On 23 May, Turew Palace once again became a meeting place for lovers of history, tradition, and the Greater Poland work ethic. The second edition of “Picnic at the General’s – the Greater Poland work ethic”, organized to mark the anniversary of General Dezydery Chłapowski’s birth, attracted numerous guests and exhibitors.

The event’s participants were welcomed by Agnieszka Konrad – Deputy Director for Cooperation at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IBCH PAS) – and Magdalena Baranowska-Szczepańska from the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center (PCSS). Luiza Handschuh, Director of the IBCH PAS, spoke about the G4PL – Genomics for Poland project, encouraging participation in genetic research supporting the development of personalized medicine.

The event’s unique atmosphere was enhanced by the presence of uhlans and female riders from the Fundacja Oddziału Ochotniczego Ułanów Poznańskich and Stajnia Lanca w Gorzycach. Bamberki from the Society of Friends of the Bambers also appeared in Turew, and the palace park was filled with traditional crafts, demonstrations and historical re-enactments prepared by the Stowarzyszenie Teatralne LEGION.

Performing on stage were the groups “Turewianki”, “Zespół Pieśni i Tańca Żeńcy Wielkopolscy”, and soloists Jagoda Obiegała from the Promotion and Commercialization Office of the IBCH PAS and Aleksandra Gołębowska from the Stowarzyszenie Teatralne LEGION.

Meetings with craftsmen proved extremely popular. Shoemaker Adam Grzegorowski, blacksmith Zdzisław Mejsak and roofer Jakub Maćkowiak from the Stowarzyszenie Dekarzy Polskich spoke about their work. Arkadiusz Baraniok from the Muzeum Narzędzi i Maszyn „Gaspar” and Agnieszka Baraniok-Lipińska, who runs the ‘Ale Lipa’ woodcarving workshops, also presented their craft passions and activities.

The park also hosted Pracownia Artystyczna Ceramiki i Rzeźby Ewy Wanat, ‘Pasieka z Duszą’, and the Fundacja Bonum Adipisci – Dążyć do dobra. Weaving workshops were run by volunteers from Czempin and Poznań, whilst the Stowarzyszenie Teatralne LEGION showcased handicrafts and tatted lace.

The safety of participants was ensured by the Turew Volunteer Fire Brigade and police officers from the Kościan District Police Headquarters.

There was also no shortage of traditional regional dishes served by the Koło Gospodyń Wiejskich w Turwi, which proved very popular with participants.

Guests were treated to:a health zone organized by the National Health Fund (NFZ), the District Sanitary and Epidemiological Station (SANEPID), and the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund in Kościan (KRUS), as well as scientific workshops run by Institute staff, the digitization of theold photographs and a display of vintage cameras.

The Wielkopolska Province Landscape Parks Authority also set up its own area, offering educational workshops and activities for children. The classic car rally and meet-up, ‘In the Footsteps of General Chłapowski’, also attracted a great deal of interest.

At the Palace’s stand, Picnic participants were able to sample nettle and melon tea – a unique Turew tradition linked to the crops once cultivated by General Dezydery Chłapowski.

At the end of the picnic, KRUS (Agricultural Social Insurance Fund) prizes and awards were presented to the participants of the field game.

The event was co-funded from the budget of the Wielkopolska Province Local Government as part of the ‘Organic Labour – the Heritage of the People of Wielkopolska’ programme, organised along the Organic Labour Trail, an initiative coordinated by General Dąbrowski’s Palace in Winna Góra.

The event was held under the patronage of the Mayor of Kościan and the Wielkopolska Provincial Branch of the National Health Fund.

Thank you to everyone for attending and helping to create such a wonderful atmosphere. See you at future events at the Palace in Turew!