Landmarks of Poland - description and photo. What to see in Poland? The most interesting cities in Poland according to tourists The most interesting sights of Poland

It will be about an incredibly colorful, amazing country - Poland, which harmoniously combines ancient buildings, pristine nature and the most diverse achievements of science and technology. From a bird's eye view, the country amazes the eye with its diversity - dense forests, Mountain peaks, fields, blue rivers and lakes, majestic castles - and all this is bordered by modern infrastructure.

Poles deeply respect the history of their country and treat it with care - as a huge part of the world heritage - after all, according to historians, it is Poland that is the cradle of Slavic civilization.

The country has a huge number of attractions, among which it is worth highlighting the most impressive and interesting.

Remains of a primeval forest preserved on the territory of the border between Poland and Belarus. This is one of the largest concentrations of the ancient forest, which has remained intact to our times. Some trees are up to 600 years old. The reserve is distinguished by its rich flora and fauna.

Among the narrow streets of Tumski Island in Poznan, there is the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, which was honored to be the first church in the country. Its history goes back over 10 centuries. The old building has undergone 6 transformations of the architectural style:

• Pre-Romanesque - some of its elements are still found in the basement of the temple.
• Romanesque (fragments from this historical landmark have also survived - but only in the south tower). The restructuring took place after the destruction caused by the uprisings.
• Gothic style. Gothic "fashion" was popular during the Middle Ages, which led to new reconstructions.
• Baroque - the temple was rebuilt after a major fire that caused irreparable damage. This passionate, irrational style was inherent in that era.
• The neoclassical style - the penultimate reincarnation of the temple (with delicate taste and graceful forms) - also happened due to the fire;
• Gothic - this style had to be restored after irreparable destruction during the Second World War. Nothing remained of the former building, except for the foundation, which gravitated towards Gothic forms.

Location: Ostrów Tumski - 17.

Gdansk is famous for the largest zoo in the country. It looks very picturesque and surprises visitors with a huge variety of animals. It is impossible to enjoy the view of the zoo in a short time - you need to allocate at least 4 hours. There is even a mini-zoo on the territory, where the smallest visitors can feed and even pet animals - goats, guinea pigs, rabbits.

Location: Karwieńska - 3.

Trees unusual for Polish landscapes, cascades of waterfalls, winding alleys - everything is imbued with the spirit of Japan. Unusual park is located in a huge city - Wroclaw. The garden looks as close as possible to Japanese traditions. Its small size is replete with such a variety of landscapes that, despite this, there is hardly enough time to see all the beauty in one visit.

Location: ul. Wystawowa - 1.

This high building, which will open before the gaze of the visitor who has climbed the bell tower an amazing view the most beautiful city Wroclaw, with its red roofs of distant small houses. The building was built in the 13th century and to this day it delights with its stately Gothic decoration, massiveness and height.

Location: Grabiszyńska - 103.

While in the city of Karpacz, it will be very useful to visit the Krkonoše National Park. This is a system of protected areas located on the border of Poland and the Czech Republic. The park has a huge territory ( 36 thousand hectares) and surprises with its unspoiled nature. Mountains, forests, waterfalls, huge granite vaults that make up the pristine beauty of this place attract thousands of tourists at any time of the year.

The first thing worth visiting while in Krakow is the Royal Castle on the Wawel Hill - the former seat of the rulers of the Polish state, which has retained its respected status despite the fact that Krakow has ceased to be the capital.

The castle is huge and majestic. It contains many sarcophagi and crypts where kings and saints rest, and, of course, there is a museum. It should be noted that the castle acquires a particularly unique look at night: the walls are illuminated, giving the building a true fabulousness.

Location: Wawel - 5.

It is the country's most notorious landmark. No more than a couple of hours drive west of Krakow lies the city of Auschwitz, the site of the largest massacre in human history.

The concentration camp was converted into a museum in 1947. An interesting fact is that one of the initiators of its creation was a former prisoner who later became the director of the museum.

Location: Więźniów Oświęcimia - 20.

The city of ski resorts Zakopane is located in the very south of the country, and, nevertheless, is snowy, which attracts ski lovers. The city is located at the foot of the picturesque Tatra Mountains.

