Poland occupies an area of 312 000 km2 and its population is 39 million. It is bordering with Russia and the Baltic Sea in the North, Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine in the East, Slovakia and the Czech Republic in the South and Germany in the West.

Major Cities:

CRACOW

The capital of Poland during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Cracow is one of the most beautiful cities of Europe and the most eagerly visited one in Poland. The City of Culture, it has a very strong influence on Polish culture. Cracow's cityscape is inseparably linked with the Wawel-the residence of Polish kings up to the end of the 16th century and a pearl of Polish history and culture-as well as the Market Square with its Cloth Hall and St. Mary's church, and the droshkies riding romantically amidst historical monuments.

It is from here that Karol Cardinal Wojtyla departed for the conclave where he was elected pope. Cracow's renown Jagiellonian University is one of the oldest colleges in Europe. Cracow has the largest number of historical monuments of any Polish city. The whole of old Cracow is entered onto the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. Kazimierz-a district of Cracow inhabited mainly by Jews prior to the war-is one of the greatest joint concentrations of historical monuments and mementos of Polish and Jewish culture. Cracow's historical monuments, its multitude of unique Polish Cuisine, and throbbing social life create a unique atmosphere in this gem of Polish cities.

WARSAW

With its population of almost two million, Warsaw has been capital of Poland for over four hundred years. It is located in the center of the country in the Mazovian Lowland on the banks of Poland's largest river-the Vistula. It is the administrative, economic, scientific, cultural, and tourist center of the country. A city total devastated during World War II, it was rebuilt through the efforts of its people. The Old Town-founded in the Middle Ages-is the oldest of its districts; it was restored following wartime destruction almost from the ground up.

Uniquely, it is the only reconstruction entered onto the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. The paintings of Bellotto Bernardo Canaletto depicting Warsaw served as the basis for reconstruction. These paintings proved to be invaluable iconographic documents that architects used in rebuilding Warsaw's destroyed historical monuments, which had no preserved architectural plans. Bounded by historical tenement houses, churches, and palaces, the Royal Way stretches from the Royal Castle adjacent to the Old Town, through the historical Lazienki complex-a royal residence-all the way to the 17th century palace in Wilanów; it is the most beautiful route in Warsaw. Warsaw's cityscape has its share of modern architecture-skyscrapers and modern office buildings-as well as age old monuments.

GDANSK

This city has a population of almost half a million. It is located along the Bay of Gdansk on the Baltic Sea, next to the delta of Poland's largest rive-the Vistula. The beginnings of this settlement reach back to the 10th century. The historical Gdansk is mainly made up of the Royal Way marked by several gates. Ulica Dluga (Long Street), Dlugi Targ Long Market Square), Dlugie Pobrzeze (Long Waterfront) and Mariacka (St. Mary's Street) are the most beautiful spots in the Old Town of Gdansk. They boast many historical monuments, such as the Uphagen House, Artus' Hall fronted by the Neptune fountain-the symbol of Gdansk, the Zuraw (crane) on Dlugie Pobrzeze, and the mammoth basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary with its capacity of 25,000. They all bring to mind Gdansk. Incorporated into the tri-city organism, it is a complex of tourist attractions supported by a long history and tradition-such as the Dominican fair-and its location on the Baltic coast. Gdansk is also the cradle of the Solidarity trade union movement. It is here that systemic change had its beginning in Central and Eastern Europe at the start of the nineteen-eighties.

POZNAN

This city is located on the Paris - Moscow route. Considered the cradle of Poland, its history spans more than one thousand years. The oldest part of the city is located on the island of Ostrów Tumski, the site of the cathedral. Other attractions include the Old Market Square with its Renaissance city hall. Everyday at high noon, two goats ram their horns on its tower-the symbol of Poznan. Poznan lives in the rhythm of its fairs and exhibitions. About thirty international exhibition events are organized here every year.

There are several lakes within Pozan's city limits. The largest-Malta-is a recreational center providing a venue for many culture events. The city is the exhibition and business center of western Poland. The residents of Poznan are considered to be the most economical and thrifty in the whole of the country.

