa, not a large one but one none the less.

There is also a large Jewish cemetery. It's a bit out of the way and neglected, last year it was badly vandalized by youths who broke a couple of gravestones and sprayed swastikas on every stone in the cemetery

Kaczynski condemned the actions of those who did this in the press and some local high school kids came to help clean up the stones.


I'd have to agree with this.

The first time I went to Don Kichot the biggest disco in town my eyes were wandering a bit as I couldn't believe how stunning some of the girls were (and how little they were wearing in winter).

Needless to say my girlfriend noticed this so I had to do a quick save and say "I can't believe they wear such clothes in this weather" (there was an outside bar and it was -15), shook my head, told her she was beautiful and got away with it.

I have some photos from the club somewhere.. I'll dig them out!

Why do you think this is ?? I have travelled all over Poland and Czestochowa girls win hands down !

I think it's God's sense of humour. He populates the holiest town in the country with girls that make your mouth water.

Maybe we should check out the night clubs in Vatican City ? :)

I stand corrected. where is this?
i really had no idea and i know the town quite well

thanks for posting photographs

I've been to the ghetto area and my god the place looked so sad. It still looked a very sad place.

Original poster from Czestochowa 1942 there: deathcamps.org/occupation/pic/bigczdecree.jpg

For those interested: zchor.org/WWII.HTM

hahaha
im planning on going to czestochowa on my trip to krakow in august....
maybe i'll leave my bf at home in hungary away from those gorgeous czestochowa girls eheehhe
nah, i was wondering...my trip coincides with the assumption. august 15th. is it going to be absolutely szalony in czestochowa at that time??

Pictures of Czestochowa

Hi Lucy,

Are you arriving on the 15th August in Czestochowa or before ?

On the 14th August the Warsaw pilgrims arrive and receive a special welcome on the Aleja. The army, navy and air force also arrive en route to Jasna Gora. Also in the few days in the run up to the 15th August groups of singing pilgrims start arriving in town and they all walk towards Jasna Gora in the middle of the Aleja....it's a wonderful feel good moment.

Most of the pilgrims stay near the monastery so the rest of town isn't that crowded.

If someone could give me an idiot's guide to inserting a photo in my post then I will include some photos for you of the pilgrims arriving.