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WHY VISIT POLAND
Introduction
Poland is a country with a long history, where, today, traditions and folklore merge with contemporary civilization.
Poland has had a turbulent history since its original position as a great power in the XVIth century. After one hundred years of being partitioned between the Prussian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires, two World Wars and Communist rule, it has finally regained its freedom and become a full member of the European Union.
Poland is increasingly being discovered by foreign tourists, who are welcomed with traditional Polish hospitality, openess and warmth.
History (source: Wikipedia)
The Polish state was formed over 1,000 years ago under the Piast dynasty, and reached its golden age near the end of the 16th century under the Jagiellonian dynasty, when Poland was one of the largest, wealthiest, and most powerful countries in Europe. In 1791 the Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth adopted the Constitution of May 3, Europe's first modern codified constitution, and the second in the world after the Constitution of the United States. Soon afterwards, the country ceased to exist after being partitioned by its neighbours Russia, Austria, and Prussia. It regained independence in 1918 in the aftermath of the First World War as the Second Polish Republic. Following the Second World War it became a communist satellite state of the Soviet Union known as the People's Republic of Poland. In 1989 the first partially-free elections in Poland's post-World War II history concluded the Solidarity (Solidarność) movement's struggle for freedom and resulted in the defeat of Poland's communist rulers. The current Third Polish Republic was established, followed a few years later by the drafting of a new constitution in 1997. In 1999 Poland acceded to NATO, and in 2004 it joined the European Union.
What exactly can you delight in and enjoy in Poland?
In the north, beautiful, sandy beaches stretch along the Baltic coast, and, in the south, there can be found charming rocky mountains such as the Tatras, the wild Bieszczady, the Sudety and the picturesque Beskidy, all affording spectacular views and countless opportunities to commune with nature.
Discover the beauty of the land of a thousand lakes - the Mazury.
See enchanting villages where you have the impression that time has stood still.
Visit exquisite cities - amazing blends of historic architecture and modern culture and civilization.
Poland - this is the country whose emblem, the eagle, is a symbol of power, freedom and the beauty of nature.
Places you should not miss
REGIONS from the south to the north:
- The Mountains
- The Great Mazurian Lakes
- The Baltic coast
The Mountains
The Tatra Mountains are the highest rocky mountains in Poland and are part of the Western Carpathians . Rysy (2,499m) is the highest peak in the Tatras and Babia Góra (1,725m) is the highest in the Beskidy Mts .
The Tatras have naturally developed into two distinct types of landscape: the High Tatra Mts. with the beautiful glen of Morskie Oko (The Sea Eye) and the lower Western Tatras with the breathtaking Kościeliska Valley.
When you visit the Tatras, you must include a charming, little town of Zakopane on your itinerary. Zakopane is famous for its unique architecture, culture and the special folklore of the highlanders. When visiting Zakopane you should also taste a delicious Polish cheese, called oscypek, and sample the warm beer with honey.
The Great Mazurian Lakes
This is one of the most attractive and beautiful tourists areas in Poland. One fifth of the whole area of this region is covered with lakes, which are inter-linked by rivers and canals. Their banks are full of peninsulas and islands and are sometimes surrounded by dense forests.
There are excellent conditions here for sailing, rowing and canoeing. Fishing conditions are ideal! In winter those who enjoy ice-boating and skating will find the lakes covered with glistening ice.
The Baltic coast
A few types of seaside landscapes may be found in this region - the 524 km long Polish Baltic coast - dunes, deltas, lakes and bogs, as well as hills and seaside cliffs.
The Southern Baltic Coasts are very attractive both for tourists and for naturalists. Within the region's borders there are two national Parks, five landscape parks and numerous nature reserves. The beaches are clean and sandy.
The Baltic coast is renowned for its romantic atmosphere.
Places you should not miss
CITIES : just a few from the oldest one to ..the capital:
- Kraków
- Wrocław
- Poznań
- Gdańsk
- Warszawa
Kraków
CRACOW - one of the most enchanting cities in Central Europe, the Florence of the North, the old capital of Poland, home to kings and queens, the cultural and academic centre for centuries. Cracow prides itself for its beautiful architecture of the Old Town, the Wawel Castle situated on the bend of the Vistula river, Romanesque and Gothic churches, the mediaeval Market Square, numerous museums and art galleries. Coming here is a MUST.
The academic character of the city (the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364 and about 10 other colleges of university level education with over 100 000 students during the academic year), lots of cultural events (music, theatre, opera) going on all year round plus... uncountable international restaurants, little cafes, pubs & wine bars with their unique .
Krakow - Links:
Gdansk
The beautiful and charming, thousand year old city lies in the Bay of Gdańsk and on the southern coast of the Baltic sea. It is a centre of economic life, science, culture and a popular tourist destination.
The heart of the old city features a yacht marina. If you are seeking canoeing or kayak escapades - the Motława river, which crosses the city, is perfect.
If you are searching for leisure - there are clean beaches, organised bathing areas and a 130-metre pier.
Gdańsk is famous for its magical amber jewellery .
http://www.gdansk.pl/
Wroclaw
Is an example of a multicultural metropolis.
You will find there the quaint old Main Market with charming, little houses and an incredible atmosphere.
One of the city's most popular attractions is the Panorama of the Battle of Racławice - a monumental painting representing the Poland's victorious 18th century battle with the Russian forces, led by the famous Polish patriot, Tadeusz Kościuszko. There are only a few paintings of this kind which have survived in the world.
http://www.wroclaw.pl/ms/english/
Poznan
The commercial capital of Poland, is also a university centre with a dynamic potential.
Poland's origins can be found in the oldest part of the city. On a list of the top 150 cities in Central and Eastern Europe, Poznań was awarded fifth place.
