The city of £ód¼ in the center of Poland has a short but fascinating history. Although the city's population today is mainly of Polish origin, in the past the £ód¼ region was influenced by four different cultures-Polish, Jewish, German and Russian.

Just before World War II, 55 percent of £ód¼'s population was Polish, 34.7 percent was Jewish, and 10 percent was German. Today few people are familiar with the history of £ód¼, which had its heyday in the 19th century thanks to the concerted efforts of all four nationalities which transformed the city into a mighty industrial center. In the 20th century, £ód¼'s cultural diversity suffered as a result of two world wars, even if the city itself suffered relatively little damage. Today £ód¼ has become one of the best managed cities in Poland.

The city's Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival aims to bring the four cultures back together. This increasingly popular multicultural festival, held since 2002, is among the top annual events of this kind in Poland and aspires to be among the most interesting cultural events in Europe.