Mrs. Twardowska

Eating, drinking, smoking pipes,
Dancing, laughing, having fun,
They have almost smashed the pub,
Having the time of their lives!

Twardowsky sat down at the table,
And leant his elbows on it
“Enjoy your life” – he said to himself,
Making laugh at everyone.

Had he drunk all vodka from his glass,
It made a terrible sound,
Soon he saw something spooky in it,
And asked - “Why have you come in here?”

It was devil inside,
Who bowed friendly to the guests,
He took off  his hat and jumped of the glass,
Stood steadily on the wooden ground.

“Hello Twardowsky, my friend!”
While saying it, he knocked his heels,
“Don’t you know me? Indeed?”
“I’m Mefistofeles, my dear!”

“Though, it was in Lysa Gora place
Where you have talked to me,
You have signed the pact about a soul
With me and other demons here.”

“In two years’ time
You were to come to Rome,
To let us (devils)
Take your soul away.”

“Seven years have passed since then,
And you haven’t completed it yet,
You are misleading our hell,
Not thinking of visiting this place!”

“But revenge will come even slowly,
Throwing you to our place,
This place is “Rome” called, so
I’m taking you with me to the hell!”

“What should I do?” – Twardowsky is thinking
Getting more nervous and stressed.

Suddenly he’s come up with something new,
To make things even more canny,
“Look at the contract, Mefistoteles
You have promised something to me.”

“After all these years of waiting,
I will have three wishes to ask,
And you will fulfill them all,
With the most difficult tasks.”

“Look!” It’s the emblem of this inn
A horse painted on it.
I want to jump over its saddle
And ride on it even farther!”

“Then make a whip from the sand for me
To lash a horse with it,
And build a house in the forest for me,
To let me relax in it.”

“This house must be made of nuts
As high as Carpathian Mountains.”

Devil is making his wishes come true,
Cleaning and feeding the horse,
Then he made the sand whip
To be ready for further work.

Twardowsky mounted his horse
And tried some jumps and turns,
Then he galloped to check it again
And saw a new pretty place.

“You’ve won, Mefistofeles so far,
But you’ve forgotten about one more task:
You must bath in this basin right now,
It’s holy water inside.”

Devil is drilling and fidgeting
Until he gets really nervous,
But he’s doing what he’s said to
So he’s dipping himself in the water.

Suddenly he jumped from the water fast
He’s shaken and said with a smile
“Now, you’re mine
Cause I did what you asked.”

“One more thing and it’s a deal
(Your devil power will be weak)
Look, it’s a woman,
My wife – Mrs Twardowska”

“I’ll live there instead of you,
Just for a year at Belzebub,
And for this whole year
You’ll stay with my wife as her husband, too.”

“Promise her your love,
Promise her your respect,
Should you break one rule,
It all comes disrespect.”

Devil’s listening to Twardowsky
Pretending to look at his wife
But at the same time,
He’s reaching the door side

Twardowsky is teasing him more,
And makes him go from window to door,
Devil escaped through the key hole
And never returned to his home.

The legend of Mr Twardowski

Mr Twardowski on a rooster, graphic by A. Piotrowski, 1918

The most famous magician in Kraków, Mr Twardowski – so mysterious that the dispute as to whether he was a historical or fictitious person continues to this day – worked on the invention of the philosopher’s stone, which would allow the transmutation of any metal into gold, the rejuvenation of people, and the curing of all illnesses. In return for having all his wishes granted, the magician signed a pact with the devil, to whom he was to offer his soul when in Rome. One of the feats that Twardowski achieved thanks to the devil’s assistance was the building of the Błędowska Desert. The tale makes Twardowski Rocks in Zakrzówek the venue of the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that Master Twardowski ran. The rocks that received his name are rumoured to have originated on “a bad day” in the laboratory, that is the one when it actually exploded...

Trying to outsmart the devil, Twardowski carefully avoided going to Rome. Nevertheless, one day he guided his steps to a tavern, not knowing that “Rome is the name of that tavern”, and soon saw the devil coming to claim his soul. Not losing his wit, Twardowski quickly jumped on to the back of a rooster, and soared high into the sky. He is rumoured to still be living on the Moon and avoiding Kraków, so that his manservant – disguised as a spider – must spin a silver thread once a month and lower himself down to Kraków, to gather the latest gossip.

