EN
The author of this paper starts his consideration with the proposition that Zbigniew Herbert’s philosophy of culture is largely reflected in the vision of “the provincial town” presented in his essays. The author of the paper draws attention to three elements the essayist assigns a positive value to in the towns he visits. The first one is an organic relationship between the town and nature. Although the town is built as an expression of a desire to create a “human” world, it also mimics nature (lack of right angles, an “organic” structure of streets, etc.). It is only in this way that space thus created can represent a “natural” human environment. The second element, which the essayist appreciates in the town, is its central plan which is indicated by the presence of the square and the main building (mostly, a sacred one). This plan makes urban space both an orderly and metaphorically sensible area. The third element Herbert attaches importance to is the simultaneous presence of many styles in the town (including its specific structures), which constitute a testimony to its history. The town ought to “grow” slowly. Thus it becomes a testimony to the continuity of culture and a mark of relations linking its particular elements.