PRYM

• folk art: sculpture, painting, paper art, ornamentation….
  crafts: embroidery, pottery, metalwork, paper cut-outs, ….
   declining traditional occupations: miller, potter, cooper, blacksmith, carpenter, weaver, potter, …,
  local, traditional products and dishes,
   local customs, habits, traditions,
  characteristic local dialect.

 Some elements of cultural heritage such as traditional crafts, Łęczyca dialect, Łęczyca folklore, Łęczyca dishes are threatened, especially because of the unification of global culture, the momentum for commercial distribution, lack of money and time to reflect on our common future;

The planned projects should merge more the tied partnership. Growing interest in purchasing building sites and recreational activities, increases the demand for construction services. The emergence of other horse riding centers increases the interest in such competitions as stableman, equerry. Very much needed today in our area are the forges, joineries, there are no carpenters, potters, roofers, painters, sculptors.

Location in the basin of Bzura and Ner rivers, the historical Łęczyca with its characteristic form of folklore and the Devil Boruta are the main elements distinguishing the area of the LAG Foundation “PRYM "and emphasizing its individuality.

What differentiates us is historical Łęczyca region, whose part are all the municipalities making up the Foundation "PRYM”. This territory played an important role in Polish history. Polish history was born here. The major trade routes leading from south to north passed through this territory. The history left many traces in the form of monuments, archaeological findings and a treasure found in Parzęczew in 2004.

Specific to our area is the location of the land in the vast valleys of Warszawa-Berlin marginal stream valley between Bzura and Ner rivers. Along Bzura run the famous Łęczyca Mud that divide the area into two parts: the north and the south part. 243 km of rivers flow here, creating a unique combination of climate and water conditions. Storks, swans and gray herons circle over the ponds. Almost every step scares away agile lizards. All known in Poland species of lizards appear here. Animal "social life" blossoms in such a rich environment. One can meet a deer during almost every walk. On a relatively small area, there are rivers, ponds, marshes, wet meadows, dry pastures and fallow land and mixed forests from the wet alder groves to heather undergrowth tall pine forests.

The historical past, landscape and the variety of religious conditions of Łęczyca region and its residents clearly contributed to the distinctiveness of the local folk culture. The Devil Boruta, striped garments, traditional products and dishes are the elements which identify the residents and demonstrate the inherent attributes as their small homeland. Sometimes these links are generated around the "new issues", those that have recently become part of the local life such as organizing the ritual performances (e.g. "Midsummer play"), cyclic outdoor events (e.g. "Parzęczew Days), a feast of hunters, foresters and riders called Hubertusy in riding clubs, fishing villages and thematic routes, i.e. "Biesiadny Zakątek” (Festive Corner) in Śniatowa, "Kuźnia Talentów"(Forge of Talents)in Lubień "Wioska Artystyczna" (Village of Art) in Domaniew or " Wozem drabiniastym przez wieś szlakiem ginących zawodów” (A wagon trail through the village of vanishing jobs) in Dzierzążna, Biała, Ciosny and Rosanów.

MISSION: To create a recognizable tourist area in the country and abroad.

Our advantages:

- Actively taken bottom-up initiatives (including: the creation of villages and thematic routes, the revitalization of the old craft workshops, the organization of open-air sculpture, theater festivals, picnics, presentation of local dishes)
- Natural resources: one of the largest in Lodz region forest complexes "Grotniki," valley of the rivers Bzura and Ner, valuable natural areas Natura 2000, mud and peat resources in the vicinity of Rogoźno, water reservoirs, quiet and picturesque landscape for the organization of painting, sculpture and willow workshops,also for planting energetic willow (as a cheap and readily available material for willow makers), waterlogged land suitable for cultivation of wicker, cane, mud and peat, clay (as a material for potters)

- Cultural resources: Łęczyca’s products and local cuisine, folklore, crafts, legend of the Devil Boruta, woolen scarves, ritual performances, Łęczyca dialect, Domaniew dialect , embroidery, a private Gallery of Lord Alexei Matczak in Idzikowice, local rural architecture, bands and choral ensembles, church choirs, dance groups, theater, traditional crafts, old mills, private and museum collections of agricultural machinery and tools, old water mills, bread ovens,

- Historical resources: history of Łęczyca region, Battle of Dalików, Battle of Orła, monuments, historic cemeteries, churches, chapels, Volunteer Fire Brigade banners, photographs, publications of our famous residents: JP Dekowski Z. Hauke, A. DŁUŻEWSKI - Sobczak, M . Szymczak, J. Kopka, and our famous artists : Stanislaw Kopka from Dzieżbiętowa, valuable exhibits of our local artists and a full archive of the Museum of Łęczyca.

