Choosing for yourself good tour to Poland, every traveler to one degree or another is guided by the most beautiful cities... Of course, if possible, he wants to visit all the popular centers in one trip and see their sights to the maximum.
In order for your selection of such a tour to be as easy as possible, let's look at the most interesting centers in this country from the point of view of a tourist, so that you know where to get tickets.
Cities of Poland - excerpts for each
All tourists who managed to visit this amazing country, naming the most impressive cities, agree on the following:
- Warsaw- the capital of Poland, a city that combines ancient examples of architecture, as well as modern high-rise buildings. Despite the fact that now it is Warsaw that plays the role of the main administrative center, it manages to maintain its flavor. This city has a lot of attractions, which is why it often becomes the first place that visitors are advised to visit. It is no coincidence that it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- Krakow- the second center in terms of administrative burden, but not in importance. This is an old city, there are a lot of interesting objects, starting from the Market Square and ending with small churches. Unlike Warsaw, this former capital of Poland was practically not damaged during the war, so the city managed to preserve its original architecture in full.
- Torun Is another wonderful Polish city that managed to survive the Second World War without loss. All architecture and unusual Polish flavor have also been preserved here. Now it is rightfully considered the center of Europe, of course, cultural. If you choose exactly what to focus on here, you should still pay attention to the old part. Although new cozy areas here are quite capable of charming a tourist.
- Katowice- this city is quite young, it is about two centuries old. However, today it is one of the coziest places in Poland. There is quite interesting original architecture here, there are original sights. It is worth choosing it mainly for those tourists who are already tired of the splendor of Warsaw and Krakow.
- It's gnarly. This city is the first capital of Poland. The most interesting thing that has survived here is the Market Square (in almost all cities of this country it is a special attraction), as well as several churches.
- Bydgoszcz Is a completely unusual city for Poland. Most of all, it resembles Venice. The main attraction here is the Bydgoszcz Canal.
- Wroclaw- another old City, in which the famous old cathedrals are concentrated. Included in the UNESCO heritage list.
- Poznan – history Center... A small but very cozy town, which should be visited by everyone who wants to know Poland and its history thoroughly.
- Wieliczka- the city where the best Polish balls are held to this day. It is recommended to go here only during the season, and only by invitation, otherwise there will be a risk of missing all the fun.
- Lublin- another largest place in Poland, where a lot of historical museums are located, there is cultural centers and several interesting objects for tourists. And although this city no longer plays the role in the life of the state that it had several centuries ago, it is imperative to visit it.
There are several other small, but curious cities in this country. These are Zakopane, Malbork and some others. But, unfortunately, they are not of such special interest for tourists as the above-mentioned ones.
The main attractions of the cities
Almost each of the cities represented has a number of special attractions, without which its understanding would be incomplete.
The most interesting of its kind may be Krakow. It is here that the Wawel Castle, Kazimierz, and the Bishops' Palace are located. Planty is a special area of this city. This is a kind of park ring around the old center.
In total, Krakow accounts for a quarter of all museum art in the country. Therefore, those who go to this city can definitely say that they will find what to see here. You should definitely visit the Czartoryski Museum here, without which the tour of the city would probably be incomplete. Those who like to spend time with more modern fun should definitely visit the local water park. He deserves the highest praise.
For those wishing to appreciate the state pomp of Poland the best place will become Warsaw. Here you will have to explore the Royal Square, visit several palaces at once: Wilanow, made in the Baroque style, Royal Palace as well as museums: the Museum of the Polish Army, the National Museum of Warsaw, the Chopin Museum and many others. Those wishing to appreciate the whole flavor of the city cannot do without the so-called Old Town, Rynok Square, as well as Krakowskie Przedmiecie.
In Lublin, if you choose this city for yourself, you should focus on the Crown Tribunal, the Krakow Gate, the Church of the Dominican Order. The most extreme tourists can also be invited to visit Majdanek. But those who do not want to remember the horrors of war should go down to the city dungeon. In Poland, this is one of the most popular such sites.
How to visit all cities in a few days
The easiest way to visit all cities in a few days is to choose a ready-made tour for yourself from those offered by agencies.
Today there are quite a few of them. They can include both the two main cities - Warsaw and Krakow, and several smaller ones in addition. Most often these are tours Warsaw-Krakow-Wroclaw, Warsaw-Krakow-Torun and others, depending on the main topic of the excursion.
