To the Manor Born

Manor houses were where the Polish elite once lived. You can still find them dotted around the Polish landscape in various degrees of state. Either they have been converted into offices or bought by foreigners (usually by the property-ladder hungry Brits!).

This one is situated 9km north of Toruń and is set in a landscaped park (open to the public). It was built in 1848 and restored in 1971. During WWII the owner (along with most of Toruń's educated elite) was executed by the Nazis. The palace is now the HQ of the Agricultural Property Agency.

CULTURAL OBSERVATIONS: For Sale

Here is a cultural difference between England and Poland. You will notice from this estate agent's board...that all the images depict the interiors of the homes and not the exteriors. This is because in Poland, the inside is the most homely part of the house and let's face it a lot of the communist style flats are very uninteresting from the outside.

Since Poland joined the EU, real estate prices have shot up. One cause for this, is the fact that many English people have now invested in property over in Poland and indeed in other parts of central/eastern Europe. They don't even live here and just rent the accommodation out at a high percentage. They shouldn't be allowed to do this! Many Poles currently working in England to try and save money to buy property back in their homeland, will now find that they cannot afford it.

It's a vicious circle!