- A wide range of members of the LAG
Experienced staff of the LAG

Innovative solutions, not used previously in the territory of LAG Foundation PRYM:

- Emphasis on new features in tourist area of the LAG, which is a strong impetus for the creation of alternative sources of income of the population;

- Village renewal and development through the creation and development of thematic villages - a combination of tourism with culture, dying craft, knowledge-based economy, emotions and creativity, a gaze at their own pens and houses in a different way, the changes in the daily life of the village by offering new services, previously quite underrated; this is one of the ways to improve the situation of rural residents, especially those lying away from the cities and good roads, with no obvious tourist attractions, the villages, where residents say there is not anything interesting to do, there are no prospects;

- The idea of SCHOOL of CRAFTS - craft workshops open to young people, but also for adults who want to find employment in today’s sought vanishing professions, such as building a fire and bread oven in the potter’s workshops we can teach a profession, to show the importance of passion in human life, to provide heating in the concrete commons such as the rural site and encourage rural residents, especially farmers, to run non-agricultural economic activities, cooperation with the Chamber of Crafts and the Crafts Guild joining together the local artisans is very important in the implementation of this project;

- Involving local communities in the development process through the implementation of actions contributing to the growth of rural social capital; the factor for development was widely underestimated and rarely present in the activities and programs implemented earlier in rural areas; among the scheduled operations are training courses and workshops within the framework of small-scale projects and to acquire skills and activation of local communities;

- The use of the achievements and experiences of all partners of the Foundation operating in this area, particularly social and economic organizations.

Cultural contexts

The historical past, landscape and the variety of religious conditions of Łęczyca region and its residents clearly contributed to the distinctiveness of the local folk culture, whose determinants are specific elements of art and folklore.

From an ethnographic point of view, the term Łeczyca region means the area extending from central Poland, north to Kłodawa, Łanięta, and Wojszyce, in the east to Oczkowice, Głowno and Dmosin, in the south - east to Stryków, in the south to Zgierz, Konstantynow and Lutomiersk, in the west the boundary is based on the Ner river from the village Grodzisko to the ancient settlement Kłodawa.

The oldest popular craft here was carpentry, focusing on manufacturing furniture and household equipment. This group includes: dowry chests and ornate chests with raised age. Furniture and household objects made by artists - craftsmen, were characterized by simplicity and naturalness. There were and still are present today throughout the whole region.

Another typical for the area of folk art was Łęczyca’s web. It is characterized by modesty and simplicity limited to a few muted colors. Fabrics were performed independently drawn yarn, dyed naturally. From homespuns and canvases Łęczyca’s costumes were sewed, which today are worn by bands and dance groups, operating in this area. They include: Band "Parzęczewiacy”, vocal group of Parzęczew, The ritual group" Orlaneczki "from Orła, the vocal group "Wesołe Kowalewiczanki "from Kowalewice, The" Giecznianki "band, Song and Dance Group" Szczawiniacy ", the group "Biała Róza " and the band "Dalikowiacy”.

Decorating cottages and houses was the traditional element of the folk art. One can still meet in the cottages labor-consumimg "spiders", "feathers" and "woven" and "inflated". Deep roots in the folk art revival have the artistic blacksmithing, braiding and pottery. Products from these areas are characterized by simplicity and craftsmanship. 

Folk sculpture is an art that never yielded to modernity and fashions. Legends and folk tales are the source of inspiration for the sculptors. The legendary Devil Boruta is the main character that is usually carved.