Such excursions are designed in such a way that a person stays in one place for no more than a day or two. Overnight stays on such tours are mainly in hotels that are booked by the same company that organizes the trip.
The only drawback of such excursions: they usually have a standard set of monuments, by default mandatory for every visitor.
They are very good for those visiting Poland for the first time. But if a person visits the country for the second or third time, you can either look for more exotic tours ( thematic excursions, for example, dedicated to churches or castles of the country), or make a program yourself, which will correspond in duration to a standard tour, but will differ in the list of places. So you can easily calculate the time and make an author's tour for yourself.
One way or another, you can choose for yourself the optimal program that meets all your tourist expectations. And who knows, maybe one of the cities will amaze you so much that you will certainly want to get to know it better, but already within the framework of a completely different tour.
1. In terms of area, Poland ranks 69th in the world and 9th in Europe.
2. The word "Poland" comes from the name of the tribe polanie, which means "people living in the open field."
3. About 35% of the 60 million Poles live abroad. Large Polish-speaking communities live in the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia, Brazil and Argentina.
4. Poland boasts 17 Nobel Prize winners (more than Japan, China, India or Australia), including four Peace Prizes and five in Literature. Poland-born Maria Curie (Maria Sklodowska) was the first and only Nobel laureate in two different sciences and the first female professor at the Sorbonne.
5. Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was the first to suggest that the Earth is not the center of the universe.
6. Poland is ethnically homogeneous; only small national minorities live on the territory of the country: Ukrainians, Belarusians, Slovaks, Lithuanians and Germans.
7. Among the Slavic languages, Polish is the second in the number of speakers, after Russian.
8. Poland is the world's largest exporter of amber. Since ancient times, the country has been famous for its amber, which has been transported along the Amber Route from Baltic Sea before Adriatic coast... Gdansk, a city in northern Poland, is a great place for amber shopping.
9. Before World War II, Poland was the European center of Jewry, with 3.3 million Jews living in the country. 450 thousand Poles saved Jews from death during the Holocaust. The State of Israel awarded 6135 Poles the title of Righteous among the Nations, this is the largest number among all nationalities.
10. Nazi-occupied Poland was the only territory where officially any kind of assistance to Jews was punishable by death. Up to 50 thousand Poles were executed by the Nazis for saving Jews.
11. Polish "pirogy" (analogue of Ukrainian dumplings. - Ed.) Is the most famous Polish dish outside Poland.
12. In Poland, beer is often served with raspberry or blackcurrant juice (piwo z sokiem), which should be drunk through a straw. In cold weather, it is customary to drink hot beer with cloves and cinnamon, sweetened with honey (piwo grzane).
13. Poland is included in the "vodka belt of Europe." The history of vodka production in the country is more than 500 years old. The first Polish vodka appeared in the 11th century. It was called gorzalks and was used as a medicine.
14. Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) was the only Pope-Pole. His tenure as papal throne was the second longest in history. He is credited with helping to hasten the end of communism in Poland and throughout Central and Eastern Europe. His ancestral home in Wadowice, near Krakow, is now a place of pilgrimage.
15. Catholicism is so popular in Poland that a television channel dedicated to the Pope is broadcasting in the country.
16. Poles more often than representatives of other nationalities won the title of "World's Strongest Man". Pole Mariusz Pudzianowski is a five-time winner of this competition.
17. Poland is home to one of the best-preserved Neolithic flint mines (3500-1200 BC) in the world. It is one of the most valuable archaeological sites in Europe.
18. One of the oldest salt mines in the world - the Wieliczka Salt Mine (Kopalnia Soli Wieliczka) - was built in the 13th century. It consists of corridors and galleries on seven underground levels at a depth of 57 m to 198 m with a total length of more than 200 km. It is also called the "Underground Salt Cathedral" due to the three chapels and the whole cathedral, which were carved by miners in the salt mountain. Since 1978, the salt mine has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
19. Poles are well educated: 90% of young people have at least secondary education. 50% of Poles have an academic degree.
20. The Piwnica Świdnicka restaurant in Wroclaw is the oldest in Europe. It has been in operation since 1275.
21. In Poland, it is still customary to kiss a woman's hand when meeting.
22. One of the most popular songs in Poland is Żeby Polska była Polską, which was written in 1976 and became the anthem of the protesters against the communist regime. Speaking in 1982, Ronald Reagan titled his speech Let Poland Be Poland, and Queen Elizabeth II quoted the song at the Polish Parliament.
