Bierun, a Legendary City

One day we decided to visit the neighboring city of Bieruń. We took a free bus ride since that privilege lasted until the end of My.
Bierun is a city from which many folk tales refer to the mysterious "Drowners". One can even speak of a little mythology. According to the beliefs, "Drowns" are ghosts inhabiting wetlands. They were cast down from the sky. A convenient place for the creatures to live in were the areas called "Frog's Country", corresponding to the area of today's Bieruń-Lędziny County, due to the presence of numerous wetlands in these areas and the now non-existent Wielki Bieruński Pond.

The mysterious Drowners fountain and monuments, Market Square, Bierun

The mysterious Drowners monument, Market Square, Bierun

The mysterious Drowners monument, Market Square, Bierun

The mysterious Drowners monument, Market Square, Bierun

From numerous fairy tales, legends and legends, we can learn that "Drowners" were able to assume various forms of animals, humans, semi-humans and elements of inanimate nature. These skills were often used to make various jokes of the local community.
In order to commemorate old beliefs and rich folk culture, sculptures of "Drowners" placed on a well have appeared on the square. The sculptures present "Drowned" in various forms: "Old Drowner", "Young Drowner" and "Duck".

The urban layout of the Old Town, as we were told, is a typical example of a medieval town. It is made up of an almost square market square, at the corners of which come out at right angles, two streets each, and the adjacent parish church on the eastern side. The current development of the market is a complex of one-story tenement houses with different facades.

The sundial, Market Square, Bierun

Market Square in Bierun

The oldest monument in the city dates to 1295. It is a mound built during the times of Comes Urban, located southwest of the old town, in the valley of the Mleczna River. This artificial hill at the base is similar in shape to a quadrilateral (34 x 32 m) with rounded corners and a truncated top. Its height ranges from 5 to 5.5 m. At the top there is a brick chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. Until the end of the 19th century, the Mound was an independent political commune with its own seal with the mound in its coat of arms. Historians refer to such mounds as "conical gates". They played a huge role in the country's defense, especially in the 13th century. They were surrounded by a moat and a palisade, and on their top, there were residential and defense towers. Due to their small size, they only housed the crew, which emphasized the military character of the building. In addition to defensive functions, the strongholds also served as the center of local administration, as the seat of the castellan. Apart from historical sources, there are also many legends about the mound and its functions. Some say that the mound was a place of trial and execution, others that the Bieruń mound served as a place of sacrifice by pagan priests.

Bierun is also called a depositary of architectural monuments. We were glad to see the beautiful wooden St. Valentine’s Church and the monument to St.Valentine, who is the patron of the city. The church is being renovated, but we were allowed inside to take some pictures upon our request.

The cult of Saint Valentine (175-269) - the Patron of the City of Bieruń, - has been cultivated for many generations in Bieruń and the surrounding area. There is Saint Valentine's church - a wooden, 17th-century historic church dedicated to him. In addition, a monument was built opposite the church in honor of this Saint. The figure of the Holy Bishop is cast in bronze and placed on a pedestal of a granite column. The saint has raised his right hand in a gesture of blessing, inviting young couples to pledge eternal loyalty to each other.
Since December 20, 2003, he is also the patron saint of Bieruń. The monument was erected in 2008. It is located at the intersection of Krakow Street and Chemical Workers’ Street (ul. Chemików), opposite St.Valentine’s Church.

The inscriptions of the plaques with religious styled images around St.Valentine's monument read,

The monument to St.Valentine was created on the initiative of the 600-year-old Bieruń Lovers' Association, supported by the City Authorities and dedicated donors. It is the only statue of St. Valentine to Silesia and all over Poland.

St.Valentine's Church, Bierun

St.Valentine was a bishop who became a martyr. He was beheaded during the persecution of Christians in the reign of Emperor Claudius II of Goth. According to legend, St.Valentine (Walenty in Polish) was a doctor by education and a clergyman by vocation. Emperor Claudius II Gocki forbade young men aged 18 to 37 to enter into marriage because he believed that the best soldiers were legionaries without families. Bishop Walenty broke this prohibition and blessed the vows of the young soldiers. He was thrown into prison for this. According to legend, he fell in love with the blind daughter of his guardian, who regained her eyesight under the influence of love. When news of this reached the emperor, he ordered to kill Valentine, and the execution was carried out on February 14, 269. St.Valentine is the patron of seriously sick people (mainly those who are mentally ill and have epilepsy). He has been known as the patron of the people who are in love.

St.Valentine's Church, Bierun

Particular for Bieruń is the urban layout of the Old Town, which is a typical example of a medieval town. It is made up of an almost square market square, at the corners of which come out at right angles, two streets each, and the adjacent parish church on the eastern side. The current development of the market is a complex of one-story tenement houses with different facades.

St.Bartholomew's Cathedral, Bierun

St.Bartholomew's Cathedral, Bierun

St.Bartholomew's Cathedral, Bierun

Works on the mini-arboretum in Bieruń have been completed. It is located at Bijasowicka Street. You can find five hectares of arranged greenery surrounded by walking and cycling paths. The arboretum is a place where, first of all, certain species of plants are collected. It is a specific type of botanical garden. The arboretum is a living nature museum characterized by an orderly layout and a multitude of diversity, with many unique specimens. All elements of small architecture and types of surfaces in the park have been adapted to the specificity of this place.

Coat-of-arms of Bierun

The coat of arms of the city shows a black deer on a blue coat of arms, running to the right on a yellow turf.
On its horns, the black deer carries a large standing white swan with raised wings.

The coats-of-arms of Bierun's twin-cities:

• Gundelfingen (Germany), since 1997;
• Moravsky Beroun (Czech Republic), since 1998
• Ostrog (Ukraine), since 2005.

City Council balcony with coats-of-arms of the districts of Bierun