This region is famous for the legend of the Devil Boruta from the Łęczyca castle. It is said that " in the times of Casimir the Great, the king after seeing the construction of the castle in Łęczyca went after dusk in the direction of Kujawy. “Crossing the near Łeczyca swamps, the Royal Chariot mired down in the mud and the servants could not dig it out. Suddenly, a gentleman on a horseback appeared, he bowed slightly without taking off his hat and offered his assistance. The king wondered greatly that one man wants to manage what several men could not. The nobleman moved away for a while, and shortly he came back dragging poplar branches behind the horse back. The land around the chariot was padded with the branches and it got out of the mud. The cortege stopped at a nearby inn at the crossroads. The king wanted to reward the nobleman with gold, but he only asked the king to order music and dancing. Casimir the Great told the innkeepr to roll out the honey and drive the fiddlers to work. And the dances started. The Devil Borual, who was in the gentlema’s shoes, was dancing and dancing until dawn in the company of his companion and also the debtor, the King Casimir the Great. And in this way Borut won a bet, which he made with Lucifer that Boruta will dance with the Polish monarch. To commemorate the event the land around the inn was called Topola Królewska (the Royal Poplar), and Lucife rangry about losing the bet, tied Boruta forever with Łęczyca swamps"

The castle was built by the order of Casimir the Great. It was a part of the defensive fortifications. One of the towers well preserved to this day serves as the bell tower at the church parish. Currently, the castle houses a museum. For several years, knight tournaments have been organized there.
There is a wealth of objects and forms of cultural heritage in the area of the project:
St. Peter and Paul’s wooden church in Biała from the eighteenth century,
The park from the first quarter of the twentieth century in Dzierzążna
All Saints’ wooden church in Gieczno from 1717,
The park in Glinnik from the turn of the 17th and 18th century
The wooden church from the 18th century in the village of leźnica Mała
The 18th century church Topola Królweska
Sacred Heart of Jesus’ church in Blonie from 1913
St. Martin's church in Siedlec from 1922
St. Roch’ wooden shingle church in Topola Królewska from 1845
St. Peter and Paul’s wooden church and cemetery in Tura from 1754
St.Matthew’s Neo-Gothic church in Dalików erected in the years 1908 – 1913
wooden church under the patronage of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist in Budzynek, built as a hunting chapel 1710 - 1711,
St.Florian’s church in Domaniew from the early sixteenth century, founded by Stanislaw Zalewski-Łęczyca’s Warrant Officer,
mass grave of the 1863 rebels at the cemetery in Dalików,
cemetery chapel in Dalików (neobarok, late Gothic),
historic park founded in the mid-nineteenth century by the Wardęski family from Dalików, then owners of property in a naturalistic style (imitation of the English landscape parks, with a beautiful hornbeam and ash alley),
St.Roch’s larch cemetery church in Parzęczew from the first half the 17th century,
church under the patronage of the Assumption of mary from 1804 in Parzęczew,
St.James the Apostole’s wooden church from the beginning of the 18th century in the Leźnica Wielka,
fortified settlement in Parzęczew - a relic of medieval defense establishment from the beginning of the 15th century,
the palace - park complex in Stary Gostków from 1802, today the seat of the Municipal Wartkowice; the park area: 3.9 hectares,
the manor - park complex in Bronów (area: 7.6 ha) from the years 1862-1872 where Maria Konopnicka lived and created her works,
the manor complex in Jeżewo from the mid-nineteenth century,
the manor complex with park in Kębliny from the last quarter of the 19th century,
A. Matczak’s private open-air museum in Idzikowice,
the park in Ner,
the palace-park complex in Biernacice,
cemetery chapel in Wartkowice.