The Legend Of Miss Piotrkowska from Lodz, Poland

Mister Leszczynski – a very handsome and young bachelor from Leczyca, had great abilities to sketch. His domain was making the plans and the maps of new places, which could become factory settlements. More and more new places appeared, which made Leszczynski was famous in the village. A daughter of the pharmacist caught an eye on him. They met from time to time until they fell in love. He thought about her during days and dreamt at nights. He could not forget her.

Then he thought to present her portrait on one of the maps which he was just drawing.

So Leszczynski drew the contour of the beautiful girl on the map of Lodz.

Her head was the Main Market (todays Wolnosci Square, where there are all symbols of wisdom – the museum, church and the old Town Hall). Her long, dark plaits symbolise todays Pomorska and Legionow streets. Her long and beautiful neck is nothing else like Piotrowska Street, which is the nice and colourful place. Narutowicz and Zielona Streets represent her hands where the sign of work is present.Her heart is on the left – in the former Palace of Heinzl (todays City Hall). In Rzgowska and Pabianicka Streets her legs can be admired.

It’s the history of the most popular Lodz street.

The Warsaw Siren

A long long time ago two sisters sirens swam from the Atlantic Ocean to the Baltic. They were beautiful women with fish tails and they lived deep in the sea. 

One of them liked the rocks near Copenhagen and until today we can see her sitting on the rock at  the harbour. 

The second siren swam to the the huge harbour Gdañsk and then she swam to the source of the Vistula river.

When she was in Warsaw, she liked the city and she carne out from the water. She decided to stay there.

Soon the fishermen noticed that during the catching somebody interrupted them. Soon they were charmed with the siren singing but they didn't hurt her. Once, a rich trader saw the siren. He decided to show her on street markets so as to earn money. The trader captured the siren and put her into a shed. Fortunately a young servant heard  the siren's crying and saved her.

The siren was grateful and she promised to help the citizens if they ever would need  any help. Because of it the Warsaw Siren is armed now— she has got a sword and a shield.

The Polish White Eagle

A thousand years ago, or maybe even more, there lived three brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus. For many years they had been content in their villages, but the families grew larger and they needed more room to live.

The brothers decided to travel in different directions to search for new homes. Lech, Czech, and Rus traveled with their troops for many days. They rode their horses over mountains and rivers, through forests and wild country. There were no people to be found anywhere, not a town or tiny village. On the crest of a mountain top, they separated, each going in a different direction. Czech went to the left, Rus went to the right and Lech rode straight ahead, down the mountain and across vast plains.

One day Lech saw a splendid sight. He and his troops had come to a place where a meadow surrounded a small lake. They stopped at the edge of the meadow as a great eagle flew over their heads. It flew around in great swooping circles, then perched on its nest, high on a craggy rock. Lech stared in awe at the beautiful sight. As the eagle spread its wings and soared into the heavens again, a ray of sunshine from the red setting sun fell on the eagle's wings, so they appeared tipped with gold, the rest of the bird was pure white.

"Here is where we will stay!" declared Lech.
"Here is our new home, and we will call this place GNIEZNO ... (the eagle's nest).

He and his people built many houses and it became the center of his territory. They called themselves Polonians, which means "People of the Field". They made a banner with a white eagle on a red field and flew it over the town of Gniezno, which became the first historical capital of Poland.  And, now you know how Poland began .

Legend about King Popiel

Popiel, (9 cent.). is the first legendary prince of Poland ruling from Gniezno. Single mentioning about him comes from the Chronicles by Gall Anonymous from beg. of 12 cent. (book I, chapter 1-3). The information is a part of Piast story, the protoplast of Piast dynasty reigning in Poland, therefore it is funded on the Polish Court tradition.

The story contains two episodes. The first is related to the cutting of the hair (initiation) of two Popiel's sons ceremony simultaneously with cutting of the hair of Siemowit, son of Piast, poor footman of Popiel; Popiel plays a negative role in that episode since he drove away two strange guests from the feat, what turned to the Piast's advantage for the strangers invited by Piast for a modest treat miraculously increased quantities of food and bear, so that even Popiel with his court and guests invited to share the  meal, satiated themselves.

