Łowicz 15-12-2025

Geographic coordinates: 52.104N 19.955E, elevation 89 m. Address: Łowicz Główny street Dworcowa 1, 99-400 Łowicz.

City of Łowicz.

Łowicz is one of the oldest and historically most important cities in central Poland. Its history dates back to the early Middle Ages and is closely related to the Catholic Church, Polish Culture and the tradition of the Łowicz Princes. The areas around today’s Łowicz were settled already in the 9th century by the Polan tribe. The first written mention of Łowicz comes from 1136 and is included in the Bull of Gniezno of Pope Innocent II. It is mentioned there that the estate is the property of the archbishops of Gniezno. In 1298, Łowicz received city rights from Prince Władysław the Elbow-high. For centuries, the city belonged to the archbishops of Gniezno and was one of their most important residences, next to Gniezno and Skierniewice. The primate’s castle was built here, which was later the holiday residence of the primates of Poland. From the 15th century, Łowicz served as the capital of the Duchy of Łowicz and was a separate Church territory. In the 17th–18th centuries, Łowicz, Gniezno and Skierniewice were practically the political center of Poland. Primates were interrexes during the interregnum and even during the king’s absence in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which maintained the unity of the state. In the area of ​​Łowicz, a characteristic culture of Księżacy Łowicz was created, which is characterized by: striped clothes, colorful cutouts, characteristic folk music and dances. Today, rich folk costumes are a symbol of the region and high culture.

After the third partition of Poland, the Łowicz Land was part of the Germanic (Prussian) partition. As a result of the Napoleonic Wars, in 1815, Łowicz and the surrounding area became part of the Kingdom of Poland, which was completely dependent on Moscow (Moscow state). Łowicz became a Muscovite garrison town.

The railway to Łowicz was built in 1845, as a branch of the Warsaw-Vienna Railway. The branch was in Skierniewice. In 1862, the railway route was extended to Bydgoszcz, a city that at that time was under the rule of the Germans (Prussians).

During the Great World War, the town of Łowicz suffered greatly. After Poland regained independence, the destroyed Łowicz was quickly rebuilt. The railway contributed to this. Less than 20 years later, the Germans started World War II again. During the defensive war in 1939, near Łowicz and Sochaczew, the largest battle of the September Campaign took place, which history called the “Battle of the Bzura”. As a result of the Germanic occupation, Łowicz was significantly destroyed. Part of the old town suffered greatly.

After World War II, Łowicz began to develop dynamically. Many food industry plants were established. A museum was founded in Łowicz. Folk culture continued to develop and, despite the existence of communism, attachment to the Catholic religion continued to develop. In Łowicz there is one of the largest processions of God’s Whole. Historic buildings were rebuilt, including the cathedral, the primate’s buildings and parts of the tenement houses at the old and new market squares. From 1927, military depots were located in the castle. After 1945, the castle area was crossed by a new street. Currently, in 2025, the ramparts of the bastion, a fragment of the moat and the walls of the upper castle from the 16th century have been preserved.

Łowicz is a city and commune in the Łódź Voivodeship, in the Łowicz County. The city was founded in the 12th century, and city rights were granted before 1298. The location document has not survived and was destroyed by the occupiers. The city’s area is 23.42 square kilometers. In 2023, the city’s population was 26,099 inhabitants.

Łowicz is located in the macroregion of the Central Masovian Lowland, on the Łowicz-Błońska Plain. Historically, it is Masovia and the Sochaczew Land. The Bzura River, a left tributary of the Vistula, flows through the city. The city’s elevation ranges from 82 m to 91 m. The first mention of the settlement comes from a bull of Pope Innocent II from 1136. The name Łowicz was formed already in the 13th century, although its written form has changed. The final spelling of Łowicz dates back to 1827. The etymology of the word comes from the verb łoć, meaning to hunt.

The area of ​​Łowicz belonged to the church property, specifically to the bishops of Gniezno. There were three main settlements; Gniezno, Skierniewice and Łowicz. In Łowicz there was a castle of the Ariybis of Gniezno, built around 1355. Currently, there are ruins of a castle here. The exact date of the location of Łowicz is not known, but already in 1298, there was a mint here, which could only be a privilege of cities. Because the bishops managed to separate Łowicz from the influence of the Masovian princes, there was a conflict between the two estates. The bishops had the support of the Polish Kings. The disputes lasted until Mazovia was incorporated into the Crown. In the 15th century, the city consisted of; Podgrodzie, Old Town and New Town. The location of the city was confirmed under Środa law. In 1443, a new town hall was built. The city received several important privileges from the kings, including exemptions from paying customs duties and market tax. Thanks to its convenient location, the city developed well. During the interregnum, Łowicz served as the administrative capital of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Interrex was traditionally the Primate of Poland.

