In Valpovo, near Osijek, residents of Bolesławiec attended at the invitation of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Zagreb and the Wisła Polish Cultural Society from Osijek (Slavonia).
The programme of Bolesławiec’s Polish Day at Valpovo Summer featured numerous Polish elements, including a photographic exhibition about Polish settlers from Galicia in Bosnia and present-day Croatia, a film about Bolesławiec, and performances by the Association’s choir, the “Bolesławiec” Municipal Brass Band, the Mały Bolesławiec ensemble and the Gościszowianki ensemble.
There was also a meeting with Jan Bujak, author of two volumes devoted to Polish settlers from Galicia (published in Poland under the title “Galicians and Serbs” and translated into Croatian). Bolesławiec ceramics were presented and clay-modelling workshops were held, while a highly popular tasting of Polish dishes was also organised.
On the final day, Consul of the Republic of Poland in the Republic of Croatia Janusz Tatera, together with Bolesławiec President Piotr Roman, members of the Polish community and visiting Poles, unveiled a plaque commemorating the 125th anniversary of the first arrivals of Polish settlers from the eastern territories of Galicia to Croatian Slavonia and Baranja. The plaque was installed in the Chapel of St. John Paul II in Tikveš, within Kopački rit Nature Park.
During the celebrations, a meeting entitled “Possibilities for Economic Cooperation between Polish Business Entities and Business Entities from the Slavonia and Baranja Region in the Republic of Croatia” was held. Poland was represented by Bolesławiec President Piotr Roman and Nowogrodziec Mayor Robert Relich. Approximately 50 people attended the meeting.
The trip of the Polish participants to the celebrations was organised by the Association of Returnees from Bosnia, Their Descendants and Friends from Bolesławiec, in cooperation with the Municipality of Bolesławiec, the Bolesławiec Cultural Centre – International Ceramics Centre and the Municipality of Nowogrodziec.