The second episode announces elevating Siemowit to the throne at the Popiel's disadvantage.  Prince Popiel, ruler of the Polanie tribe in ancient Poland, was married to the ambitious Ryska, in whose hands he was like putty.  She wanted to place her German kinsman at the head of the Polanie, and the naive Popiel agreed to her wily plan, even at the expense of his Uncles' lives. Both Popiel and Ryska invited his uncles to a feast at which the guests were given Miod (honey wine). When the Polanie learned that their Prince and Ryska had committed murder, they vowed vengeance. Taking refuge in a high wooden fortress in Kruszwica, on the edge of lake Goplo, Popiel and Ryska thought they were safe in the impenetrable tower. Legend has it that God sent swarms of rats and mice to gnaw through the solid walls, fell upon the wicked Popiel and Ryska and devoured them.  The tower still exists and is known as the Mouse Tower.


Both episodes belong to classic medieval stories, common to many cultures. They can be reduced to two details: Popiel reigned in Gniezno and lost the crown to Siemowit and Siemowit established new dynasty ruling the tribe of Polanie, being a core of future kingdom of Poland.



Popiel became a character of literature ("Myszeis" I. Kracicki, "Krol Duch" J. Slowacki (rapsod I), dramat "Popiel i Piast" M. Romanowski and "Stara basn" J.I. Kraszewski).

King Popiel

Poem by Nobel Prize winner Czeslaw Milosz

Those were not, it is certain, crimes just like ours.
It was all about dugouts carved out of linden trunks
And some beavers' pelts. He ruled over marshes
Where the moose echoes in a moon of acid frosts
And lynxes walk in springtime onto the drying holms.

His palisade, his timber fort, and the tower
Built by the fins of the gods of night
Could be seen beyond the water by the hidden hunter
Who dared not push aside the branches with his bow.
Until one of them returned with the news. Over the deep into the rushes
The wind chased the largest boat, and it was empty.

Mice have eaten Popiel. The diamond-studded crown
He got later. And to him, who vanished forever,
Who kept in his treasury three Gothic coins
And bars of bronze, to him who went away,
No one knows where, with his children and women,
To him lands and seas were left by Galileo,
Newton and Einstein. So that, for long centuries
He might smooth, on his throne, his javelin with a knife.

Mice Tower In Kruszwica (remaints of a castle)

The Mouse Tower in Kruszwica, constructed in 1350, incorrectly associated with Popiel

The castle was a Kruszwica sub-prefect seat. In XIII cent. it was a property of the Calisia prince, Boleslaw, after that it it belonged to the Kujawy princes. Since 1319 it belonged to king Wladyslaw Lokietek. The Teutonic Order knights won the castle in the battle and burned it. King Kazimierz Wielki restored the castle and later he left it by his will to the Slupsk prince Kazko, but the king's will was voided and the castke with the town went to the king Ludwik Wegierski's estate. The castle was once more taken by the Swedes and burned on June 18, 1657. Since then it was just a ruin. Finally it was taken down almost entirelly at the end of XVIII cent. and the brick was sent by barges to Inowroclaw. The 100 feet octogonal tower some of the adjoining walls is all what remains today. The tower was hosting prisoners in the past. Its name comes from the legend on king Popiel who was eaten by mice.

Devil Boruta (Łęczyca)

Character and look.

Devil Boruta was presented in  many ways of characters. A popular version he is a tall noble with long, black mustache and dark eyes. People called him Black Boruta or Noble Boruta.

However, Boruta was seen in many places. For example as a big bird with large wings on the meadows or as a big fish with horns at the Bzura River. He was also met as an owl.  He robbed  nearby mills from flour. He gave it to the poor.

The symbol of devil’s presence was fire which suddenly burnt  and quickly went out.

Boruta lived in 14th century.  In 1360 when people were building the Royal Castle in Łęczyca, the king Kazimierz the Great went through Łęczyca and got stuck in his carriage in the mud. Boruta helped him. The King Kazimierz the Great gave him a castle.

Łęczyca; this wooden statue of Casimir greets visitors to the castle.

There are a lot of versions how Boruta became a devil. Probably in the 14th century in his castle the Prince of Mazowsze had to hide hoard. Since that time on  Boruta was seen in dungeons of the castle.

