Recall that the so-called The fight for Gietrzwałd has been going on for two years. Lidl’s investment caused controversy from the very beginning and was criticized by residents. Ultimately, the distribution center received construction consent.
In early 2024, the authorities Olsztyn informed that administrative proceedings have been initiated before the Local Government Appeals Court regarding the invalidation by the mayor of the Gietrzwałd commune of the decision on environmental conditions for the project “Construction of the LIDL Gietrzwałd Distribution Center together with technical infrastructure” – wrote finanse.wp.pl. On September 17, the SKO announced that: does not invalidate this decision, which opens the way to the implementation of the investment.
The most serious objection to the investment is the attempt to destroy the cultural and natural landscape of Gietrzwałd, a village with historical significance in the fight for the Polishness of Warmia and, of course, the Marian cult. The monstrous hall will dominate the landscape and overshadow the historic buildings and the church hill – Wojciech Samulowski from Gietrzwałd, author of a local newspaper, explained to Wirtualna Polska.
The rest of the article is below the video
See also: Greenpact – interview with Piotr Soroczyński
Marian apparitions in Gietrzwałd
Barbara Nowak, a former education superintendent from Małopolska, joined the fight for Gietrzwałd without Lidl a year ago. “Shouldn’t Gietrzwałd, where Mary appeared over 160 times, be under the special care of every Polish Catholic and the authorities?” – she wondered on social media.
Wojciech Siński, member of the Political Committee of the Confederation of the Polish Crown, reminded the Sejm on Friday that Gietrzwałd is a tiny town near Olsztyn, where the apparitions of Our Lady took place in 1877. It was in Gietrzwałd that Our Lady “spoke to Poles in Polish almost 100 years after losing independence.”
– The history of Gietrzwałd is very rich and at the same time very difficult, just like the history of our homeland. At the beginning, the Prussians fought against this place and these apparitions, made it difficult for pilgrims to get to this place, and imposed penalties on the clergy who celebrated mass there. Later, during the occupation and World War II – a permanent variant of the game – when Poles wanted to gather and celebrate the anniversary of the apparitions, German soldiers surrounded the town and did not let anyone in, claiming that there was an epidemic there – said Siński during a press conference.
A politician from the party founded by Grzegorz Braun emphasized that access to the sanctuary in Gietrzwałd was also defended by Soviet troops. – They wanted to turn the sanctuary into a stable. They set up toilets behind the presbytery and the parish priest was severely beaten. When there were apparitions in 1877, there was a culturkampf (“fight for culture” – editor’s note) – Bismarck fought against Catholicism, all manifestations of Polish culture,” Siński continued.
Nowadays, Kulturkampf is no longer being organized, but something is being organized to make this town lose its character. Advent is coming and then Christmas. One thing is certain – Saint. Santa wouldn’t buy from Lidl – concluded the politician.
The main visionaries of the apparitions in Gietrzwałd were: 13-year-old Justyna Szafryńska and 12-year-old Barbara Samulowska. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Gietrzwałd explains on its website that both teenagers came from poor Polish families. “Our Lady spoke to them in Polish, as emphasized by Father Franciszek Hipler, in the language they speak in Poland,” we read.
“The impact of the apparitions on Warmia was enormous. First of all, there was a revival of moral life and an increase in the religious awareness of the faithful. Five years after the events, in a report from September 27, 1882, Fr. Augustyn Weichsel wrote: “not only my parish, but also the entire area became more pious after the apparitions. This is proven by the common recitation of the Holy Rosary in all houses, many people joining the monastery, regular attendance at the Church (…)” – added on the website: sanktuariummaryczne.pl.
A row over waste
– 41 ha of area, and the maximum height of the buildings is 24 m. This is the equivalent of an eight-story buildingone could say a skyscraper, all this in the Polish countryside, located in the Pasłęka Valley protected landscape area. Where are all the environmentalists who care so passionately about nature? – asked the Czech.
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2 days ago
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These comments are strange, no one wonders why Germany should bring hazardous waste to Poland? Is our country a garbage dump for Germany? The Germans would never allow garbage to be brought to them. Ecology in German – take your garbage abroad. So far, they have not taken away their garbage that is lying on Polish soil in TUPOLICE, BABIN, STARY JAWORZE, GLIWICE, SOBOLEWO, BZÓW, SORBIA, and they want to bring more.
PAUL P.
Yesterday
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All German investments should be withdrawn from Poland, including the Teutonic castle in Malbork and all BMWs and other garbage should be disposed of. Jake Peter Confederate
PAUL P.
Yesterday
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prundy, investments and the dog’s blood is about to come to the village. Run away, people. But don’t wait, give me reparations from Germany
This proves the wisdom of those in power. They don’t care about the people’s words. How can you litter such a beautiful village. Peace and quiet, beautiful green surroundings and those dingy halls around. Shame, the mental stupidity of those in power.
Lidl is away from Gietrzwałd!
For me, religious matters and Lidl are two separate things. However, when I read these false texts that Biedronka is because it has different prices and Lidl has cheaper and the same prices, I associate it with TVN propaganda. I won’t write more because the censor rarely lets my comments pass.
LATEST COMMENTS (62)
The commune is poor anyway, such an investment is income for the commune and jobs for the inhabitants and the apparitions have nothing to do with it, it’s just the black mafia, you are worried that it will lose income when pilgrims stop coming
They’re right. It’s like building a boarding house next to a cemetery. It’s not appropriate and that’s it.