Łęczyca culture and tradition are still alive in this region. Development of culture of Łęczyca as cultural heritage and the involvement of culture in tourism are priorities in our LAG.
Traditions alive: Residents and tourists visiting the municipality had the opportunity to watch a few outdoor ritual performances, which have won wide recognition, i.e.:
“Święto Chleba”,
“Pierzawka”, “Pirzok” - Event that refers to a tradition of working and spending time together; in the long winter evenings, women gathered together to tear feathers, after the women came the men, and often musicians; working together was accompanied by laughter, joking, chatting, singing and dancing, if there was no period of fasting, a popular flying a pigeon into the feathers was a popular joke
“Wesele Staropolskie” – a show honoured during the Review of the People's Creativity "Tradycje ‘99"and recorded by TVP Lodz, presents such rituals as: blessings, capping ceremony, cakes, chicken, collecting the cap; a spectacle based on authentic texts and customs of the Sieradz – Łęczyca region
“Kiszenie kapusty” – Staging established on the basis of “Chłopi” Reymont,
“Tradycje Wielkanocne”,
“Tradycje Bożonarodzeniowe” with the participation of the Circle of Rural Housewives; presentation of the customs, traditions and food
“Kolędowanie”,
“Karczma Łęczycka”,
Jesienny Bieg św. Huberta,
-“Noc Kupały”,
- Regionalny Pokaz Potraw Ziemi Łęczyckiej- annually for 9 years on the "Fat Thursday," Łęczyca Women's Association in conjunction with House of Culture in Łęczyca, Museum of Łęczyca and ŁODR Bratoszewice (Lodz’s centre od agricultural advisory) have been organising a regional event to promote traditional food of Łęczyca; in 2008,more than 20 circles of rural housewives from Łęczyca region took part in the event; for the show, recipes were collected and issued as a commemorative publication “Specjały z łęczyckiej kuchni" (Łęczyca cuisine specialties); the show is an opportunity for joint meetings at the table, traditional sitting, but mainly a return to the sources of regional culinary arts;
-Łęczyca Women's Association, since 2003, has been organising the Show of Artistic Creativity of Housewives. It is a cultural event, which traditionally takes place on January 6 on "Epiphany" in the House of Culture in Łęczyca. Its purpose is to activate the rural community, promote cultural heritage, save ancient folk traditions from oblivion and to seek alternative sources of income. The show is accompanied by the exhibition of handicraft by the housewives from the region, and each year very intersting regional exposures are presented. Among other things, an exhibition called " Starocie w domu i zagrodzie" (Antiquities in the house and yard), "Dawne klimaty Kuchni" (The old kitchen atmosphere) and the last presentation of " Diabeł Boruta nie tylko w legendzie” (The Devil Borut not only in legend).

Joint participation in ceremonial events and performances integrates local communities and contributes to the preservation of traditions and transmission to next generations.
In order to promote the local cultural heritage the Foundation, with the large involvement of its partners, takes part in numerous promotional events:
- in Fair " Na Styku Kultur w Łodzi” (At the crossroads of Cultures) 
- in the Pavilion of the Regions during the Fair FARMA in Poznan - 10.2008,
- in Regional Competition Lodz Crucible of Tastes during the Days of Natural Food "NATURa FOOD in Lodz - in 2008, 15 housewives from our area applied their dishes to the competition, the two ladies won first prizes in the category of fish dishes – Stanisława Pastwińska, Śniatowa, for her “Śledzie z Kontrewersa”(Herrings from Kontrewers), and meat dishes – Halina Biniek, Parzęczew, for her “Zasmażla parzęczewska” (Paczęczew Roux).

Cultural Events: There are many cyclical and occasional cultural events organized on the LAG area: Harvest Festival, Interdistrict Preview of Brass Bands, Parzęczew Days, Children's Day, Women's Day, Fireman’s Day, Ciorcle of Rural Housewives Tournament, Interinstitutional Tournament, Fat Club Tournament. Periodically organized cultural activities allow the community to present themselves not only on the community or district level, but also on the regional and country level, and perhaps even on the European forum. The ambition of the people is to revive cultural life by organizing on the LAG area major surveys, contests, shows and exhibitions, during which they can show the cultural heritage of their villages and their rich history.