WROCLAW

A resilient economic, scientific, and cultural center, the city is located in the middle of the Silesian Lowland amidst the forks of the Oder River forming twelve islands linked together by over one hundred bridges. Wroclaw boasts a tradition of more than one thousand years and historical monuments from all periods. The market square has a Gothic-Renaissance city hall, Ostrów Tumski is an island of enchantingly beautiful Gothic churches, a magnificent cathedral, the baroque University of Wroclaw building with its unique Leopoldian Auditorium, and one of the largest European panoramic paintings measuring 120 meters in circumference and 15 meters in height-the Panorama of Raclawice. Wroclaw is hoping to be the venue for the EXPO World's Fair in the year 2010.

TORUN

A wonderful, picturesque city on the Vistula River; a medieval town linked with the brilliant Polish astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus. This is the home of the Gothic Copernicus house, the hypothetical place of his birth, now a museum. Other historical monuments include the 13th century Gothic town hall, the monumental cathedral from the same period, countless churches and burghers' houses, fragments of the defensive walls, and the ruins of the Gothic castle of the Teutonic Knights. The Old Town
complex of Torun has been entered onto the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. Torun is a center for science and culture. It is famous for its baked goods. The wonderfully vibrant Old Town and rich architecture create the unique atmosphere of this city of Copernicus.

Castles and Palaces in Poland

There are 406 castles, 1,966 palaces, and 2,749 historical manor houses in Poland. It is possible to spend the night or eat superb Old Polish cuisine in many. Each of the hundreds of Polish castles and palaces is different, just as each had a very different histories and owners with different inclinations-kings, dukes, magnates, and bishops. Today, it is possible to stay at many of them, eat delicious meals, and take part in unique events. Among the best known are the Gothic castles of the Teutonic Order in Bytów, Gniew, and the largest, wonderfully preserved castle in Malbork in Pomerania.

The castles in Golub-Dobrzyn and Lidzbark Warminski in the Chelminska and Warminsko-Mazurska lands are very well known. Both castles are the venues for historical events, while that in Lidzbark is also famous for the stay of Nicolaus Copernicus, the great astronomer. In central Poland it is the magnates' residences in Kozlówka, palatial-park complex of Nieborów, and Warsaw's royal residences of Lazienki and Wilanów that are bewitching in their wealth and beauty. The castle in Gluchów, the neo-Gothic residence of Kórnik, and the 17th century castle in Rydzyna make up the attractions of Greater Poland. The Renaissance castle of the Piast dukes in Brzeg, the 13th century castle complex of Ksiaz famous for its richness and grandeur, and the lordly residence of the dukes of Pszyna are the pride of Silesia. The castles of Krasiczyn and Wisnicz in Lesser Poland are examples of the great wealth and splendor of the residences of the magnates. Royal Wawel Castle in Cracow is a magnificent historical monument and museum with unique collections. One of the wealthiest residences in Poland is the 17th century, French neo-Baroque castle in Lancut. The organizing of knightly tournaments has become very popular in the courtyards of many of Poland's castles.

MALBORK CASTLE

The former capital of the Order of Teutonic Knights and the seat of the Grand Master, this monumental Gothic defensive castle complex (13th - 15th centuries) encompasses the Lower Castle, Middle Castle with its Palace of the Grand Master, and the High Castle. Everything is surrounded by defensive walls with towers and gates. A part of the facility is occupied by the Castle Museum with its historical and artistic exhibits, including an amber collection. Outdoor "light and sound" shows are organized in the courtyards in the summer. The castle has been entered onto the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. The architecture and atmosphere of Malbork Castle take visitors into the middle Ages.

