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15 08 2014 godz.10:00

II Lower Silesian Festival of Secrets

We look back on another successful Festival of Secrets! Over 16 thousand visitors enjoyed museum exhibits from all of Poland, and talks by travellers and archaeologists (up to 10 lectures in the Conference Centre) - all of this in one of Poland’s largest

The festival, once again, combined a series of talks by academics, film presentations, exhibitions (moved, this year, to the castle chambers, furnished with an Egyptian tomb) as well as dioramas and historical re-enactments with pyrotechnic effects. The biggest attractions included a spectacle performed by a historical re-enactment group, re-creating the entry of the soldiers of the Expedition Corps of Napoleon Bonaparte’s army into Egypt; and a re-enactment showing how Allied soldiers lived and fought on the Western front in the Great War, World War I.  The castle courtyard was transformed into a part of the front’s fortifications. For enthusiasts of military techniques, the Festival was thus an opportunity to see original examples of the guns, tanks and army vehicles of the period.

From 15 to 17 August, the II Lower Silesian Festival of Secrets was not only a celebration of discovery, but also an academic event. Up to six blocks of lectures took place, each on themes related to the secrets of history: this year, the mysteries of Lower Silesia, Egypt and Japan. There were presentations by well-known researchers and academics in many fields. The festival’s special guest was none other than Professor Andrzej Niwiński, the famous Polish Egyptologist, chief of the Polish Archaeological Mission in Egypt. Visitors entered the castle tombs and heard about the considerable smuggling of mummies to Wrocław, the dangers that awaited the archaeologists, the curse of Tutankhamun and of other travels full of secrets.

The high point of the festival turned out to be the screening of a famous film produced by Karl Freund in 1932, where a group of British archaeologists led by Sir Joseph Whemple discover the mummy Imhotep, some 3,700 years old. The film was shown in the castle courtyard with music specially composed and performed live by the folk group Czerwie.

Just as mysterious as Egypt is Lower Silesia – and it was to its treasures and secrets that the second day of the festival was dedicated. We heard about castles and palaces, and the adventures that have unfolded while they were being explored. Few people know that one in four of Poland’s castles and palaces stand in Lower Silesia province. The majority are the settings of stories about their often extravagant owners, as well as the valuables that have been left there. Researchers and lovers of historic monuments got to know better, the most interesting tales from their annals, including stories about Książ, Ząbowicki, Czocha and many other castles.

The festival also featured the culture, traditions and blade-weapon traditions of the Japanese Empire. Collections of Polish and Japanese sabres were on display; it turned out that they have surprisingly much in common. During lectures conducted by eminent specialists in the field, we learned both about the history and tradition of the sabre in the Polish cavalry, and about the philosophy and art that has underlain the Japanese sabre’s production. On this special occasion, the festival’s guest was one of the world’s most famous creators of Japanese weapons: Hiroshi Kojima, an official blacksmith of  the Emperor of Japan. His family has produced weapons for Japan’s rulers for six generations. Mr. Hiroshi Kojima’s visit was the first, in Japan and Europe, of a master at this level.

The II Lower Silesian Festival of Secrets was full of amazing attractions; the organizers went to great lengths to ensure that all that visitors lacked was… time to take part in all its events.