23. There is a street in Warsaw named after Winnie the Pooh - Kubusia Puchatka Street. The street has a length of 149 m.
24. Many Poles consider their name day to be more important than their birthday.
25. One of the Christmas traditions in Poland is watching the movie "Home Alone".
Landmarks of Poland. The most important and interesting sights of the cities of Poland: photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, sites.
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the most
Auschwitz-Birkenau
Auschwitz, Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau
Auschwitz is the most famous concentration camp of the Second World War, located in the south of Poland, 60 km west of Krakow. The exact number of victims of this death camp is still unknown, it has been reliably established that there were at least a million prisoners who did not wait for freedom.
the most
Wroclaw cathedral
Wroclaw, plac Katedralny, 18
The Cathedral in Wroclaw was consecrated in honor of John the Baptist. This is a very beautiful and majestic Gothic building with neo-Gothic elements, which stands in the area of the town of Ostrov Tumskiy (Cathedral Island). The current church is the fourth one that was built on this site.
the most
Krakow Market Square
The Krakow Market Square is one of the largest medieval squares in Europe. It was built as early as 1257, and the buildings surrounding it from the 14th-15th centuries. buildings, gained their present appearance in the 17-19th centuries, although they have preserved the Renaissance and Baroque periods: attikas, portals, galleries of courtyards. The main attractions of the square, in addition to the market itself, are the Town Hall Tower, the Church of St. Wojciech, the monument to Adam Mickiewicz, the Zbaraski Palace and, of course, St. Mary's Church.
What else to see in Poland
Warsaw
The capital of Poland is one of the most visited cities in the country thanks to the famous Warsaw Old Town (other names - Stare Miasto, Starowka) of the 13th century, which is on the list of UNESCO monuments. Thoroughly restored after the Second World War, old houses, a moat, the Barbican watchtower - all this creates unique look old Poland.
Dance of the Castles ( Palace Square) is crowned with Sigismund's Column and the Royal Castle with a clock tower and gentry gates. Šventojanska Street is famous for its main church - the Cathedral of St. John and the nearby Jesuit Church of the Virgin Mary. Šventojanska merges into the spacious Market Square, where you can admire the stucco facades of the houses “Under the muzhinkem” (“under the black man”), “Under St. Anna”, “Under the basilisk” (“under the basilisk”). The other end of this street runs into the Castle Square. Here begins the Royal Route, which includes the streets of Krakowskie Przedmiecie, Nowy wiat and Aleje Ujazdowskie, dotted with wonderful examples of medieval architecture.
Just 3 km south of the Old Town - and you find yourself in the palace and park complex Royal Lazienki. In the center of it there is an artificial lake, and on it there is a loose island connected to the shores by bridges. A palace was built on the island in the 17th century, where the last king of Poland, Stanislav Poniatowski, lived. The interiors of the palace were decorated with canvases by Rubens and Rembrandt, which were completely destroyed during the Second World War. Now the palace has been restored, and you can come here with a guided tour or a concert (lazienki-krolewskie.pl the site of the palace in Polish).
Walking along the numerous paths to the western border of the park, you will see another recognizable landmark of Warsaw - the monument to the composer Frederic Chopin. The history of the monument is dramatic: at first, the Poles could not get permission to create a memorial, then in 1940, during the Second World War, the invaders cut it into many parts and melted it down, and also destroyed almost all copies and sketches, and only in 1958 the monument was reopened. Near the long-suffering landmark, there is a pond with benches around it, where visitors to classical music concerts can be accommodated.
Czestochowa
Among the picturesque mountains right in the center of the Krakow-Czestochowa Plateau is the religious center of Poland - Czestochowa. The local monastery on Yasnaya Gora houses the country's main shrine - the Czestochowa Icon of the Mother of God, which, according to legend, was painted by the Apostle Luke in the house of the Holy Family. They say that the icon of the Black Madonna, the patroness of Poland, has miraculous properties, so this place is a center of pilgrimage for Catholics and Orthodox Christians. No less curious are the Knights' Hall, the Arsenal; many try to visit the Museum of the 600th Anniversary of the Monastery.
