Poland has resurrected the infamous bus route 666, nicknamed the ‘Highway to Hell’, connecting the town of Gryfino to the village of Lubieszyn. The route, which runs near the site of a former Nazi concentration camp, was suspended in 2019 after international outcry over its satanical connotations and historical insensitivity. However, regional authorities have now reinstated the service, framing it as an act of cultural defiance against European Union interference in Polish domestic affairs.
Dr. Hanna Malinowska, a transport historian at the University of Warsaw, explained the significance. “The number 666 has long been part of local folklore, and the bus route was a source of dark humour for residents. When the EU delegations pressured the previous government to rename it, it became a symbol of Brussels overreach.” The decision to bring back route 666 comes amid a broader escalation of tensions between Warsaw and Brussels over judicial reforms and media freedoms.
Route 666 traverses the edge of what was once a Nazi forced labour camp. Critics argue that trivialising the number associated with evil trivialises the suffering of victims. But local politician Krzysztof Zaremba dismissed such concerns. “This is about Polish sovereignty. We will not be told by foreign bureaucrats what we can call our own roads,” he told reporters in Gryfino.
The European Commission has yet to issue an official statement, but sources indicate that the route’s revival will be raised at the next Council of Ministers meeting. Meanwhile, the service has seen a surge in tickets sold to curious tourists, while locals remain divided. “It’s a bus, not a political statement,” said passenger Anna Kowalski. “But if the EU thinks it can dictate our bus numbers, they have another think coming.”
Environmental groups have also expressed concern about the increased carbon footprint from the tourist traffic. However, the regional government has dismissed this, citing the use of modern Euro 6 diesel buses.
As the sun set over the Baltic coast, the 666 bus departed Gryfino on time, its passengers a mix of irony-seeking visitors and resolute locals. The debate over Poland’s place in the European Union may be far from resolved, but for now, the highway to hell is open for business.