 

Other Interesting Facts

STORKS - The stork is without a doubt the most typical Polish bird. Poland hosts the white as well as the extremely rare black stork. About one-quarter of the world's stork population nests in Poland. Storks only spend the spring and summer in Poland; they fly to Africa for the winter. Poles believe that the stork brings good luck. It is a bird that is subject to legal protection. Because the stork is a wadding bird and primarily eats frogs, snails, fish, grasshoppers, and mice, it most often lives near wet meadows, lakes, swamps, ponds, etc. It is for this reason that the largest quantities of storks in Poland may be found in the lake lands. Many villages even have several nests.

THE BIEBRZA RIVER - The Biebrza River valley is a region of one of the biggest wetlands in Europe preserved in almost primeval form. In addition to swamps, there are many flooded areas, marshes, and peat bogs. It is the home of 850 species of plants, 290 species of birds of which 185 have their nesting grounds here, and many animals typical of wetlands. The most valuable areas of the Biebrza River valley are subject to protection; the Biebrzanski National Park was established in the nineteen-nineties. Tourist from just about the whole world come here to watch the aquatic and swamp bird life in its natural habitat, especially in the spring. Kayak runs down the Biebrza are also a major tourist attraction.

NATIONAL PARKS IN POLAND - Poland has very many areas rich in fauna and flora almost entirely preserved in their natural form. The most valuable are twenty-three national parks. Six of them have been registered as World Biosphere Reserves, and the Bialowieski National Park with its European bison preserve-the largest in Europe-has been entered onto the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. Other very unique national parks are the Slowinski with its wandering sand dunes, the Biebrzanski encompassing tens of thousands of hectares of wetland rich in various species of birds and wetland plants, and the Bieszczadzki, which is located in the wildest and least populous region of Poland.

THE GREAT MAZURIAN LAKES - The Great Mazurian Lakes consist of forty-five lakes interconnected by way of twelve canals, eight rivers, and three locks. This land, together with the Warmia, Suwalszczyzna, areas adjacent to Podlasie and the lower Powisle, make up a region known by environmentalists as the "Green Lungs of Poland"-one of the last places in Europe with unpolluted nature and exceptional landscape value. The largest of the Mazurian lakes include the Sniardwy, Mamry, Niegocin, Talty, Nidzkie, and Beldany. Sniardwy and Mamry have a surface area of over 100 km2. Sniardwy is over twenty-two kilometers long and thirteen kilometers wide; the shoreline of Lake Mamry is 180 kilometers and the lake also boasts thirty-three islands. The Mazurian lake complex is a paradise for yachtsmen; sailing routes stretch for dozens of kilometers, and sometimes even more. Among these lakes are those that are well-known water-tourism centers such as Wegorzewo, Gizycko, Mikolajki, Ruciane-Nida, and Pisz. They offer jetties and marinas, complete with the appropriate infrastructure, hotels with Polish Cuisine and boarding houses, vacation centers, and stores with equipment for water sports. There are also excellent conditions for enjoying agrotourism.

THE MOUNTAINS - Chains of mountains stretch along Poland's southern flank: the Carpathians and Sudetes. The Carpathians form the largest mountainous tourist region in Poland. The Tatra Mountains make up the main segment of the Carpathians; the highest peak in Poland is Mount Rysy (2,499 m a.s.l.). The Sudetes are among the oldest mountain massifs in Europe; their highest peak is Mount Sniezka (1,602 m a.s.l.). Well-developed tourist infrastructure significantly facilitates the enjoyment of the beauty of the mountains both summer and winter. Numerous historical monuments supplement the tourist attractions of the region. There are excellent conditions for skiing. Wonderful folk traditions, which include the folklore of the highlanders, are well preserved.

THE BALTIC COAST - The Polish Baltic coast is a great place for relaxation, especially during the summer. Broad sandy beaches, sand dunes, and nearby pine forests make up a coastal area that stretches along just abut the whole of the 500 km maritime border. Exceptions are cliff areas such as the island of Wolin and the vicinity of Jastrzebia Góra. The Helski and Wislana sandbars cutting off bays such as the Vistulian and Puck or lakes such as Lebsko and Gardno are of great interest. There are numerous ports, recreational centers, resorts, and several health spas. Some of them boast magnificent architectural monuments. Forests in combination with iodine create an excellent microclimate which is why so many seaside sanatoriums lessen various complaints.