In the LAG area, there are still cherished traditions of Volunteer Fire Brigades, among others:
- Brass Band of Volunteer Fire Brigade in Parzęczew was honoured with numerous awards including: the first place in the Review of Brass Bands in Lodz Voivodship in 1998, the first place during the Festival of Brass Bands Association of Municipalities of Lodz Region in 2000 and 2002, the second place in the Review of Brass Bands in Lodz Voivodship "Złota Lira"(Golden Lyre) in 2000, the second place in the Tournament of the Earth's Brass Band of Lodz region in 2002;
- for over thirty years by the unit of the Volunteer Fire Brigade in Szczawin a Brass Band has functioned. It cultivates regional musical traditions, transmitted through generations. The orchestra takes part in local cultural events, state and church ceremonies. It brings together a group of supporters and promotes the cultivation of tradition among children and adolescents.

People’s skills: related to the cultivation of local and regional traditions, they are systematically aggravated by participating in various song, dance and theatre groups. The singing ladies from the band under the name "Giecznianki" have in their repertory songs and chants from a regional folk songbook. They take an active part in the cultural life on local and regional level, presenting their skills polished at workshops conducted by the Municipal Cultural Center in Dzierzążna. Young people are also actively involved in cultivating local traditions. Song and Dance Ensemble "Szczawiniacy" is a popular band based on school students from Szczawin. The youth willingly develops their dance and music skills, while developing their knowledge of the traditions of local folkdances and folk songs. The performances of the band are not limited to local scenes. The band gladly presents their repertory during various festivals, competitions and trips abroad. Another group developing skills and knowledge of the people is the Theater “Śmiechotek”, which also brings together school students from Szczawin. Children's theater, which has existed for several years, has won numerous renowned national and regional awards. Young people willingly participate in theatrical activities, developing their acting skills and knowledge of the theater.

Publications of the LAG:

- „Przewodnik po Łęczycy i Regionie Łęczyckim” edited by Jan Szymczak, Łęczyca 2005,
- „Łęczycki strój ludowy” Jan Piotr Dekowski, Łęczyca 1983,
- “Folklor ziemi łęczyckiej” J. P. Dekowski, Z. Hauke, Warszawa 1981,
- “Ziemia łęczycka. Szkice o przeszłości i teraźniejszości” B. Baranowski, J. Grodzka, Łódź 1964,
- „Parzęczew – dzieje osady i gminy” Jan Wiktor, Wydawnictwo SGGW–AR, Warszawa 1984,
- „Pieczęcie oraz herby miasta Łęczycy oraz Ziemi Łęczyckiej” Stefan Krzysztof Kuczyński,
Łęczyca 1984,
- „Potrawy kuchni łęczyckiej”, Łęczyca 2002,
- „Z kuchni Regionu Łęczyckiego”, Łęczyca 2003,
- „W cieniu parzęczewskiej Golgoty” ks. Jerzy Serwik, Parzęczew 2003,
- „Smaki łęczyckiej kuchni”, Łęczyca 2004,
- „Z łęczyckiej kuchni regionalnej”, Łęczyca 2005,
- „Specjały z łęczyckiej kuchni”, Łęczyca 2006,
- „Nie samym chlebem człowiek żyje”, Łęczyca 2007,
- „Kluchy – pampuchy”, Łęczyca 2008,
- „Opis Parzęczewa sporządzony przez burmistrza miasta S. Waśkiewicza z 1820r.”, Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych, Komisja Województwa Kaliskiego, sygn. Kalisz iI. 2237 – Akta Komisji Województwa Mazowieckiego... Akta przywilejów i opisu historycznego oraz topograficzno - statystycznego miasta Parzęczewa, f. 9-12. Oryginał,
- „Korzenie Gminy Zgierz” Maciej Wierzbowski, publisher: Urząd Gminy Zgierz,
- „Łęczyckie chusty kamelowe” Anna Dłużewska – Sobczak, Alicja Woźniak, Łęczyca – Łódź 2007,
- „Między Bzurą a Nerem. Przewodnik turystyczny”, ROTWŁ comissioned by Fundacji “PRYM”, Łódź 2008,
- „Łęczycka kuchnia regionalna wabi turystów”, Stowarzyszenie Kobiet Ziemi Łęczyckiej, Łęczyca 2008.

Historical conditions.