Krakow
"Cradle of the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth", now the former capital of Poland, has not lost its charm over the years, adding to its historical treasures. Krakow, or rather, its Old Town, which is tightly embraced by the Planty parks, is the location of hundreds of the most valuable monuments, and the Krakow Old Town is on the list of twelve most valuable monuments of the world cultural heritage of UNESCO. The main square of the city is the Market, where the former shopping arcade of Sukiennice has been preserved, the upper floors of which are occupied by an art gallery National Museum Krakow.
The fortress hill on the banks of the Vistula Wawel can be seen far away thanks to the pointed towers: Villainous, Sandomierz and Senator's, and the pompous Royal Castle keeps the coronation sword Shcherbets and a unique collection of medieval tapestries. There and then settled down Cathedral Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas and the Chapel of Zygmunt (Sigismund) with the famous 11-ton bell "Zygmunt". Its ringing fills the hearts of people with anxiety, because the turning points of the country's life make it sound.
Outskirts of Krakow
Wieliczka, or rather, an ancient salt mine, also included in the list of the world cultural heritage UNESCO, located 10 km from Krakow. The place of pilgrimage is Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, which is 40 km from Krakow. On Holy Week, mysteries are held here, in which thousands of pilgrims participate.
Poznan
Who has not seen better times the state of Poznan concentrated its historical wealth on Tumski Island. Here is the oldest gothic temple Poland and the Golden Chapel with the tombstones of Mieszko I and Boleslav the Brave, who were the first to ascend to the Polish throne. Old Market with History Museum in the Town Hall building - perfect place for walking. The symbols of the city are the Church of St. Wojciech and the Monastery of Discalced Carmelites.
Kornik
Kornik is located 20 km from Poznan. It is worth visiting a museum with a collection of antique furniture, paintings and history objects, as well as an arboretum.
Poland is very beautiful country with a rich history and distinctive culture, located in Eastern Europe. The state boasts large quantity resort towns with developed infrastructure. Millions of tourists from all over Europe and beyond come here every year. In summer in Poland you can relax by the sea, in winter you can go skiing from the mountains, in spring and autumn you can visit local architectural, historical and natural sights. To decide where to go to rest, you should find out more about each of the resort cities of this wonderful country.
Lublin landmarks
The cities of Poland attract tourists with their special energy, filled with magic. Majestic temples, mysterious medieval castles, narrow winding old streets, mountains, dungeons, breathtaking landscapes - this is what foreigners want to see when they come to Europe, and Lublin can provide them with all these beauties. Poland, the sights of which can be conditionally divided into historical, cultural, architectural, natural, knows how to surprise and enchant with its appearance.
It was in Lublin that the alliance between Lithuania and Poland was concluded many years ago. There are a lot of architectural monuments having great historical meaning... These include the Krakow Gate, which is the symbol of Lublin, Krakowskie Przedmiescie, leading to the old part of the city. Visitors love to view the local houses. Beautiful murals, exquisite stucco moldings, interesting turret shapes, enlarged old photographs - all this can be seen on the local buildings. Lublin can boast of houses in the style of the Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, Classicism.
Poland, whose sights constantly remind of the distant past, do not allow people to forget their culture, history, never ceases to amaze visitors. In Lublin, exhibitions, performances, festivals, performances, and film forums are often held. This city with every street, every house, with a stone reminds of the glorious past, but at the same time does not stand still, but actively develops, looks into the future with inspiration.
The city is located on the Supral River, in the north-east of the country, in a very scenic location... In the 15th century, Bialystok was mentioned for the first time in written sources. Poland, whose attractions do not end with ancient buildings and cultural monuments, also boasts beautiful landscapes. Bialystok is surrounded by protected forests on all sides. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is an main feature cities. In the National Park you can see rare animals - bison. Also interesting birds live here - black storks, short-eared owls, as well as trees that are more than one hundred years old.
Bialystok is a multinational city with an Orthodox face, in which cultures of different peoples are intertwined. Poland has in store attractions for different categories of tourists. The city will appeal to lovers of nature, history, culture, national traditions. There is something to see and learn about here. In Bialystok there is the Branicki Palace, also called the “Podlasie Versailles”. Luxurious residence built in the Baroque style. Lovers of architecture should look at the Old Church, the Market Square, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Shopping lovers will also like Bialystok. The city has several large shopping centers as well as a huge market. You can buy anything here. The prices are reasonable and the quality is excellent. International festivals of art, music, puppet theater and folklore are often held in Bialystok.