Guests of the city have the opportunity to observe an amazing panorama created by a variety of mountain landscapes - here there are rocks, snow, and meadows. In autumn, you can visit a popular holiday - the largest International Festival of Folklore of the Mountain Lands.

"Royal Route" and the Royal Castle in Warsaw

A walk around Warsaw should start with the "Royal Route" - the road on which the largest number historical sites... The path starts from the Royal Castle - not so remarkable from the outside, but exceptionally richly decorated from the inside. The palace-museum amazes visitors with gold paintings, stucco moldings, and original paintings.

Location: plac Zamkowy - 4.

Leads the "Royal Route" to the azienki park. This is a picturesque complex, remarkable not only for its nature, but also for the palace located above an artificial lake, the Roman Theater, and also the "white house" - known as the cozy haven of King Stanislav and his mistresses.

The Siren statue in Warsaw on the Market Square is a monument that has managed to acquire a wide variety of legends during its time, because it was installed quite a long time ago - at the end of the 19th century. It is noteworthy that the image of this statue is also the coat of arms of the city.

Location: bulwar Bohdana Grzymały-Siedleckiego.

A slightly awkward building at first glance - the Copernicus Science Center - a unique museum containing exhibits that allow visitors to feel like an experimenter in various scientific fields - astronomy, physics, chemistry, robotics, biology, and much more (in total, the scientific center has more than 450 exhibits).

Location: Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie - 20, Warsaw.

The most beautiful building of the capital, designed in subtle Rococo styles. It is surprising that music is still heard within the walls of the temple, coming from a two-hundred-year-old organ, which was once played by Frederic Chopin himself.

Location: Krakowskie Przedmieście - 34.

Zalipye village - amazing small village in the south of the country, which is famous for decorative painting. The appearance of the village will amaze a visitor, because ornaments are everywhere here: on the walls of houses, sidewalks, wells, bridges, sheds, troughs, and jugs. Even the kennels for dogs are decorated with flowers.

The chic structure of fine architectural work has 99 turrets, thanks to which the building looks fabulous. The castle deeply impresses with the elegance of its forms, a special approach to every small detail. Its decoration remained as fantastic and luxurious as at the beginning (presumably in the 17th century).

The Wieliczka Salt Mine has become tourist attraction back in the 15th century, when privileged persons, having the permission of the king, began to descend into it in order to see huge caves resembling an underground city.

Location: Daniłowicza - 10.

The Order's Castle Marienburg (Mary's Castle) is a defensive castle of the knights of the Teutonic Order, built in the 13th century. The castle is very rich in exhibits that remind visitors of the distant glory of knights' campaigns, as well as, especially in a large collection of amber items.

Location: Starościńska - 1.

Poland is an amazing country with a lot of interesting things to do: lavender fields, music shops with buttons, by pressing which you can listen to Chopin's works; a street named after Winnie the Pooh, the amazing beauty of the lake, and countless places for outdoor activities - diving in an underwater quarry, horse riding, hiking, bike excursions. Every corner of the country is imbued with a spirit of beauty, inspiration and respect for the rich heritage of the Polish people.

Poland is of great interest to tourists, because this country has a large number of architectural and historical monuments, 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 most high peak in Poland - 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, the executive power belongs to the head of state - the President, and the 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 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. The coastline is 788 kilometers long. 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 that it could not repay) and because of interference in the internal affairs of the Polish People's Republic In some Western states, the Polish Republic was formed, and the Communist Party after a while was outlawed.

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. A lot of ancient traditions are still preserved in the mountainous regions of the country.

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 healing spas with mineral water and healing mud. The most popular of them are Polchin-Zdroj, Bysko-3dryj, Kolobrzeg, winoujscie, Uston, Szczawno-Zdroj, and Krynica.

There are several excellent beach resorts along the Baltic coast of Poland - Sopot, Gdansk, Gdynia, Kolobrzeg, winoujscie, 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.

Visa

Poland is one of the countries with a rich history; it has always attracted a large number of ancient monuments and picturesque landscapes. Today you will learn about the sights of Poland, how this country can be remembered. It is better to plan your trip in advance. This is especially true of what to see in Poland.

What to see in Poland first of all?

This is a country with hospitable and friendly people, which makes you want to visit it even more. Let's move on to the main thing, what can be seen so beautiful in a state located in the central part of the European continent?

