Kotwica z żaglowca szkolnego Lwów

This simple plaque, seemingly unremarkable on a quiet Warsaw street, holds a story of a legendary ship, one that crossed oceans and sailed into the hearts of Poles. The Kotwica z \u017caglowca szkolnego \”Lw\u00f3w\” – a three-masted barque built in 1868 in England – wasn’t just any ship. It represented a nation reclaiming its maritime heritage. After a winding history of ownership over several decades, it finally found its purpose as a training vessel for Polish sailors. This ship, originally called \”Chinsura\”, was one of the first steel-hulled sailing ships. It was built to travel to India and Australia. After some time, the \”Chinsura\” became the \”Lucco\” under Italian ownership. Later, it was purchased by a Dutch owner after a storm, renamed \”Nest\”, and finally, in 1920, bought by Poland for a whopping $247,000! The \”Lw\u00f3w\” became a symbol of the newly resurrected Polish nation. The ship was transformed into a training vessel for the School of Navigation in Tczew, where it sailed with a proud Polish flag. It sailed the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and even the Atlantic Ocean. It was on one of these voyages to Brazil in 1923 that the \”Lw\u00f3w\” made history. It not only crossed the equator but also sailed across the Atlantic, a first for a Polish ship, bringing home an era of new beginnings for Poland’s maritime ambitions. It even traversed the Kiel Canal, a vital passage between the Baltic and North Seas. Of course, being a training ship, the \”Lw\u00f3w\” needed to make money. It carried cargo, contributing to the nation’s economy while it trained future sailors. The ship, though, eventually retired, its sails furled for the last time in 1929. The \”Dar Pomorza\”, another renowned Polish sailing ship, took over its duties. This memorial in Warsaw honors the \”Lw\u00f3w\” and the generations of sailors who learned their trade aboard this legendary ship. The plaque reminds us of this ship’s legacy; that dream of a seafaring Poland. Next time you’re in the neighborhood, take a moment to imagine the imposing sail of the \”Lw\u00f3w\” against the horizon..