Great stay in Augustów and Mrронgowo
These two cities are very popular with tourists. Augustow (Poland) attractions are of natural origin. Many people come here for the Masurian Lakes, the beauty of which is impossible to stop admiring. This tourist town with a developed infrastructure and a rich historical past, no one will be bored here.
Another interesting place for leisure is Mrронgowo. Poland has prepared attractions for different categories of tourists, it will be interesting for both adults and children. Mrgowo has many monuments, fountains, interesting architectural structures, historical complexes. Also in the city you can visit religious sites, museums, entertainment centers. Children will be interested in going to the zoo.
Bieszczady - a paradise for true connoisseurs of nature
Man-made and natural sights of Poland amaze the imagination, discover something new, never before seen. It is recommended to go to Bieszczady for all romantic people who are tired of the hustle and bustle, constant problems, stress. In that cozy town you can rest your body and soul. Captures the spirit from the fabulously nice looking wooden churches located on green mountains! Bieszczady is one of the most beautiful secluded cities in Europe. Tourists come here to rest all year round. The largest number of them is observed in summer and autumn, at this time it is warm in the city, and the mountains amaze with their beautiful views. In winter, Bieszczady is also crowded, as it is an excellent ski resort.
Czestochowa - a treasure trove of historical and archaeological monuments
This city is recommended to go to all lovers of history, archeology, architecture different eras... Many places of interest in Poland are of great religious importance. In Czestochowa, there is one of the most important shrines of Poles - the Black Madonna, which is considered the Patroness and Queen of the country. She was crowned back in 1656, since then the constant pilgrimage to the icon has not stopped. Poles and guests of the city do not visit the shrine in vain. The Black Madonna healed more than one person, people ask the icon for health, prosperity, prosperity. Decent pure soul for believers, the shrine fulfills cherished desires.
Czestochowa is also famous for its unusual landscape of the Jurassic mountains. There are many rare animals, birds and plants here. In the national park, you can see trees that are more than one century old.
Solnechny Gdansk
To this cheerful town, located on sea coast, every year thousands of tourists come, wanting to relax in body and soul. Poland's natural attractions delight both children and adults. In Gdansk, you can improve your health, gain new strength. There is an excellent mild climate here, there are many well-equipped beaches. The city has interesting historically significant architectural structures... At one time, Gdansk was under the leadership of different owners, it has a confusing and complex history. Therefore, lovers of antiquity and architectural masterpieces you will definitely like it here.
Knightly Malbork
Anyone who has read novels about valiant knights and beautiful ladies should go to northern part Poland. It is here that the mysterious and such beautiful Malbork is located. In this city are collected reminders of Crusade knights of the Teutonic order against pagans and Muslims sights of Poland. The map of the main architectural monuments of Europe also includes a red brick castle built in 1274 on the banks of the Nogat River. It was here that the Teutonic Knights stayed when they moved their headquarters to Malbork from Venice. The castle is the largest European fortress built in the Gothic style.
Wroclaw - the cradle of several cultures
It is always interesting to get acquainted with the traditions and culture of another people. The sights of Poland allow you to immediately learn about the life of several representatives of the countries. Wroclaw is very confusing and at the same time interesting story... Look modern city is the result of the fusion of the cultures of the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria. The Germans left Wroclaw after World War II, and Poles from Lvov came to take their place. The historically significant part of the city is built on islands connected by bridges, the total number of which is more than a hundred. Wroclaw is interesting for its architecture, there are buildings in the Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau styles.
Auschwitz is a timeless reminder of human cruelty
During the Second World War, Poland experienced many troubles. Photos (the sights in Auschwitz are not the most rosy) of those terrible events still cause shudder and misunderstanding of how people can be so heartless and cruel. The Germans turned the city into the most important concentration camp; more than 1.5 million people died during its operation. Among the prisoners were women, old people and even small children, the Nazis did not spare anyone. Today there is a museum in Auschwitz, visitors always leave it sad and thoughtful. The exposition is striking in its cruelty and makes you think about the fate of all mankind.
Warsaw is the main city of Poland
The capital is the face of the country. Warsaw is the epitome of all of Poland. The city, like a phoenix, was reborn from the ashes after World War II, almost all buildings were subject to reconstruction. Today it is the political, cultural, scientific and economic center of the country. Businessmen and politicians come here from all over Europe. Tourists will be interested to see the huge Palace of Culture and Science. Particular attention should be paid to the Chopin Museum, the Old Town, the former Jewish ghetto, the royal route, as well as beautiful palaces.
