Today, it is not difficult to go to the seaside, to the mountains or abroad, even during the year. In the times of the Polish People’s Republic, there were slightly fewer opportunities, which is why – especially during holidays or vacations – the choice often fell on sanatoriums, which allowed for rest and regeneration of the body and mind. Especially since it was not difficult to obtain a referral for such a refundable stay. In addition, the waiting time in the queue was much shorter than today (currently we are talking about several or even a dozen months).
Sanatorium in the Polish People’s Republic. No toilet in the room and five stars
Sanatoriums in Ciechocinek, Kołobrzeg, Lądek-Zdrój or Krynica-Zdrój have probably been heard by every Pole at least once. Although today they are mostly associated with trips of the elderly, they were and are not reserved only for them, because you can meet patients of all ages, including children.
Today, the conditions are a bit more comfortable. In the times of the Polish People’s Republic, you could count on rooms for several people with a shared bathroom, which was located in the corridor. However, Poles did not need five-star hotels to relax. Quite the opposite. Shared rooms encouraged making friends, even long-term ones.
Sanatorium in the Polish People’s Republic: treatments in the morning, dancing in the evening
Sanatoriums use natural values of nature and it is with them that they have been encouraging Poles to visit for years. They offer them various health benefits, including treatments, rehabilitation, baths, graduation towers, and just being surrounded by clean air. Today’s sanatoriums are definitely different in terms of both their interior design and the equipment used, as well as the specifics of the treatments, which are now – well – more modern.
Sanatorium in Ciechocinek photo: National Digital Archives
For many spa guests, a trip to a sanatorium is also an opportunity to simply change their surroundings and get out of the house, and sometimes you also hear about people picking up their companions. In this regard, evening dances, or dance parties, were conducive to this. Men would put on shirts and suits, women would dress up in dresses and beads and head to the dance floor to tap their feet to the songs of Irena Santor, Zbigniew Wodecki or Andrzej Zaucha.
If you want to reminisce a bit more or see what sanatoriums looked like in the times of the Polish People’s Republic, we invite you to visit our gallery. You will find it at the top of this article. A jIf you feel like it, vote in our poll below.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