Germans have always been bothered by Polish tradition and culture. And they usually found corrupt “useful idiots” ready to sell anything of value for colorful beads.
Polishness is abnormal! That’s what Donald Francis said.
Poles, our ancestors believed in oak trees and mother Earth, similarly, Indians believed in Nature, and then they converted our forefathers with fire and sword, there were more revelations even in Polish! And so to this day they milk the taxpayer and, in the past, the peasant.
The Lidl Gietrzwałd Saga: A Clash of Cultures, Churches, and… Cheap Groceries
Well, well, well! It seems that in the heart of Poland, a humble village named Gietrzwałd has turned into the battleground of epic proportions. And by epic, I mean the kind of drama you’d usually reserve for a supermarket aisle – complete with discounted cereal and out-of-stock toilet rolls! Two years of protests, planning permissions, and a collective shaking of heads has led us to the latest antics surrounding the construction of a Lidl distribution center.
Lights, Camera, Action! Breaking News from Gietrzwałd!
The locals aren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for the grocers. They’re drawing a line in the sand – or perhaps, a line in a freshly mown lawn that they hope remains untrampled! Seriously though, Wojciech Samulowski, a brave soul from the local newspaper, has worn his heart on his sleeve, claiming the monstrous Lidl hall will bulldoze the historical aesthetic of the village. Because when you’ve got a church dating back ages, what you really need is a replica of a giant cereal box looming over it, right?
And just when you thought that was enough to deal with, in comes Barbara Nowak, ex-superintendent extraordinaire, waving her “What Would Mary Do?” banner. She’s rallied the troops, declaring that a place blessed by the apparitions of the Virgin Mary should definitely call for some divine intervention against a supermarket invasion. I mean, imagine if the Kardashians tried to open a store in Pompeii. Talk about historical mismanagement!
Did Someone Say Kulturkampf?
Now, bringing back some history, we’re told Gietrzwałd is a place steeped in the teachings of prominent historical struggles. Wojciech Siński reminded us all that this is a town where Our Lady supposedly spoke Polish to the locals, almost a century after losing independence. If you ask me, that is a script worth a Hollywood blockbuster!
“It’s a Kulturkampf all over again!” he proclaims. Well, if we’re throwing around dramatic terms that sound like they could lead to an Oscar nomination, I’d argue that this is less about culture and more about the popcorn drama between cheap groceries and sacred spaces. Seriously, can the people of Gietrzwałd just agree on simpler solutions? How about an organic farmers’ market instead?
A Skyscraper in the Countryside?
Now, let’s talk about the height of ambition – and I don’t mean in a self-help seminar kind of way. This architectural masterpiece proposed for Gietrzwałd is akin to the size of an eight-story building! In a village! That’s a skyscraper in a field! I can imagine the cows looking up, confused, wondering who forgot to tell them about this new urban invasion of their rural paradise. And let’s be real: they’re likely keeping a better eye on their environment than some people.
With environmentalists seemingly MIA, the locals are left wondering exactly what it will take to defend their home. Maybe they should whip out protest signs with pictures of cows shaking their heads in disapproval?
The Emoji of Gietrzwałd: A Mixed Bag
At the end of the day, let’s recognize that opinions in this matter are as diverse as flavours in a Lidl ice cream aisle. Some are heartbroken over a perceived loss of cultural heritage, while others might see job opportunities and economic growth. It’s a messy smorgasbord of perspectives!
But, like a good comedy special, the crux of it all boils down to one thing: the clashing of bread rolls and holy roles. So, as we approach the festive season, let’s remember:
Saint Nick surely wouldn’t choose Lidl!
And who knows? Maybe Gietrzwałd’s best move is to brand itself as a tourist destination for Marian pilgrims and bargain hunters alike. Grab a rosary, grab a bargain! Now that’s a tagline!
T the battle between tradition and modernity – or perhaps just an ongoing feud between local sentiments and corporate interests.
The controversy revolves around a proposed Lidl distribution center that many local residents feel would mar the scenic and historically significant landscape of Gietrzwałd, which is deeply rooted in Polish cultural and religious history. With the sanctuary of Our Lady of Gietrzwałd, known for its apparitions in the late 19th century, locals are arguing not just about construction but about preserving the very spirit of their community.
As the Christmas season approaches—an especially significant time for this largely Catholic community—the tension between commercial development and respect for the sanctity of their cultural landmarks reaches a peak. The juxtaposition of a big-box grocery store within the vicinity of a revered sanctuary prompts outcries about consumer culture encroaching on spiritual grounds. One remark even humorously noted that “Saint Santa wouldn’t buy from Lidl,” highlighting a clash of values in the face of retail expansion.
Activists are invoking historical narratives of past struggles against foreign oppression, stating that the same spirit of resistance is needed against modern corporate forces that threaten to undermine the village’s character. The environmental implications are under scrutiny too, with concerns about the scale of the development and its impact on the surrounding natural landscape.
As the debate unfolds, it reflects a broader theme: a society grappling with the pull of modernization alongside the preservation of tradition. It raises questions about how communities navigate growth while safeguarding unique identities, and what sacrifices might be made at the altar of progress.
So, while tensions in Gietrzwałd might seem amusingly trivial—centered around grocery store dynamics when set against a backdrop of historical significance—they represent a poignant discourse on faith, culture, and the relentless march of capitalist interests. Just imagine, the village could soon be a curious blend of pilgrimage and promotions! In this ongoing saga, the outcome remains uncertain, but the dialogue surrounding it will likely resonate far beyond the confines of a humble Polish village.