Poland is a beautiful and interesting Eastern European country, attracting with its peculiar culture, traditions, architecture, and a difficult fate. Tourists come here to get to know the history of the people better, as well as to enjoy the delightful and such beautiful nature.
Poland is of great interest to tourists, because this country has a large number of monuments of architecture and history, beautiful nature with lakes and ancient forests, the Baltic Sea, numerous balneological and ski resorts... That is why tens of millions of tourists come to Poland every year ...
Geography of Poland
Poland is located in Eastern Europe. In the west, Poland borders on Germany, in the south - with the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in the east - with Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania, and in the north - with Russia (Kaliningrad region). In the north, Poland is washed by the Baltic Sea. The total area of this country is 312,679 square meters. km
Poland is dominated by a low-lying landscape. Uplands and plateaus are located in the south of the country.
In the southeastern part of Poland there is the Sudeten Mountains, in which the highest peak is Mount Sniezka (1,602 m). South of Poland is occupied by Carpathian mountains and the Tatras, which are divided into the High and Western Tatras. The highest peak in Poland is Rysy in the Tatras, its height reaches almost 2,500 meters. In the east of the country there are the Pieniny and Bieszczady mountains.
The main Polish rivers are the Vistula, Odra, Vatra and Bug, which flow across the plain from south to north.
An important element of the Polish landscape are lakes, of which there are more than 9,300 in this country. Most of the lakes in Poland are located in the Masurian Lake District. The area is also home to the most beautiful majestic ancient forests, which are full of rare animals and unique plants.
Capital
The capital of Poland since 1791 is Warsaw, which is now home to more than 1.82 million people. Historians believe that human settlements on the territory of modern Warsaw appeared at the beginning of the 10th century.
Official language
The official language in Poland is Polish, which belongs to the West Slavic languages of the Indo-European language family. Now the Polish language has 4 dialects (Wielkopolska, Lesser Poland, Mazovian, and Silesian).
Religion
About 90% of the inhabitants of Poland are Catholics belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. Poles have always been considered the most zealous (i.e. devoted) Catholics. In addition, many Orthodox Christians and Protestants live in Poland.
State structure of Poland
Poland is a parliamentary republic. According to the 1997 Constitution, executive power belongs to the head of state - the President, and legislative power belongs to the bicameral parliament, the National Assembly, consisting of the Senate (100 people) and the Seimas (460 people).
The main Polish political parties are the liberal-conservative Civic Platform, the conservative Law and Justice, the social-liberal Palikot Movement, the social democratic Union of Democratic Left Forces and the centrist Polish Peasant Party.
Climate and weather
The climate in Poland is mostly temperate. The average annual temperature in Poland is + 8C and varies depending on the region and distance from the Baltic Sea. The average temperature in summer is + 18C, and in winter in January it is -4C.
Sea in Poland
In the north, Poland is washed by the Baltic Sea. Length coastline is 788 kilometers. The largest Polish port is Gdansk. Several islands are part of Poland. The largest of them are Volin and Usnam.
Rivers and lakes
Four big rivers- Vistula (1,047 km), Odra (854 km), Warta (808 km) and Western Bug (772 km).
Poland also has over 9,300 lakes. Most of the Polish lakes are located in the Masurian Lake District. This lake region includes such lakes as Sniardvy, Mamry and Niegocin.
In Polish rivers and lakes, there are trout, salmon, pike, pike perch, whitefish, tench, bleak, carp, roach, bream, crucian carp, catfish, etc. In the Baltic Sea, Poles catch herring, sprats, salmon, cod and flounder.
History of Poland
Greater Poland was founded in 966 BC. the first Polish king Mieszko I from the Piast dynasty. Then the tribes of southern Poland form Lesser Poland. In the middle of the 11th century, the Polish king Casimir I the Restorer managed to unite Great and Lesser Poland.
In 1386 Poland entered into a union with Lithuania (Polish-Lithuanian Union). Thus, the Polish-Lithuanian state was formed, which for several centuries became the strongest in Eastern Europe.
In the 15th century, Poland waged wars with the Teutonic Order, Muscovy and Ottoman Empire... The famous Battle of Grunwald in 1410 ended with the defeat of the troops of the Teutonic Order.
In 1569, according to the Union of Lublin, the Rzeczpospolita was formed - the union state of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Throughout the 17th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth waged wars with its neighbors - Turks, Ukrainians and Russians. Suffice it to recall the campaigns of the Cossacks and Poles against Moscow and the uprising of Bohdan Khmelnitsky.
