Olsztyn is a city that boasts a unique relationship with astronomy, and its best expression is the Olsztyn Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory. This is the second largest planetarium in Poland, using a state-of-the-art DigitalSky 2 projection system with FullDome technology, which provides an unforgettable experience during screenings about the stars and the cosmos. But it's not just a place for entertainment - it's a living testimony to the legacy of Nicolaus Copernicus, who resided in Olsztyn from 1516 to 1521 as administrator of the Warmia Chapter estate. It was here that the great astronomer began work on his groundbreaking work 'On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres'.

The planetarium is housed in a modernist building with a distinctive dome, which is an architectural curiosity in itself. Inside, a projection room with a dome 15 meters in diameter awaits visitors, where fascinating astronomical shows are held. Particularly interesting are the thematic screenings, which change seasonally - from stories about constellations visible at a particular time of the year, to presentations of the latest space discoveries.

Near the planetarium is an astronomical observatory, where on sunny evenings you can observe celestial bodies through a telescope. Local legend has it that whoever looks through a telescope into the starry Olsztyn sky gains a special clarity of mind - supposedly a spiritual legacy of Copernicus himself, who made groundbreaking observations just in Olsztyn.

From space we move to a place that tells a very different story. The Bet Tahara pre-burial house is one of Olsztyn's most mysterious landmarks. This inconspicuous building from 1913, designed by Erich Mendelsohn, a world-renowned architect originally from Olsztyn, is one of the few surviving Jewish buildings in the city. Bet Tahara, or 'House of Purification,' served the Jewish community as a place to prepare the dead for burial.

After years of neglect, the building was painstakingly restored and now serves as a center for intercultural dialogue. The interior has preserved the original layout of the rooms, including a ceremonial hall with a characteristic skylight. Particularly interesting are the preserved elements of the decor, referring to the symbolism of Judaism. According to local stories, on moonlit nights, silent Yiddish prayers can be heard here - an echo of ancient ceremonies.

The juxtaposition of these two sites - the planetarium and the pre-funeral home - creates a fascinating contrast between science and spirituality, between the study of the cosmos and the mysteries of death. The two sites, though so different, have one thing in common - they are testimony to Olsztyn's rich multicultural history, which goes far beyond the typical tourist trails.

In the heart of Olsztyn, in the historic 1890 building of the former city gasworks, is one of the most original museums in Poland - the Center for Technology and Regional Development 'Museum of Modernity'. This place provides a fascinating bridge between the past and the present, presenting the history of Olsztyn's technical and industrial development in an unusual, interactive way.

The red brick and industrial character of the building create an austere but highly atmospheric setting for the exhibition. Inside, visitors can admire the original machinery and equipment that drove the city's development at the turn of the 20th century. Particularly impressive is the fully preserved mechanism of the former gasworks - the powerful furnaces, pipelines and tanks that once supplied gas to Olsztyn's lighthouses and homes.

The museum, however, is not a typical exhibition behind glass - it is a place where history comes to life through multimedia installations and interactive exhibits. Here you can run a miniature steam engine with your own hands, listen to the sounds of old factories or see what the daily life of Olsztyn residents looked like a century ago. A fascinating element of the exhibition is a model of pre-war Olsztyn (then Allenstein), showing a city that was largely destroyed during World War II.

Few tourists know that the museum's basement contains a mysterious tunnel, which according to urban legends was supposed to connect the gasworks to other strategic points in the city. Although today the tunnel is only a short section open to the public, it still arouses curiosity and inspires tales of secret passages under Olsztyn's streets.

Not far from the Museum of Modernity stretches the Central Park, a green oasis in the heart of the city that hides more than it might seem at first glance. Designed in the English style, it combines natural scenic qualities with a well-thought-out recreational infrastructure. However, it is not only a place of rest, but also a living monument to the astronomical passions of Nicolaus Copernicus.

The centerpiece of the park is an elliptical fountain surrounded by hemispherical boulders, symbolizing the solar system - a subtle tribute to the great astronomer who worked in Olsztyn. On sunny days, you can watch the sun's rays bounce off the surface of the water, creating fascinating light patterns - some locals jokingly call it a 'Copernican light show'.

