The Beginnings of Regionalism in Poland and French Intellectual Influence

Abstract

The text presented is an attempt at summarising French intellectual orientations influencing Polish regionalism. Phenomena that can be treated as heralding the proper regionalism – the development of research on the history of particular localities and lands, folklore, geographic and linguistic works, development of local journalism or artistic and educational activities – were embedded in a wide stream of patriotic activities, the fact that provides an essential difference between the conditions in which regionalism developed in Poland and in France at the turn of the 20th century. Irrespective of the above, French scientific, political and cultural currents were closely followed in Poland, gaining here many supporters, also among regionalists.