The Swedish Deluge marked the city and it never regained its high rank. The Swedes, as Lutherans, destroyed the bishop’s castle, all churches, monasteries, schools and Catholic hospitals. The city was unable to recover from the destruction. After the second partition of the Republic of Poland, in 1793, the city became a Germanic (Prussian) partition. In 1907, as a result of the Napoleonic Wars, the city became part of the Duchy of Warsaw, and in 1815 it became part of the Kingdom of Poland, completely dependent on Moscow. The city became the property of Grand Duke Konstanty and his wife Joanna Grudzińska, who ordered herself to be titled; Duchess of Łowicka. In 1822, the Muscovites marked the borders of the Duchy of Łowicz. After the death of Joanna Grudzińska, Łowicz became the property of subsequent tsars.

Railway in Łowicz.

The Muscovites were not eager to develop the railway. They treated it only as a means of troop transport, not economic development. The first Warsaw-Vienna railway in Poland, at the request of the governor, the bandit Ivan Pankiewicz, received a branch line to Łowicz. The Warsaw-Vienna Railway was the first operational railway in the entire Muscovite State.

Laying tracks on a section; Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Skierniewice – Łowicz was completed on October 15, 1845. Regular railway traffic on the Warsaw-Łowicz route was launched on November 1, 1845. In April 1848, railway traffic was launched on the entire Warsaw-Vienna railway. This way, it was possible to go from Łowicz to Krakow, Wrocław, Berlin and Vienna. In 1861, the Łowicz Główny station was built. In 1862, after the Warsaw-Bydgoszcz railway was launched, Łowicz was connected to the Germanic railway; Ostbahn, i.e. you could travel to cities; Gdańsk, Królewiec, Bydgoszcz, Poznań, Szczecin and Berlin. In November 1866, it was possible to travel from Łowicz through Koluszki to Łódź, thanks to the Fabryczna – Łódź Railway.

At the end of the 19th century, Łowicz belonged to the Warsaw Governorate. The inhabitants of Łowicz took an active part in the November and January Uprising, which resulted in numerous repressions. Despite this, the city systematically developed, mainly in small industry and crafts. As a result of the Great World War, in 1914, the German army entered Łowicz. In 1918, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was reborn. In 1939, the Germans once again went to war; World War II. Łowicz was occupied from September 16, 1939, until January 17, 1945, when the Muscovites entered the city. The Germans established a ghetto in the city. The Germans directed particular hatred towards the Polish population. After the Soviet army entered, a new communist occupation began and, ironically, we still have communists in the government until now (2025).

In the period 1975–1998, the city belonged administratively to the Skierniewice Voivodeship. On March 25, 1992, Saint Pope John Paul II, with the bull Totus Tuus Poloniae Populus, established the diocese of Łowicz, thus raising the Łowicz collegiate church to the dignity of a cathedral. During the seventh Apostolic Journey to Poland, the Pope visited Łowicz and on June 14, 1999, he gave the Łowicz cathedral the title of minor basilica.

Currently, there are several enterprises in Łowicz, the most important of which are: “Agros Nova” branch in Łowicz (production of jams, fruit juices, vegetable preserves), District Dairy Cooperative in Łowicz (production of milk and dairy products; the plant was established in 1930 as “Spółdzielnia Mleczarska Steam”), Firma Braci Urbanek (processing of vegetables and fruits), “Lamela” Sp. z o. o., Zakład Produkcji Opakowania “Opakomet” Sp. z o. o., “PartnersPol Group” Sp. z o. o., “Baumit” Sp. z o. o., “Chemipack” Sp. z o. o.

There are two important railway stations in Łowicz: Łowicz Główny and Łowicz Przedmieście. From Łowicz you can take a train to many cities in Poland. The longest direct connection is: Łowicz – Poznań – Szczecin – Świnoujście. There is a connection: Łowicz – Warsaw – Siedlce – Terespol.

The Łowicz Główny station was launched in 1845. Throughout its history, it has always had the name Łowicz, which, however, always had the second part of the name. In the period 1845-1862 Łowicz Wiedenski, in the period 1863-1902 Łowicz Aleksandrowski, in the period 1902-1914 Łowicz Wiedeński (again), and then Łowicz Północny, in the period 1914-1918 Lowitsch, from 1918 Łowicz and finally Łowicz Główny.

