The old Polish city of Lodz has a linear layout with the main street Piotrkowska, which crosses it from north to south. The main architectural sights are located along this artery. Among them are the old mansions of the factory owners that once filled the city. By the way, industrial quarters are located in the northern and southern parts of the city, on both sides of Petrkovskaya Street, which is considered the longest in Europe.
In the southern industrial area, there is a complex of a former textile factory that belonged to a Polish Jew. The company was founded at the end of the 19th century and developed successfully until the beginning of World War II. With the arrival of the Nazis in Poland, the factory was taken away. After the Victory, the company was nationalized. And after the collapse of the USSR, it worked for some time under the leadership of a private entrepreneur and was closed on the eve of the 21st century due to high competition.
They decided to preserve the colorful monument of industrial architecture and convert it into a shopping and entertainment center. Today it houses shops, cafes and restaurants, a cinema, a sports complex, a business center, and the Museum of Textile Production.
The palace of Israel Poznansky, the first head of the factory, has also survived to this day. The mansion is built in the Rococo style with richly decorated facades and a glass dome on the roof. Despite its luxury and abundant decor, the building harmoniously blended into the ensemble of industrial buildings adjacent to its walls.
The interiors of the palace look no less magnificent. The premises are lavishly decorated with marble, wood paneling from precious woods, gilded stucco molding, and exquisite French furniture. Today, within the walls of the mansion, a museum exposition is presented, including the personal belongings of the owner of the building, photographs, paintings, as well as artifacts telling about prominent citizens.
Here, nearby is a unique example of wooden temple architecture. This is the Church of St. Joseph. Previously, it was the main city temple, but due to the growing population and number of parishioners, the church lost this status by the middle of the 19th century. The authorities wanted to demolish the building and erect a new, more spacious church in its place. However, the clergy defended the building and found an investor to rebuild and expand it. Israel Poznansky became them, who moved the temple to his factory.