1. Warsaw Old Town

You should start your trip around the country with an acquaintance with the historical district of its official capital. It is represented by a market square with a large number of shops, cafes and restaurants for every taste and color. A positive feature of this attraction in Poland is the richness of the area with monuments of medieval architecture. It is interesting to know that the Old Town was founded in the XIII century, initially it was surrounded by an earthen rampart, later it was replaced with brick walls. Don't forget to bring your camera to take many beautiful photos.

2. Castle Marienburg

Among the main attractions of the country is the "nest" of German knights. The brick bulk of this castle rises on the banks of the Nogat River, which flows 80 km from the border with Kaliningrad region RF. Its history began 700 years ago, when the Teutonic residence was officially moved from Venice to Marienburg. The fortress was repeatedly completed and decorated. In 1945, the castle was severely damaged, but after the end of World War II, it was literally rebuilt from scratch. Now there is a museum within the walls of the building, where interesting weapons collections, amber jewelry, and armor are presented.

3. Tatras

This is the name of the mountain system of the Carpathians, the highest point of which reaches 2499 m. This place attracts tourists not only with heights within 1800-2500 m, but also with glacial circuses, mountain lakes in large numbers, deep valleys. The rating of this attraction in Poland is assessed as high, all because there is still a ski resort here, known as Zakopane. You can get here from the capital by train. The Tatras are also famous for their caves, of which there are really many.

4. Old Town of Krakow

If you are planning to go specifically to Krakow, it is better to start its survey from the Old Town, all roads from which lead to market square... It is a "front living room", both locals and guests of the country are used to gathering there. The residents of Krakow are proud of their square, because it is considered one of the largest in Europe, occupying 200 * 200 m. A trip to the Old Town is worth it, because the market ensemble has preserved in detail the planning of the times when trade with all of Europe was carried out.

5. Wawel Castle

This is one of the best attractions in Krakow, represented by a large pedestrian zone. A strange sculpture in the form of a dragon immediately attracts attention. Against its background, tourists love to be photographed; a whole legend is associated with it. The castle rises above the Vistula River, and stands on a hill. The territory attracts with an abundance of flowers, processions are held here in honor of the celebration of May 1 and not only. The entrance to the castle is free, but if you want to visit underground tombs, climb the bell tower or be in the royal chambers, you will need to pay money.

6. Wooden churches in the south of Lesser Poland

Interesting places are located in the south and east of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, where there is a whole group of churches made of natural wood that are historically valuable from an architectural point of view. Most of them look like a log house, and some represent different architectural styles... The buildings fit perfectly into the picturesque mountain landscape. From the description of this sight of Poland, you can find out that it is included in the UNESCO list.

Feel the atmosphere of Poland in this beautiful video!

7. Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau in Auschwitz

Everyone knows that in one of the Polish cities during the Second World War, there were three Nazi concentration camps. Auschwitz has a museum dedicated to this topic. It reminds that at one time hundreds of thousands of people died here. 90% of them were Jews, brought from various countries of occupied Europe. During the existence of the concentration camp, more than a million people were killed. Once in this museum, it is impossible to remain indifferent. This Polish landmark has exhibitions of items that were taken from the victims by the Nazis.

8. Old town in Gdansk

What to visit in Poland? The most ancient part of the settlement of Gdansk deserves attention. During the Second World War, a huge number of buildings were damaged, and some even turned into a heap of rubble. Only a few buildings have been preserved. At the end of hostilities, the architecture was restored in accordance with the view of the 13-17 centuries. Where to go first in Poland? Of course, to the old town. It is decorated with many multi-colored buildings, some of them are decorated with drawings carved on wood, sculptural decors. From the view ancient center Europe is always left with vivid impressions.

9. Masurian Lake District

This d The sightseeing of Poland is one of the most beautiful, tourists are delighted with the beauty of the local nature. Mazury is a historical and ethnographic region in the northern part of the country. There are about 4 thousand lakes in this region, most of which are connected by canals, rivers. The total area of ​​the Mazury is about 1,700 km 2. Here you can ride sailboats, kayaks.

10. Statue of Christ the King

This landmark of Poland is one of the modern, its opening took place in 2010. A unique feature of the statue is that it is the tallest in the world (36 m). Before its appearance, the famous statue in Rio was considered such. If you drive along the highway towards the city of Svebodzin, the figure of Christ with outstretched arms is clearly visible. The idea of ​​building the monument belongs to canon Sylvester Zavadsky. consider it their duty to show the statue of Christ to tourists.