ACTIVE TOURISM - Poland guaranties excellent conditions for what is broadly known as active tourism. Its area encompasses water regions-the southern coast of the Baltic providing access to the sea, and thousands of lakes and rivers, including the Great Mazurian Lakes-belts of mountains-the Carpathians with the high Tatras and the "wild" Bieszczady as well as the Sudetes with their unique Table Mountains-magnificent forest complexes-encompassing twenty-three national parks-and many other elements fostering various forms of active tourism and recreation, even such qualified and specialized forms as sailing, kayaking, boat, raft, and pontoon runs, diving, windsurfing, horseback riding, skiing, mountain climbing, cliff hanging, biking, lowland and mountain hiking, hang-gliding, parachute jumping, ballooning, glider and sailplane flying, bungy jumping, trekking, cross-county hiking, all-terrain vehicle rallies, hunting, bird watching, photo-safaries, angling, and many more.

EVENTS - Several hundred events of international importance are organized each year in Poland. The most popular are cultural events. Of these, the most important include the Chopin Competition in Warsaw and the Wieniawski Violin Competition in Poznan held every five years, the Lancut Music Festival, the Cracow Documentary and Short Film Festival, "Jazz on the Oder," the Orthodox Church Music Festival of Hajnówka, "Wratislavia Cantans," the Mragowo Country Picnic, "Jazz Jamboree," "Warsaw Autumn," and many more. The opera companies of Warsaw, Cracow and Wroclaw put on excellent spectacles. Young people enjoy the musical productions of many Polish cities. A multitude of fairs, carnivals, and religious celebrations are also organized throughout Poland.

FOLKLORE - Poland abounds in places where national traditions are retained and folk creativity continues to develop. The colorful folk costumes of Lowicz can be admired during processions on Corpus Christi. There are the painted huts of Zalipie near Tarnów and the historical highlander huts in Chocholów. Zakopane is a town of the highlander folklore of the Podhale as is Bukowina Tatrzanska. Kazimierz Dolny is the venue of the National Folk Troupe and Singing Festival. In the Kurpie region, traditional colorful weddings are organized for tourists.

POLISH CUISINE - Polish cuisine is derived from the Old Polish tradition showing the influences of both eastern and western cooking. The main meal in Poland is a traditional early afternoon dinner consisting of soup, a main course, and dessert. Typical Polish soups are borsch made of red beets, zurek, which is based on the fermented flowers of rye, kapusniak made of cabbage, and chlodnik served cold. The most typical main courses are bigos, a stew consisting of sauerkraut, meats, and sausages. There is also a multitude of pierogi-boiled dough circles stuffed with sauerkraut, cabbage and mushrooms, meat, cottage cheese, and various fruits. What is particularly worth stressing is that the food served in Poland is environmentally sound.

HEALTH SPA TOURISM - There are over forty health spa municipalities in Poland with many health resorts embellished by the palettes of the four seasons. Health spa tourism may become one of the priority quality products directed at foreign markets. With abundant natural values with medicinal qualities, mineral springs, microclimate, etc., the area of Poland is undoubtedly very attractive and competitive as compared with Europe. Polish health spas are mainly located in the most beautiful regions of the country, boasting excellent climatic conditions and a wealth of natural resources of medicinal value. Many have well-developed hotel, restaurant, recreational, cultural, entertainment, and of course medical services. They provide important reception centers for domestic and foreign tourism. Poland has climatic, spa, therapeutic mud, seaside, lowland, sub-mountainous, mountainous, and high mountainous resorts.

BUSINESS TOURISM - Business tourism means congresses, conferences, exhibitions, business trips, and motivational events. Its economic importance is growing. The segment traveling to Poland on official business is estimated at about 24 percent of those examined. Business tourism is beginning to be seen in Poland as a brand of tourism. This is why so many hotels in Poland are expanding their conference rooms as well as their gamut of business center services, while travel agencies are developing their business services sections.