Boruta sometimes goes outside and he saves chest of gold. In the legends Boruta is clever and cunning. He has also superhuman powers. He usually outwid people by his devil’s trick but in a lot of legends he appears as good man who helps poor people.

Boruta as a drownman

Befind Witonia there is a pond in which drownman alives. People believe that this drownman was a ghost which swallowed drank people to the pond. He could be a mouse, a fish or a child. He is devious.

Boruta as a muddy

Boruta is famous in Łęczyca. Boruta was angry that church was being built next to his house. He was disturbing the workers and trying to distroy a church. After a few years, the God's house was built. One dark and wet night, dirty Boruta wanted to distroy one of the towers. He failed.  Since them the sign of his hand still is there.

Boruta as a noble

Until now, near the ruins of the Leczyca’s castle Boruta devil lives. People saw him many times when he was walking there. People think that now he is too old to leave his house too often. He stays in dungeons and quarts his gold. Many people tried to take his money away, but hardy no one managed to do it and survive. But anyone who dealt with Boruta was alived after it.

The noble lived next to the castle and wasn’t afraid of anything. He was good at fighting with a sword. Even neighbours started to call him Boruta and he liked it. One day that noble bet with the other people that he would rob Boruta’s money. It was midnight when he stopped in front of the entrance of the dungeons and he got scared. He was walking more confident with every step. He got to a chamber full of gold and diamonds. In the centre of the room a noble was sitting on a chair.

- Hello Master – Stanger started talking.- Who are you?
- Boruta, and you?
- I’m Boruta too but I don’t remember you as a member of my family.
 Now the noble discovered that another one was a devil.
 - Have you come for my money?- The devil asked.
- I won’t take all the money.
- You are so modest and brave. Take as much as you want and then we will have a drink.

The noble started to pack the money into his pockets and sacks.

- To your health - devil!- the noble started to toast. When he drank his alcohol, he got frightened. He started to run away with the gold. Ghosts and devil started to follow him. Luckily, the rooster started to craw and everything disappeared when the noble got out of the caves, he looked into the sacks. The money changed into the stones.

No one believed that he visited Boruta. People didn’t want to talk to him. It was said that he still called his brothers  Borutas. A year later,  he went  hunting and didn’t come back. Nobody knows what happened to him.

Boruta as a peasant

People say a story about this bad ghost. The priest from Łęczyca was praying when he was invited for a dinner. When he was walking through the meadows, he met peasant who was smiling  when he saw him and he said:
'Good evening! '
' But it is morning , not evening. ' – a suprised priest replied.
' It must be evening, beacuse it is becoming dark! '
Priest recognised who he is talking to. This is Boruta who took a treasure.

Boruta as an owl

Boruta is the name of a famous devil who lives under the Łęczyca's  castle. He is very old about  400 years old. He became rich and he has hidden himself since then.

Royal Castle in Łęczyca was built about 1350 by the king Casmir III the Great...

Later the castle served as a prison for the gentry, but for the whole period of its existence it has been officially recognized as the residence of Boruta Devil - a malicious prankster who has been accompanying the local community for generations... Łęczyca, Poland...

Nearby Łęczyca's castle the noble lived whose name nobody knew. He was very brave and he won ale the fights. He received the nickname - Boruta , because it was believed that the devil Boruta had to help him with the fights.

He was called  Grey Boruta, because he was wearing a grey cap. From that time on, nobody disturbed him, because people were afraid of him. People had Grey Boruta in high esteem. It made him feel proud of himself . Grey Boruta promised that if he found the devil Boruta, he would take his treasure away .

Grey Boruta often drank a lot of alcohol - he toasted at the devil Boruta. Grey Boruta had a lof of money, but he spent all of them quickly. So he decided to steal some treasures from the Devil Boruta's vault.

At midnight he lit a lamp and he went to the dungeons. He was going and walking around the dungeons and finally he found gold and wealth. He was very suprised, because he saw an owl - Grey Boruta knew that this owl was the image of the devil Boruta. Grey Boruta bowed down. Then he started to fill his pocket with all gold. He also packed it to his mouth and then when he was going out, the door closed and it hurt his foot . He was covered with his blood, he hardly reached his home. From that time, he had  lot of money, but he lost his health. One day neighbour killed him.

The house was empty and nobody wanted to live there, because the devil Boruta often sat on the willow and he was transfering the treasures to his castle.