Sightseeing in Poland: what else to visit in Poland?

The trip to the described country will definitely be interesting. It contains just a huge number of historically significant sites that deserve attention. What to see in Poland when it seems that you have already seen everything?

11. Wieliczka Salt Mine

There is another attraction of Poland within 30 minutes drive from the royal capital city of Krakow. We are talking about a small town with a population of only 20 thousand people. Its uniqueness lies in the presence of salt mines. They were formed naturally; many years ago there was a large body of water. in this direction are held regularly, tourists are shown the places where salt was once mined.

12. Slovinsky National Park

Wondering what to visit in Poland? Travel to the city of Leba where there is interesting place in the form of a park area in the central part of the Polish coast. It was founded with the aim of preserving the natural beauty of the area. Meadows, a system of lakes, coastal forests, and unique dunes also needed protection. Reviews about this place are full of admiration; the park has picturesque lakes, into which sea water falls during strong storms. The tourist infrastructure here is assessed as well developed.

13. Wilanow Palace

Want to see Poland's most important landmark? Welcome to the palace located on the southeastern outskirts of Warsaw. It is made in the Baroque style and adjoins a garden that Poles are proud of. The residence for the rulers was built at the end of the seventeenth century, during its existence it was repeatedly completed. It was within the walls of the palace that one of the first art museums in the country, it happened in 1805, and on the initiative of S.K.

14. Wroclaw Cathedral

Go ahead. What to see in Poland so as not to regret? A beautiful and majestic building in the Gothic style with neo-Gothic elements deserves attention. This is the fourth church on Cathedral Island, the first one was erected in the 10th century. Its peculiarity was a nave 25 m long. The modern version of the Wroclaw Cathedral looks like a three-nave basilica with several entrances. This place is one of those that you can see in Poland in 1 day. The cathedral is located in the central part of Wroclaw, namely between botanical garden and the river.

15. Zakopane

The city located in the extreme south of the country has many positive recommendations. Here he is considered one of the largest centers winter species sports. Ski lovers are offered both simple, gentle slopes and difficult, steep ones. In some places, the elevation changes reach 930 m. What to see in Poland, you ask? Go to Zakopane, where you will find as many as 10 ski centers.

16. Belovezhskaya Pushcha

This is the largest corner of the relict primeval plain forest. Once it grew throughout Europe, but gradually it was cut down. The trees survived only in the Bialowieza region, which is on the territory of Poland and Belarus. Pushcha is considered one of the most valuable natural objects, which is under the "protection" of UNESCO. A feature of the national park is the richness and variety of vegetation. Numerous animals live there, most of which are listed in the Red Book.

17. Lazienki Park

In the very heart of the Polish capital, there is a unique and very beautiful parkland. The park was created in the 17th century; it was originally planned that it would be a nature reserve. There are not so many animals here, squirrels and peacocks attract attention. The attractions of the park include the Palace on the Water, the White House, the Roman Theater, the Egyptian Castle and more. They all have their own interesting story.

18. Old part of the city of Zamosc

Myself locality appeared on the idea and desire of one person who was the crown chancellor. His name was Jan Zamoyski, he wanted to have his own residence, which would be worthy of his high position. The result is a unique architectural ensemble of its kind, which includes a large number of masterpieces of historical and cultural significance. By the way, there are no problems with hotels in Poland, no matter what direction you choose, there are apartments everywhere, the main thing is to take care of advance booking.

19. Churches of the world

What to see in Poland interesting and unusual? In some cities of the country there are wooden sacral buildings, which are considered the largest in Europe. A little over 15 years ago, they were included in the UNESCO list. There is a Church of Peace in Javor, Swidnica, Glogów. Each has its own interesting story. They not only hold services, but also organize excursions.

20. Architectural and park complex Kalwaria-Zebrzydowska

In this city there is an interesting religious complex, which looks like a building made in the spirit of mannerism. The surrounding area has a park and several gardens. The multifunctional complex was erected in the 17th century, namely during the period of the Catholic church-political movement in Europe, when numerous religious buildings were “created” in memory of Calvary.

