Lódz offers one of the most unusual shopping opportunities in Poland and possibly all of Europe. In an effort to revitalize the city, the former textile mills have been reconstructed and converted into an enormous shopping mall and entertainment facility, Manufaktura (Jana Karskiego 5; tel. 042/654-03-08; open daily 10am-9pm), complete with a 15-screen multiplex, a climbing wall, Europe's longest fountain at 300m (984 ft.), and an on-site sandpit for beach volleyball. The 19th-century redbrick factory architecture is stunning and the restoration work a model for similar reconstruction efforts around the country. If you're a fan of urban rehab or just want to spend the day at the mall, stop by and take a look.