In the end, Poland suffered a series of defeats, and in 1772 the first division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place between Russia, Prussia and Austria. The second partition of Poland took place in 1792, and the third in 1795.
After that, the Polish state did not exist for more than 100 years, although the Poles made several attempts to restore it (the uprisings of 1830-31 and 1861).
Only in October 1918 the independent state of Poland was restored. Marshal Jozef Piłsudski became the head of Poland, and the famous pianist Ignatius Paderewski was elected Prime Minister.
In 1926, as a result of a coup d'état, power in Poland was seized by Jozef Pilsudski, who ruled the country until his death in 1935.
In 1934 Poland and Germany signed a non-aggression pact. However, despite this, on September 1, 1939, a war broke out between these states, which led to World War II.
After the end of World War II, the Polish Republic was proclaimed, and in 1952 - the Polish People's Republic.
In December 1989, under the influence of the economic factor (Poland took too many loans, which it could not repay) and due to interference in the internal affairs of the Polish People's Republic of some Western states, the Polish Republic was formed, and the Communist Party was outlawed after a while.
In 1999 Poland became a member of the NATO military bloc, and in 2004 it was admitted to the European Union.
The culture
The unique character of Polish culture comes from the fact that Poland is located at the crossroads of East and West. The rich culture of Poland is manifested primarily in the local architecture. Many Polish palaces, fortresses and churches are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The most famous Polish painters are Jacek Malczewski (1854-1929), Stanislav Wyspianski (1869-1907), Josef Mehoffe (1869-1946), and Josef Chelmonski (1849-1914).
The most famous Polish writers and poets are Adam Mickiewicz, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Boleslaw Prus, Stanislaw Lem, and Andrzej Sapkowski.
As for the traditions, they differ in Poland depending on the region. V mountainous areas the country still has a lot of ancient traditions.
Some of the Polish traditions originate from Catholicism, and some have their roots in paganism. The most important religious holidays in Poland are Christmas and Easter.
Poles, like other peoples, have their own legends and myths. The oldest and most popular of them are “The Legend of Boleslav and His Knights” (it turns out that Poland had its own King Arthur), “The Dragon of Krakow”, “Polish Eagle” and “Janusik” (Polish Robin Hood).
Polish cuisine
Polish cuisine has evolved under the influence of several cuisines. First of all, Hungarians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Tatars, Armenians, Italians, and French have influenced the Polish cuisine.
In northern Poland, the favorite dish is fish. In addition, traditional Polish dishes include duck, sauerkraut soup and cheese. Traditional Polish dishes - sauerkraut and meat bigos, kotlet schabowy pork cutlet, dumplings, and cabbage rolls.
Poland landmarks
In Poland, they have always treated their history with great care. Therefore, there are a lot of various sights here, and it is difficult to single out the best ones. In our opinion, the ten most interesting Polish sights include the following:
Cities and resorts
The largest cities in Poland are Warsaw (over 1.82 million people), Lodz (790 thousand people), Krakow (780 thousand people), Wroclaw (640 thousand people), Poznan (620 thousand people). ), Gdansk (630 thousand people), and Szczecin (420 thousand people).
Ski resorts in Poland, of course, are less popular than, for example, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, but they are more affordable. Moreover, Polish ski resorts are notable for their beauty. Therefore, every year hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists come to Poland to ski in local ski resorts.
The most popular Polish ski resorts are Swieradow Zdroj, Zakopane, Kotelnica, Uston, Szczyrk, and Szklarska Poreba.
Poland is also famous for its health resorts with mineral water and healing mud. The most popular of them are Polczyn-Zdroj, Bysko-3dryj, Kolobrzeg, winoujscie, Uston, Szczawno-Zdroj, and Krynica.
There are several excellent locations along the Baltic coast of Poland. beach resorts- Sopot, Gdansk, Gdynia, Kolobrzeg, Svinoujscie, and Krynica Morska. In August, the average water temperature of the Baltic Sea off the coast of Poland is + 20C.
Opening hours of institutions
Bank opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 09:00 to 16:00
Sat: 09:00 to 13:00
Most grocery stores in Poland are open Monday through Friday from 07:00 to 19:00. On Saturday, some Polish shops are open until lunchtime. Supermarkets are open daily.