21. Muskau Park

The uniqueness of this attraction lies in the fact that it is located on the territory of several countries at once. It was founded in 1815, the order was issued by the Prussian aristocrat Prince Hermann. He always wanted to have a private garden that would look like a natural landscape. Having made a lot of efforts, he managed to make his dream come true, and modern people enjoy the results. In order to hide the artificial origin of the large garden, a variety of trees, shrubs, flowers and more were used.

22. Ksenzh Castle

What to see in Poland? If possible, do not disregard the beautiful and one of the largest castles in Europe, for the Poles this place is very significant. Its peculiarity is that it is surrounded by a beech forest, in which there are whole thickets of rhododendrons. The building is located not far from Walbrzych, namely on a rocky promontory, it is surrounded by a natural gorge. With the aim of returning the castle to its former splendor, it is currently being systematically restored, renovated inside.

23. Bieszczady National Park

In terms of its size, it ranks third in the ranking of national park areas. There are 23 of them on the territory of the country. It is Bieszczadzki that is located in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, namely in the southeastern side. Today the area of ​​the park area is 292 km 2, it includes the highest points of the massif called Bieszczad. 80% of the entire park is represented by forests, where there are a huge number of plants, mosses, mushrooms, lichens. There are also many animals here, interesting views birds, it is not surprising that the place is very popular with tourists.

24. Moszny Castle

This is not an ordinary palace, because it resembles a theatrical scenery. Just think, the structure includes 99 towers. The view is admired not only by children, but also by adults. Interesting to know that beautiful castle never in its entire existence has performed a defensive function. This is the reason for the lack of interest in him on the part of foreign conquerors, which allowed him to remain unharmed. Moszny Castle is a real “cocktail” of styles. Its facade is made in a Baroque style, the wing on the east side is in the neo-Gothic, the western part corresponds to the classical neo-Renaissance style.

25. Clear Mountain

This is the main shrine of Poland. The monastery houses the miraculous icon of the Czestochowa Mother of God, she is also the patroness of the country. This place is one of the popular pilgrimage sites, there are many myths and facts about it. What to see in Poland, namely on the territory of Yasnaya Gora? Attention should be paid to the towering powerful bastions, the main temple and the chapel. Of particular interest is the Knights' Hall, which at one time hosted receptions of guests of honor. The complex of buildings also includes sacristy, libraries with old prints and more.

26. Old town in Torun

It should be noted that this Polish landmark is included in the National Heritage List. The ancient part of the city is special in that it keeps unique architectural monuments. It is separated by a moat and a river; the city walls are no exception, which have survived only partially. At one time, the Old Town was expanded, now in its central part there is the Old Town Square, the north-western part is represented by the territory of the former monastery, in the south-west there is a marriage church. During the Swedish siege, the described part of the city was badly damaged, then a large number of buildings were burned and destroyed. Extensive restoration work began only after 1945. Today, the Old Town is deservedly considered the pearl of Toruń.

27. Old Powонzki

This is a cemetery where famous figures of Polish history and culture are buried. A large part of it is set aside for the graves of the military, victims of the wars of the XIX-XX centuries. The attraction is located in Warsaw, it is interesting because some of the tombstones are real works of art. It is especially beautiful here on the night of All Saints Day. On October 31, a large number of people come to the cemetery to honor the memory of the fallen, for which a huge number of candles are lit on the graves.

28. Hill of Crosses Grabarka

A place with an interesting name is considered a saint; pilgrims come to bow to it from various countries of the world. On the days of major church holidays, a procession is held. This is the name of events when a large number of believers walk. Sometimes the distance from the settlement to the mountain reaches 100 km, all this time people carry heavy wooden crosses. This custom has been around for 200 years. The mountain got its name due to the fact that at its top in the forest, each pilgrim leaves his own cross, of which a large number have already gathered there.

As you can see, there are really a lot of attractions on the territory of the described country, which is why tours to this destination are very popular. Experienced travelers recommend planning your trip in advance so as not to lose sight of all the most interesting and significant. The most popular cities among tourists are Gdansk, Krakow, the capital. What is interesting in them was mentioned at the beginning. Whichever destination you choose, everywhere you will be impressed by the unforgettable atmosphere.

Also read about the best and be inspired for your further travel across Europe!

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 the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic coast for over 1000 years. 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".