WHERE TO SHOP IN BOLESLAWIEC ?

This is good question. The number of pottery shops in the city changes because many of them relocate or new ones appear. Certainly not all shopping places are listed below. Here are some tips and info: Do not stop and shop at the first Polish pottery store you spot - there are many of them, and some are worth more time than others. It is best to scope all the shops quickly first and to return to the best. Most of shops accept main credit cards, some of them accept US dollar or Euro cash payments /but the conversion is usually unfavorable/ . If you buy, most of them will pack your pottery for free in the carton boxes and paper. Start your shopping from factory shops - then if you are looking for something special browse other places. Unlike in USA, in Poland the price on the tag includes tax (VAT). The VAT is an important issue and we refer to it in separate section of our guide . Beware of buying antiques that are more than 50 years old !. The export of items older than 50 years is strictly forbidden by Polish law unless you have a licence (most likely not to be obtained). Even though the dealers may tell you that since Poland belongs to EU it has changed - IT IS NOT TRUE ! . Simply there is almost no custom control of the border since then, but if you get caught you may face severe problems and your antiques may be seized.

FACTORY SHOPS You should always start buying from factory shops - even though the pricing maybe not the crucial factor (as other shops get discount from factories and the prices may vary very little) - but the selection is much more fresh. If you stay overnight in the city try to visit the factory shop again , next day - you will be surprised seeing new stuff. The factory shops restock at least once day - some even a couple of hours.

ZAKLADY CERAMICZNE FACTORY SHOP 11, Kosciuszki street, Opening hours: mon-fri 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., sat. 7a.m. - 3 p.m. Staff speak English and German. Major cc accepted.

Next to the factory offices building is one of the best shops in town. There is quite a big parking lot availabe /monitored by factory security service/. The shop is being restocked on the daily basis.

MANUFAKTURA FACTORY SHOP 30, Gdanska street Opening hours: mon-fri 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., sat. 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. Staff speak English and German. Major cc accepted.

This shop is hard-to-find one but is worth to come. They often have sales, discounts and free gifts. Their stock is updated even a few times per day. In the shop you can find also glass items, wooden kitchen appliances, chess sets etc. Just tell them you learned about them from us (Polonea) and you will be very warmly welcomed. The girls workig at the shop are very nice. This is one of the few places where you can ask for a factory tour - and they will show you how the Polish pottery is made - from clay to perfect product - all explained in English by the local guide. You can even take pictures or video for free. Directions: when you enter the town, cross the river, then go straight to Wroclaw direction. Watch the streets that cross yours - there is one street crossing and the left is named "Kubika" and the right is "Gdanska". Then turn right to "Gdanska" street and follow it about a mile. There are some small signs at the road side pointing to the factory, the road goes suddenly up hill and the asphalt changes to tiles. Follow signes.

CERAMIKA ARTYSTYCZNA FACTORY SHOP 23, Kosciuszki str Opening hours: mon-fri 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., sat. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Staff speak English and German. Major cc accepted.

Not far from Zaklady (on the same street) you can find the Ceramika Artystyczna their factory and shop. Inside you will be really lucky if you find any piece of Gat 1 (first quality) They reserve most of these for export. The CA shop carries only lower quality pieces, however some of them look very good . The pottery in the shop is highly priced but they often have sales. The parking space is available.

WIZA FACTORY SHOPS Boleslawiec - 24, Kosciuszki str. 1, Masarska str (at the Zgorzelecka str - main street from German border. After coming to the city , after crossing the bridge over Bobr river you continue towards Wroclaw. The shop is just before the Hypernova mart).

Parowa 61 in Parowa village - about 12 km from Boleslawiec , where the main factory seat and buildings are. It is perhaps hard to find but worth to go and enjoy the Silesian countryside . There is a small shop at the factory but the choice does not differ much from what you would find in town.

WR - RUTYNA Factory shop in Boleslawiec: Zabobrze str 20C Opening hours: Mo-Fr 8.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. Sa 7.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. Su 9.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. Directions: going to Boles from Germany, when you go by Elite hotel /on the left/ just look at right and in a few hundred yards you will see the shop. It has a small parking lot adjacent to the main road. It is just before Boleslawiec, not in the city limits , before the river. Factory shop in WR seat. To go there you have to go Tomaszow Boleslawiecki - a small village 5 miles from Boleslawiec. The shop at the factory is very small but sometimes they sell second quality items for outlandishly low prices, and there are some pieces you will not find at town. Directions: You take the road to Wroclaw and after 5 miles you come to Tomaszow. Just after arriving look left - will see a church and a small road with a sign showing "Keramik". You turn into this road and continue until see WR buildings.

ANDY factory and shop  New! Tomaszow Boleslawiecki 111a Hours: 6am - 6pm Mon-Sat Just behind WR main works in Tomaszow if you continue the narrow road for another 1/2 mile you will find Andy's place. It is very small, typical family operated workshop carrying floral patterns only. Some interesting shapes can be found. If you like to visit small, craftsman like places you found one.

ZGORZELECKA STREET When you arrive to Boleslawiec from Germany (Goerlitz/Ludwigsdorf border passage) the road turns to Zgorzelecka street. Along this one you will find a lot of shops carrying Polish pottery but also wooden figurines, linens, cristals, wicker baskets, souvenirs like chess sets or wooden boxes. Usually these shops carry a mix of all factories , and prices are slightly higher than in factory shops desribed above.

KOSCIUSZKI STREET It is the paradise for Polish pottery shoppers. First the 2 largest factories (Zaklady and Ceramika Artystyczna) are there with their shops additionally there are plenty of other shops carrying pottery, baskets, glass, wooden things or even antiques. Some of them like Cer-Raf have really good stock so you can find some pieces you are not able to find other places.

3 SISTERS SECOND POTTERY OUTLET    New! Experienced pottery hunters know well the shop at Zgorzelecka, named "three sisters" . In fact it is mother, daughter and daughter in law as I was told , and thus the company name is MAKABA - Maria, Kasia, Barbara. The second shop is just before Boleslawiec city limits when coming from Germany (Al. II Armii Wojska Polskiego 111) - look at left side you will see new buildings, large parking and big house as on the picture. You can find there many pieces you would not be able to find in factory shop - Zaklady pieces prevailing. However they carry a lot of second quality items, but they are clearly marked. There is also huge section for wicker baskets lovers ! SEE PICTURES FROM THE SHOP