The park also hides several lesser-known attractions, including an old-growth forest with monumental specimens of oaks and lindens estimated to be more than 200 years old. According to local legend, one of these oaks, called the 'Copernicus Oak,' was planted where the astronomer liked to rest during his walks. Although historians approach this tale with caution, the tree has become a popular meeting place for lovers, who believe that being in its shade brings good luck in love - after all, Copernicus 'stopped the Sun, moved the Earth', so perhaps human hearts can be moved too.

Central Park is also a place where history meets modernity. During renovation work, fragments of the former city fortifications were discovered here, which have been exposed and integrated into the park space. Walking along the alleys, you can therefore literally stroll along the traces of history, while admiring modern architectural and landscape solutions.

The juxtaposition of the industrial Museum of Modernity with the natural beauty of Central Park creates a fascinating contrast, showing the two faces of the city's development - technological and natural. Both places, although so different, tell a common story of Olsztyn as a city that has always been able to combine tradition with innovation, the past with the future.

Who would have thought that in northern Poland, in a city associated mainly with lakes and Gothic architecture, one can take a trip to a tropical jungle? And yet - Parugarnia Olsztyn is a place that transports visitors to an exotic world of colorful, talking birds, being one of the city's most unusual attractions.

This intimate place, hidden in an inconspicuous building on Lubelska Street, welcomes guests from the threshold with a fever of colors and a concert of bird voices. Inside there is a tropical microclimate - warm and humid, just like in the natural habitat of parrots. Lush plants, wooden structures and bridges create a scenography reminiscent of a fragment of the Amazon jungle. The unusual space is home to dozens of parrots of various species - from small, agile nymphs and wavy-striped parakeets to impressive ara and cockatoos.

The most unusual aspect of the parrot house is the direct contact with the birds. Unlike traditional zoos, here the parrots fly freely, sit on visitors' shoulders and heads, and even eat from the hand. Some of them can talk - especially famous is an ara named Kuba, who knows dozens of Polish words and phrases, and can even sing a fragment of a popular song. According to caretakers, Kuba has a particular weakness for blondes, to whom he most readily demonstrates his vocal skills.

The parrot house is not only entertainment, but also education. Employees passionately talk about the habits of parrots, their natural habitat and the dangers that lurk in the wild. Here you can learn that parrots are among the most intelligent birds in the world - some species have intelligence comparable to a 5-year-old child, can solve simple logic problems and recognize themselves in a mirror.

The site also contributes to the conservation of endangered species. Some of the parrots living in the Olsztyn parrot house come from conservation breeding, which aims to maintain the biodiversity of these fascinating birds. Among the residents are representatives of species threatened with extinction in the wild.

An interesting fact is that the parrot house has become the site of local urban legends. One of them says that an ara once escaped from the parrot house and lived for several days in the tower of Olsztyn Castle, where it supposedly learned to imitate the sound of bells. Another tale tells of a parrot that could repeat bus numbers flawlessly, much to the consternation of tourists asking for directions.

Comparing all the attractions described, each offers a completely different experience. The Planetarium delights with science and space, the Bet Tahar House intrigues with history and spirituality, the Museum of Modernity fascinates with technology and the industrial past, the Central Park soothes with nature and space, and the Parugarnia provides direct contact with exotic nature. In terms of affordability, the cheapest option is a walk through Central Park (free admission), while the other attractions offer affordable tickets, with the Planetarium as a slightly more expensive option due to the advanced technology of the shows.

Families with children will probably find the Parrot House and Planetarium most attractive, history buffs will appreciate the Bet Tahar House and the Museum of Modernity, while those seeking tranquility will find it in Central Park. All these places have one thing in common - they are proof that Olsztyn is a city full of surprises that can surprise even seasoned travelers. Each of these places tells a different story, shows a different face of the city and provides a different experience, together creating a fascinating mosaic of unusual tourist attractions in the capital of Warmia.