According to the PKP classification, the station has the category of a regional station. Travelers have access to connections from three railway carriers: Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna (among others to Łódź, Kutno, Skierniewice). Koleje Mazowieckie (including to Warsaw, Kutno, Płock). PKP InterCity (including to Warsaw, Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poznań, Szczecin, Świnoujście, Lublin, Rzeszów). In 2017, the station served 1,204,500 passengers. A decline in transport was recorded in the period 2020-2021 due to the Chinese virus pandemic. At that time, trains carried approximately 850,000 passengers per year. From 2022, passenger transport will systematically increase. In 2024, the station served 1,320,000 passengers. On November 26, 2025, 109 passenger trains left the Łowicz Główny station. You could go to the following stations: Bydgoszcz Główna, Celestynów, Chełm, Dęblin, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Hrubieszów Miasto, Kołobrzeg, Kutno, Lublin Główny, Łódź Widzew, Piła Główna, Płock, Poznań Główny, Rzeszów Główny, Skierniewice, Suwałki, Szczecin Główny, Świnoujście, Warszawa Falenica, Warszawa Wschodnia, Zielona Góra Główna.

Łowicz Główny Railway Station.

In 1861, the Łowicz station was built, which has survived in its modified form to this day. The station was designed by Adam Idźkowski in the classicism style. The building was in the form of an elongated rectangle, with projections facing the station square. The building had a two-story main part and side wings connected with single-story connectors. The building had 15 axes, three in each block. On the ground floor, all entrances and windows ended in a semicircle. The roofs on the two-story structures were envelope-shaped, relatively low, and the connectors were covered with a gable roof.

After World War II, the building was significantly damaged. The surviving part of the 19th century building was expanded in a modernist style by adding a second floor. All windows and doors were replaced. More entrance doors were added on the east and west sides. The building contained ticket offices, a waiting room and a “RUCH” kiosk.

The last renovation of the station was carried out in the period 2021-2024. Practically bare walls remain of the old station. In March 2022, a temporary container station was put into operation. On February 15, 2024 (Thursday), the building was made available to passengers after renovation. The building’s façade features a Łowicz cutout motif; plants and flowers. The façade panels were carved with cutouts and additionally illuminated. Bonings, pilasters and cornices were renewed. The gray façade harmonizes with the white window and door frames. (Previously there was brown woodwork). The interior was made similar to the historical one. The interior is dominated by gray and white colors. The waiting room has benches modeled on benches from the Polish People’s Republic period. Electronic arrival and departure boards, showcases and clocks were installed. On the ground floor there is a ticket office, toilets, a SOK (Railway Protection Guard) station and premises intended for commercial activities. The first floor is intended for offices, including railway services, and premises for rent. The hall floor is made of light gray stone, which contrasts with the basalt color of the wall coverings. Guide paths have been installed on the floor. The ceiling is white, lamella and equipped with long lamps and air conditioning and heating elements. The building is adapted for disabled people and is monitored 24 hours a day. There are elevators, ramps, Braille signs and leading paths. 68 photovoltaic panels were installed on the station roof. A roof was built from the top of the building over the passage to the tunnel leading to the platforms. After dark, the building is illuminated. During the works, a clock and inscriptions with the name of the Łowicz Główny station and the PKP S.A. logo were installed. The building has energy-efficient lighting and a system for optimizing the consumption of electricity, hot and cold water. The building is insulated, has new windows with triple glazing and new doors. Air curtains were installed at the entrance door. The building is equipped with burglary and assault alarms and a fire protection system. The building is modern and safe for passengers and railway workers like never before. The renovation of the Łowicz Główny station also covered the immediate surroundings. A new surface was laid near the station. Elements of small architecture have been installed; benches, baskets, lighting and new greenery was planted. The renovation cost PLN 13.17 million. The work was performed by the company; Construction Company “Często-bud” Damian Świącik from Częstochowa. She prepared the documentation; Domagało Wnuk Architects.

Platforms.

There are currently two island platforms and 4 platform edges at the station. There is no platform at the station building, which was closed down after World War II. A fence was placed between the station and the tracks, to which passengers attached their bicycles. In the 1950s, the platforms were renovated. They received a surface made of concrete pavement tiles, measuring 0.30 m x 0.30 m. Bus shelters and benches were placed on the platforms. There was lighting with street lamps. There were benches and garbage bins. From the station side there were: one track, Platform 1, three tracks, Platform 2, one track and holding tracks.

There was a direct exit from the station floor to a footbridge that led to the platforms and the other side of the station. The structure of the footbridge was made of steel. Next to the footbridge there was a level crossing of tracks for luggage carts and mail.

In 2017, renovation of the platforms began. At the same time, the track system and electric traction were rebuilt. A temporary passage was built at track level to Platform 2 and then Platform 1. Traffic on the footbridge was closed. The platforms have been lengthened; Platform 1 is approximately 350 m long and Platform 2 is approximately 250 m long. The new platforms are made of prefabricated concrete elements. Mainly at the platform edges. The rest was covered with concrete paving stones. A linear rainwater drain, lanterns and information boards were installed. There are guide paths, yellow warning lines and lines with buttons. A new long roof was installed, made of steel and covered with trapezoidal sheet metal. In 2018, the footbridge over the tracks was dismantled. A passenger tunnel with stairs and elevators was built. They run by Platform 1; track 1 and track 2. Platform 2 rebuilt in 2021. In 2021, pedestrian traffic was allowed in the tunnel, although the tunnel was not yet completely completed.