In Poznan you can enjoy the historical buildings and cultural events such as theatre festivals, concerts, galleries, and ensembles that perform in concert halls worldwide.
http://www.city.poznan.pl
Warszawa
The capital city of Poland - Warszawa was completely destroyed and lay in ruins at the end of World War II. However, the successful rebuilding of the Old Town was rewarded in 1980 when UNESCO added the site to its World Heritage List.
Outside the historic centre is Wilanow, a beautiful palace on a grand scale, which was modelled on Versailles.
One of the most relaxing locations is Lazienki Park, with its Palace on the Water. Wander through the remains of the amphitheatre, feed the ducks and the squirrels or go boating.
Warsaw has an impressive cultural scene and lively nightlife. In the new part of Warsaw you will find lots of skyscrapers and elegant shopping malls.
http://www.um.warszawa.pl/
Attractions from sports & leisure to ...the best shopping
- Walking and hiking
- Biking
- Sailing and canooing
- Windsurfing
- Fishing
- Golf
- Shopping in Poland
Walking and hiking
In Poland walkers can enjoy nearly 30,000 kilometres of marked walking trails, including the Polish sections of the trans - European trails.
Rock climbing, mountaineering and cave exploration: the best areas for this are in the Upland of Cracow and Częstochowa, Sokolniki and the Sudety mountains, or - for the more experienced mountaineers - the rocky Tatra mountains.
Bieszczady - this wild mountaineous region is ideal for long walks, hiking and survival camps.
Biking
Biking is quite popular in Poland. Perfect places for that are The Upland of Cracow and Częstochowa and the lower Beskid , where you can cycle through lush landscapes.
Sailing and canooing
The Great Mazurian Lakes is an unique region in Europe. There you can experience a true sailing adventure. Krutynia is one of the most amazing low - lying routes - exciting and picturesque.
Windsurfing
The northern coast of Poland offers good weather conditions windsurfing enthusiasts.
Fishing
Polish rivers and lakes abound with numerous varieties of fish; particularly perfect for trout fishing.
Golf
Golf courses are located in the area of Warsaw, near Gdańsk, Olsztyn and Cracow.
There are also some golf centres in Łukęcin - near Dziwnów, a small seaside town and in Kołczewo, on the edge of the Woliński National Park.
Shopping in Poland
Poland is a true shoppers' paradise! The Euro has not yet been introduced to Poland and 1 Euro is worth approximately 4PLN, so foreign visitors find everything here much less expensive than in other countries.
Countless shopping malls, called "shopping galleries," stock all the famous brands in a wide range of products.
If you want to buy a specifically Polish souvenir there are numerous options - creative designs in amber jewellery, delicate pottery or hand crafted woodwork.
Polish food
From traditional soup to .. the most delicious dessert ( the one from Wadowice , late John Pope II delicacy
Polish cuisine is becoming very international and eating habits, as in other countries depends on the family's social status. When visiting Poland you must however try one of the old traditional dishes.
Żurek
There are as many recipes for cooking Żurek as there are regions in Poland. In Kraków it is made with vegetables. The one essential, common ingredient is the leaven made of fermented rye flour with a piece of whole-meal bread crust.
Pierogi
During the summer months the Polish menu is dominated by pierogi filled with a variety of fruits: strawberries, bilberries, cherries, etc. Poles love pierogi with a sweet cottage cheese filling, often dotted with raisins. For the traditional borscht, cooks make a special kind of tiny pierogi called uszka (ears). The jumbo-sized pierogi, served in the Suwalki region, are usually stuffed with a filling made of locally picked mushrooms. In the Maopolska region you will find a variety called Russian pierogi which are filled with cottage cheese, mashed potatoes and chopped onion.
Duck with apples
Lucius Licinius Lucullus, the self-indulgent Roman general, was particularly fond of fig fed ducks. In the Polish recipe, apparently due to lack of availability, the exotic fig fruit was replaced with native apples. Duck with apples, once the dish of choice of the royalty and aristocracy, today is served in Polish restaurants.
Kremówka
It does not happen all too often that a casual remark can result in a tasty tidbit's rise to stardom. It was during the late Pope John Paul II's 1999 visit to his home town of Wadowice that he reminisced about his younger days. He recalled the sweet taste of the cream cake called kremówka which he and his schoolmates used to buy in a pastry shop in the market square. On the very next day, a kremówka became the order of the day in all local tea-rooms and confectionery shops! And so, the cake has been known ever since as "Papal kremówka ".
Polish traditions (source: Wikipedia )
Poles are seen as a nation of fun lovers who enjoy festivities, traditions and centuries-old customs. The most ancient rituals, especially those dating back to pagan times, have long lost their magical character, becoming a colourful vestige of the past and a form of amusement. Links with tradition are felt the strongest during the greatest religious feasts, such as Christmas, Easter, Corpus Christi processions and All Saints' Day. Pilgrimages to holy sites are very popular; these include the Monastery of Jasna Góra in Częstochowa for Catholics; the tomb of Rabbi Elimelech in Lezajsk for Jews, the Grabarka Sanctuary for Orthodox Christians.
The two main national holidays are the anniversary of the restoration of independence in 1918, celebrated on 11 November, and the anniversary of the passing of Poland's first Constitution on 3 May 1791. These are official holidays with ceremonies, marches, concerts and other festivities.
Other holidays, quite different in character, include Women's Day (8 March; today much less popular than under Communism), Mother's Day (26 May), Granny's Day (21 January) and Children's Day (1 June), all less public and celebrated first and foremost at home.
A well-established Polish tradition is the celebration of Andrzejki (St. Andrew's Day) - the last festive day before Advent, with fortune-telling to check what the new year will bring. The best-known method is by pouring hot wax into cold water and "reading" its shapes.
Links
Cheap flights to Poland
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