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Waligóra Pine - a Scots pine, more than 160 years old, which grows next to a dirt track some 50 metres from Road 32 near Sulechów, in the Klępsk Forest area. By Decision of the Voivode of Lubuskie dated on 19th May 2006, the tree became protected as a natural monument. It is one of 102 listed landmarks of this kind the area of Sulechów. Waligóra Pine has the second thickest trunk of all pine trees in Poland. In 2002, in a competition for a thickest tree in Poland, Waligóra Pine won the first prize in the category of pine trees entered for the competition.

Location

This Scots Pine grows 1.5 km east of Sulechów. It is located near two hiking trails, Green and Black. There is also a educational hiking trail from Sulechów nearby.

Description

Waligóra Pine is probably made up of two trees. Larger limbs grow from the height of 2 meters and spread out to create a large crown made out of 8 branches. The branches are secured in place with steel cables. Waligóra Pine (Waligóra being the name of a giant of Polish folklore) was named because of its impressive looks. Near the ground, the tree has a circumference of 527 cm, and the circumference at breast height is 620 cm. The tree has a height of 23 meters and is around 160 years old. The tree is surrounded by a small wooden fence.

For a long time Waligóra Pine was considered to be the thickest pine tree in Poland, however with the change of how the measurements are taken is now placed second, after the Rzepicha Pine.

History

An educational hiking trail 'To Waligóra' has been created with the aim of bringing the Waligóra Pine into prominence. The trial has 18 educational stops and is 3.4 km (just over two miles) long. In 2002, Waligóra Pine won the competition for the thickest Pine Tree in Poland. In 2004 seven trails were created, two of which are placed near the Waligóra Pine. The legal basis for the protection of this natural monument can be found in the decision of Voivode of Lubuskie, Marek Asta, dated 19th May 2006. The tree itself has a longer history of protection. It was made a natural monument (without a name) in 1990.

Francuska Street in Warsaw - street in Saska Kępa district. Francuska street starts at Przymierze Square and ends at Waszyngton Roundabout. The street is considered a cultural centre of right-bank Warsaw and has lots of pubs, cafés and restaurants as well as residential houses. Different kinds of trees are planted along the street, which makes gives it a nice, formal look.

The oldest surviving buildings were built in the 1930s. In September 1939, Francuska was one of the places where fighting in the Siege of Warsaw took place. However, even after the war Francuska remained a cultural centre of this part of Warsaw. Since 2006 Francuska is the main venue for the annual festival of Saska Kępa. Francuska Steer took it name after France - a military ally of the Second Polish Republic.

Layout and traffic

Francuska is part of the communication route of Wersalska - Paryska – Przymierza Square - Francuska – Waszyngton Roundabout. The street starts at the intersection of the Zwycięzców street and Przymierza Square and ends at Waszyngton Roundabout. Francuska intersects with 4 streets: Obrońców, Walecznych, Lipska and Berezyńska. Along its entire length Francuska is a two-way street, with separate turning lanes at intersections with Zwycięzców, Obrońców, Berezyńska and Lipska street. The street has no bicycle paths. There are 2 bus stops in each direction, for buses 117, 138 and 146.

History

The first buildings appeared in the 1930, which was supported by the agreement between local landlords and the city. An important factor was the creation of Wawer District Water Company, which led to the creation of a canal network beneath Saska Kępa and the area around. In 1935, the S bus had its route along Francuska, and ended at the Waszyngtona Roundabout. In 1938 the street already had a hard surface road and pavements. Between 1937 and 1938, lawns were added along the street. There was a plan to build a church next to Francuska, however the plan was abandoned and a new build site had been picked. Gradually, more and more houses were built, which soon differentiated Francuska from the rest of the district. Some authors, such as Bronislaw Kopczynski, saw it and mentioned it in their texts.

Fast growth and a late introduction of idea how the area should look like made the buildings very diversified. This met with different opinions.

During the Siege of Warsaw in September 1939 a key barrier had been placed on the intersection of Zwycięzców and Francuska streets. On Polish side 21 Infantry Regiment ‘Dzieci Warszawy’, 21 Vistula Cavalry Regiment and 336 Infantry Regiment were facing German  44 Infantry Regiment of East Prussia, which preceded the coming of the Luftwaffe raids. 7 of the Defendants were awarded silver Cross of the Order of Military Virtue on the 27th of September 1939. After the German occupation, Warsaw Reconstruction Office has decided to maintain the existing character of the street. The street still was a key place of trade and communication. During the time of socialism there was a plan to build a monumental colonnade, which would surround the southern part of Waszyntona Roundabout. The project had not been finished and the buildings were adapted as houses. After years of transformation Francuska was still becoming a bigger commercial and service centre of this part of Warsaw. Since 2006, Francuska has been the place where an annual Saska Kępa festival is held. In 2010 the street was completely renovated. Street surface, sidewalks and pavements were replaced, parking places were marked out, some bus stops had been moved and separate lines for turning into side-streets were created. In December 2010 a Christmas Illumination had been lit for the first time. In 2011 a plaque had been unveiled to commemorate the barricade from September 1939.

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