Łęczyca region played an important role in Polish history. It was the center of a tribal state, and in the Middle Ages it was the capital of the seven provinces. In 1261 it became a duchy, then Castellany, county, and after the unification of the Polish lands it became a province.

In the capital of Łęczyca region there was one of the earliest and most important Christian centers. At the end of the 10th century the Abbey of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded, and then in the 12th century, the impressive Collegiate church of St. Mary and St. Alexius was built in Tum. For many centuries synods of the Polish Episcopate were held there. The two major Polish congresses were held there as well: the first in 1180 and the second in 1285. In the 14th and 15th centuries, in Łęczyca castle, a series of acts of nationwide importance took place, e.g. the Seym in 1426.

After a period of prosperity lasting until mid-seventeenth century, there was the economic and political decline caused by devastating invasions of Swedish troops. After losing the status of a province after the second partition in 1793 Łęczyca region became a county. Despite the attempts to overcome the economic decline and participate in insurgent spurt during the partition, the region never regained its former glory.

Mentions of Parzęczew were present in the chronicles of Gallus Anonymus and Vincent, the bishop of Cracow, who described Parzęczew during his stay in Łęczyca region in 1180. The most important privilege which Parzęczew received throughout history, was a privilege granted by King Wladyslaw Jagiello, on April 7, 1421, by which the village Parzęczew was raised to the rank of the town.

Finding of the so-called Parzęczew Treasure in 2004, which consisted of more than a thousand silver coins from the 11th – 12th century, was an important discovery confirming the rich history of Parzęczew and of Łęczyca region, as well. It were silver denarii from different parts of Europe: Hungary, Saxony, the Czech Republic. The location of this treasure in the vicinity of Parzęczew relates to the history of Łęczyca Castellans and the trade route, which led through the Parzęczew village, and its wealth relates to the rank of the land in the Piast Poland.

On the LAG areas in the present-day Zgierz municipality, there exist many certificates that say about the continuity of settlement since the Stone Age. Many of the archaeological sites of the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron eras, and of the time of the Roman Empire and medieval days have been discovered here. The most interesting ones are: the Roman cemetery in Biała, the cemetery of the east - Pomeranian culture in Śladków, and hunting campings from the Paleolithic era.

To major centers of the former settlement belongs Gieczno, which in the 16th century had civic rights for a short time. One of the oldest villages with a rich history is Szczawin. The first written records of the village appeared in 1339. In the seven century history, it belonged to the royal property, and as a crown land it was awarded by the Polish monarchs for the services to the throne. The later history of the municipality is closely linked to the history and traditions of the town Zgierz, which, like today's municipal area, was a part of the former Łęczyca region.

In turn, the area of the Wartkowice municipality is an area with a long history of settlement, appealing to the prehistoric settlement. It results from the locations of archaeological sites that the Ner river represented the axis of the settlement. In the early Middle Ages, the region of the present-day Wartkowice municipality laid on the territory of the tribal country, the capital of which was located in Łęczyca, and Łęczycanie were the people who lived there. The oldest historically documented village in the municipality is Tur. The village is mentioned in the confirmation of the estate by the Archbishops of Gniezno from 1136r (Diplomatic Code of Greater Poland). In Tur there was the marketplace with taverns, which was also mentioned in the act of Przemyslaw II in 1280. Ujazd has also an old metric. "Comes de Ujazd" assisted Archbishop James in Uniejów in 1294 (Diplomatic Code of Greater Poland). Since 1391, the village of Gostków located on the crossroads of Łęczyca - Sieradz and Uniejów - Zgierz is also known. There was a postal station in the Polish Kingdom’s days.

Dalików - the capital of the Dalików municipality - according to historical transfers existed as a village owned by the nobility in the 15th and 16th century. Te belonged to the Sarnowscy family. In the late 19th and 20th century Dalików’s goods were owned by the Wardęscy family On 10 September 1863, one of the largest battles of the January Uprising took place in Dalików. During this bloody clash, 53 insurgents were killed, and several wounded ones died in hospitals. A monument from 1937 commemorated the event. It was destroyed in 1940 and rebuilt in 2001.