At the same time (2018), the construction of a viaduct over the tracks began at the rail-road crossing, along Generała Tadeusza Rozwadowskiego Street. The street is two-lane and has a bicycle path on the north-west side and a sidewalk on the south-east side. The viaduct was put into operation in 2022.

Łowicz Główny station.

There was a water tower at the station, with a rectangular base. The core of the tower is made of dark red brick. There are two technical buildings adjacent to the tower, including a pumping station. In 2008, a fire broke out during demolition works. The water tower and adjacent buildings were demolished. The area was tidied up in November 2008.

A modern computer control room has been operating at the Łowicz Główny station since 2022: LCS Łowicz Główny. Previously, there was a signal box with “ŁG” and executive signal boxes “ŁG1” and “ŁG2”.

At the station there are several memorial sites about Polish railway workers, who mainly died at the hands of Germans. On one of the boards there is an inscription: “In memory of the Railwaymen of the Łowicz Land, – fallen in defense of their homeland, – murdered in (Germanic) concentration camps and Pawiak, – fighting in Home Army units (1939-45), persecuted for their beliefs (1945-56). September 1991. Railwaymen of Łowicz.” Next to the board there is a sign of Fighting Poland, a stylized cross, and a fragment of a railway track.

Railway lines.

LK No. 3 Warszawa Zachodnia – Kunowice is a railway line of state importance, double-track, electrified, connecting Warsaw West and the western borders of Poland. It is 475.583 km long. Maximum speed 160 km/h.

LK No. 11 Skierniewice – Łowicz Główny is electrified, entirely double-track, with a length of 21.713 km. This is a line connecting the railway line No. 1 Warszawa Zachodnia – Katowice with the railway line No. 3 Warszawa Zachodnia – Kunowice and the railway line No. 15 Bednary – Łódź Kaliska (via the railway connections Łowicz Główny ŁG1 – Łowicz Przedmieście and Łowicz Główny – Łowicz Przedmieście) and with the railway line No. 12 Skierniewice – Łuków. The line runs parallel to national road No. 70. The railway line was opened on November 1, 1845, for the Warsaw-Vienna Railway. On May 25, 1963, the railway line was electrified and a second track was added.

LK No. 531 Łowicz Główny ŁG1 – Łowicz Przedmieście. This is a first-class, electrified, single-track line connecting turnout No. 30 at the Łowicz Główny station (ŁG1 area) with turnout No. 1 at the Łowicz Przedmieście station. Length 1,403 km.

LK No. 532 Łowicz Główny – Łowicz Przedmieście. It is a first-class, electrified, single-track line connecting the Łowicz Główny station with the Łowicz Przedmieście station. The line is 1,347 km long.

Łowicz Przedmieście railway station.

Łowicz Przedmieście is a railway station located in the Przedmieście district. The station was launched in 1902, under the name Łowicz Kaliski, because the line led to Łódź Kaliska. We will not give other names of the stations, because these are Germanic names, unpleasant to Poles.

There are 3 platforms at the station and 5 platform edges. There were ticket offices, but they are not open now. For the last 10 years, the station has served up to 300 passengers a day. There was a decline in passenger transport in the period 2020-2021 due to the Chinese virus pandemic.

Railway lines. LK No. 15 Bednary – Łódź Kaliska. LK No. 531 Łowicz Główny ŁG1 – Łowicz Przedmieście. LK No. 532 Łowicz Główny – Łowicz Przedmieście.

Zielkowice railway station.

The Zielkowice railway station in Łowicz is a non-existent station south-east of the Łowicz Przedmieście station. Geographic coordinates: 52.090N 19.960E. Elevation: 83 m. The station was located between Łąkowa Street and Pogodna Street. The station was located at LK No. 15. At the Warszawa Włochy station, a timetable from the turn of the 1940s and 1950s was found painted on a brick wall. The destination stations also include the Zielkowice station. Trains from the Warszawa Włochy station ran with high frequency, mainly to towns located in the close vicinity of the capital, i.e. to: Pruszków, Grodzisk, Żyrardów on LK No. 1 and Ożarów, Błonie and Sochaczew on LK No. 3, towards Łowicz. Several trains a day reached Skierniewice and Koluszki, as well as Łowicz, while single trains reached Łódź, Skarżysko Kamienna, Częstochowa and even Katowice. In August 2024, a fragment of the wall with a historic layout was placed in a display case at the Warszawa Włochy station. It is not known when the Zielkowice station was launched. It is estimated that these were the 30s of the 20th century. The station was closed at the beginning of the 1960s.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman