Interesting facts about Poland: history, sights and reviews. Attractions of Poland - description and photo

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Of course, “the most beautiful places” is a somewhat subjective concept. But the sights collected in this review will show how many-sided the country is and how much you can meet when traveling around Poland. Here we are talking about those places that are very convenient to visit if you do not have much time - say, one day or a weekend.
1. Zhyvetsky lake. This is an artificial reservoir near the town of Zywiec in the Silesian Voivodeship. Although it serves economic purposes - a hydroelectric power station is located here - this lake is distinguished by its unique beauty, and therefore attracts a huge number of tourists. There are marinas, beaches, surfing and yachting. A particularly beautiful view of the lake opens from the Zhar Mountain, which belongs to the Lesser Beskids.

2. Konyakow, Istebna, Jaworzynka. This is the so-called Beskydy Truyves. All three villages are part of the magnificent scenery of the Silesian Beskids, and are connected by one main road and several smaller roads. And these places are also very famous for their traditions: local music and the skill of weaving lace are especially famous.

3. Skansen in the city of Sanok in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. This is one of the largest open-air museums in the country. On an area of 38 hectares there are almost 100 wooden buildings in the spirit of local traditions.

4. Torun. It is one of the most beautiful and oldest cities in Poland. Torun is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city is also well known for being the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus. And Torun is also the capital of… gingerbread!

5. Gniezno. It is the first capital of Poland. The first Polish archbishopric was formed here and the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located here - one of the most revered and famous Polish churches. And how pleasant it is to wander through the narrow streets, the heart of which is the old Market Square!

6. Waterfall Kamenchika in the city of Szklarska Poreba (Elenegursky district, Lower Silesian Voivodeship). This is the highest waterfall in the Polish Karkonosze. Water falls in three steps from a height of 27 meters. Behind the waterfall is an artificial cave in which there is a large accumulation of amethyst and pegmatite. This cave is called "Golden Pit". The waterfall itself is located at an altitude of 846 meters above sea level.

7. The village of Zalipie in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship of Poland. It is known for the fact that almost everything in it is painted! The local traditional pattern can be seen everywhere: on houses, fences, swings, furniture, stoves, trees, even kettles and washing machines! By the way - this is also a local feature - basically all the artists in Zalipye are women.

8. Bydgoszcz lies on the Brda River. The unofficial name of the city is "Bydgoszcz's Venice". And it’s hard to argue with this: looking at the centuries-old buildings reflected in the clear river waters and at the boats and boats slowly passing through the city, you begin to feel like in a medieval fairy tale. To the east of the city is the Bydgoszcz Canal, the oldest existing waterway in the country, connecting the Vistula and the Odra.

9. Zegrzynskoye lake. If the weather is good on weekends in the summer, it means that the beaches near the lake, located 30 km from Warsaw, will be full of tourists. This artificially created reservoir on the Narew River is today one of the most popular places for Sunday rest among the residents of the capital and its environs.

10. Trails for horseback riding in the Low Beskids. The so-called Transbeskid route is the longest mountain route of its kind. Its length is 400 km. Traveling along this road, you can meet picturesque villages, picturesque valleys, mountain ranges, magnificent national parks.

11. Palace in Bozhkow near the town of Nowa Ruda (Lower Silesian Voivodeship). This beautiful building of the 18th century has been in an abandoned state for several years. But perhaps that is why it attracts tourists with its mystery and mystery.

12. Soltykovskiye Gagaty. This is a natural reservoir in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. In addition to magnificent vegetation, there are also deposits of minerals and paleontological fossils.

13. Lake Turkusov on the western coast of the Baltic. It is located on a place where chalk has been mined for a long time. The color of the lake is somewhat unusual - blue with a green tint. This color is obtained due to the play of the sun's rays, which, penetrating into clean water and reflecting from the minerals located at the bottom of the reservoir, give such an effect. There are walking paths around the lake. If you climb a nearby hill, you can see not only this lake, but the Baltic Sea itself.

14. Zhelyazova Wola village near Warsaw. Frederic Chopin was born and spent his childhood here. Now in the house where the future composer lived, there is a museum, and near it there is a park and a garden laid out in the 30s of the last century.

15. Rafting along the route of the beavers. This is a real pleasure for lovers of kayaking. The route passes through the West Pomeranian and Lubusz Voivodeships and is located among picturesque forests and rivers.

16. Moszno castle. The architectural ensemble located in the Opolskie Voivodeship is one of the main sights of Upper Silesia. Now there is a center for the treatment of diseases of the nervous system, but part of the castle is open to the public.

17. Lake Nidzke. This glacial lake is one of the least disturbed Masurian lakes. Especially here will appeal to those who appreciate contact and harmony with nature.

18. Rafting on the river Wild (Divoka) Orlitsa. Traveling along this river is not easy and is more suitable for those who have some experience. It is quite rocky, very cold and incredibly beautiful - an extreme pleasure for rafting lovers. The Wild Eagle flows in the Sudetenland through the territory of Poland and the Czech Republic.

19. Museum of characters ... before going to bed. Here are collected the heroes of the Polish analogues of the program "Good night kids". The only museum of its kind is located in Rzeszow. And it’s not even clear who is more interested here - children or adults ...

20. The city of Bielsko-Biala in the Silesian Voivodeship. One of the most beautiful Polish cities with numerous old buildings and, of course, the central Market Square. By the way, there are two unusual monuments here - to the heroes of ... cartoons. These are the dogs Rex and Bolek and Lyolek, beloved by the Poles.

21. The ruins of the Rabshtyn castle in the Lesser Poland province. This is a knight's castle of the 13th century. Part of it has been restored, but only the skeletons of the walls remain from most of the building. Which, however, attracts a huge number of tourists. There are many legends associated with the castle. For example, that deep underground there is another castle - big and beautiful. And that its inhabitants sleep there. And only once a year they wake up, open the doors of luxurious halls and sit down at tables covered with delicious dishes. And then everything falls asleep again - until next year ...

22. Sheep mountain. It is the second highest mountain in the Silesian Beskids. Its height is 1220 meters. On its top, where the geodetic station and the observation point are located, paths run through the virgin nature. And the view from the mountain is just fabulous!

23. Vistula Zhulavy. In northern Poland, several tens of kilometers from the sea, the Vistula leaves a large amount of river sediment, thereby forming sand dunes - they separate Żuławy from the Baltic Sea. A significant area of Zhulav is located below sea level, and therefore an extensive network of dams and canals has been built there - it is considered one of the densest in Europe.

24. Icons in Lancut. The city of Lancut in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship is famous for the 17th century Lubomirski Castle. Until our time, it has been preserved in excellent condition. The largest collection of icons in Poland is kept here. There are about 2500 of them in the castle. Basically, these icons were transferred after the war from the destroyed churches located in the north-eastern part of Poland.

25. The village of Krasiejow in the Opolsky poviat of the Opole Voivodeship. Traces of ancient amphibians and reptiles were found here, and a paleontological pavilion was built on the site of the find. Now Yurapark is open there - an amusement park "inhabited" by dinosaurs.

26. Lavender fields. And not in Provence, but near Olsztyn! The lavender field near Novy Kavkov has existed since 2001. And although enthusiasts who grow this plant sometimes have a hard time - after all, the local climate is not as suitable for lavender as Provencal - every year one can observe luxurious flowering here. At the same time, farmers try not to use chemical fertilizers and means of protection. And when the season ends, dried flowers are used to make bouquets and sachets.

27. Underwater quarry in Pehchin (Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship). At its bottom lie real treasures - yachts, sailboats, even two Fiat 126s in almost perfect condition. It is especially interesting here when there was no rain for some time and the water is completely clear. This is one of the few quarries in Poland where you can go diving.

28. Mouth of the Warta (Lubusz Voivodeship). This is the kingdom of wild animals and birds living near the water. There are 270 species of the latter here. All of them are under protection - after all, a national park is located here. In 2009 it was recognized as the best European tourist destination.

29. Underground bunkers in Szczecin. It is believed that there were almost 800 of them here! After the Second World War, 160 were opened. One of the most interesting is the anti-aircraft bunker. It is located at a depth of 17 meters and even had its own water supply. The thickness of its walls is 3 meters. The bunker could accommodate 2,500 people at a time.

30. Center of Slavs and Vikings in Volin. Walking through this skansen is like traveling through time. Here are recreated huts of the early Middle Ages, in which members of the Slavic brotherhoods sometimes spend time. In each of these houses you can go and get acquainted with the interior. Every year there is a festival of Slavs and Vikings.

A small selection of the best travel destinations will help you get to know the sights and popular places in Poland better.

Bieszczady - the main mountains of Poland

The Bieszczady Mountains are a paradise for romantics and nature lovers. The soft green mountains of Bieszczady are one of the most secluded areas of Poland and all of Europe. Stunning wildlife and picturesque landscapes make this attraction an ideal place to relax. Bieszczady impresses with its beauty in the summer and autumn months, and in winter they are waiting with open arms for ski lovers.

The attraction is the wildest corner of Poland. Picturesque areas of mountain ranges are part of the Bieszczady National Park. Fascinating mountain meadows, the so-called "hollowlands", attract tourists from different parts of the world. The Bieszczady National Park of Poland is a landmark with a unique nature, which is part of the Eastern Carpathians international biosphere reserve. Tourists will be pleasantly surprised by the excellent conditions of this attraction for hiking and skiing. You can also go horseback riding and ecotourism here.

Częstochowa is a sightseeing city in Poland

Czestochowa is a small Polish city located in the heart of the Krakow-Czestochowa Upland. The local region is characterized by picturesque cliffs of the Jurassic period. Czestochowa is associated with the Jasna Gora Monastery, which is the largest sanctuary of St. Mary and one of the best sights in Poland. For most Poles, this is a cult place where pilgrims of the Virgin Mary from Poland and neighboring countries converge. The main goal of the pilgrims is the icon of the Virgin Mary (Black Madonna) in the monastery of Yasnaya Gora. This icon was painted in 1656, since then its image has been protecting the entire Polish land from evil deeds. That is why the monastery received the title of one of the main attractions of Poland.

Gdansk - a resort town in Poland

Gdansk is a rich maritime city with many attractions. Located on the seashore, Gdansk has a mild climate and beautiful beaches, which makes it even more attractive for tourists and vacationers. The pride of Gdansk is the world's largest Gothic church, from which sightseeing always begins. The modern architecture of the city was formed as a result of a long way of formation and development. The reason for everything was the government, which in Gdansk changed very often and did not pay due attention to the architectural heritage. Only in 1980, the city found real managers who began financing the restoration of old attractions and the construction of new ones.

Near Gdansk is the famous small seaside town of Sopot - another famous resort in Poland. Usually tourists visit these two cities within the same tour.

Krakow - a treasure trove of sights in Poland

Landmark Auschwitz - Polish concentration camp

The humble provincial town of Auschwitz has a host of spooky attractions. The most famous is Auschwitz, a Polish concentration camp. Around 1.5 million people died in the largest Nazi camps during World War II, and Auschwitz is a monument to that horror. In many buildings, it was decided to keep the Nazi interiors and even allowed to conduct tours. However, most tourists come to Auschwitz not just to visit a historical landmark, but to once again comprehend the horrors of the Nazi system.

Tatra Mountains - landscapes of mountainous Poland

The Tatra Mountains are the highest mountain range between the Alps and the Caucasus. Their rocky peaks are covered with snow all year round, while sharp ridges, picturesque lakes and waterfalls make this attraction one of the most spectacular in Poland. About 250 km of trails and a wide range of slopes will satisfy even the most demanding skiers and adventurers who come to see this attraction from different parts of Poland.

Also in these places there is a small city of Zakopane, where Polish culture and traditions are passed down from generation to generation.

Warsaw is the central city of Poland

- the capital of Poland, rebuilt almost from scratch after the Second World War. Warsaw boasts a large number of skyscrapers, business centers and ambitious plans for the creation of new grandiose buildings. But the city's skyline is still dominated by a huge landmark - the Palace of Culture and Science. For many years it has been the starting point of any tour of the capital of Poland. Warsaw is a tourist city with a special charm and Eastern European taste. Don't forget to take a look at the beautiful Old Town, walk along the Royal Route, see the exposition in the Chopin Museum, take a look at some magnificent palaces and the former Jewish ghetto. Such a number of attractions will not leave indifferent even the most demanding tourist.

Wroclaw - the city of architectural sights in Poland

The capital of Lower Silesia (Slask Valley) has a huge Old Town, which is now called Wroclaw. It was built on several islands connected by over a hundred bridges. Apart from its unique location, Wroclaw impresses with its Gothic, Baroque and Art-Nouveau architecture. Interesting combinations of different styles and architectural trends fascinate tourists, making them visit Wroclaw again and again. But what caused such diversity? Historically, in different years Wroclaw experienced the cultural influence of Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Poland, and this could not but leave its mark on the atmosphere and sights of the city.

On the Wawel Hill above the Vistula are the Royal Castle and the Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas. The first fortifications appeared in the 11th century. The castle and the church were rebuilt several times during the 15th-18th centuries. The castle houses an exposition dedicated to the life of Polish kings.

Royal Palace and Castle Square (Warsaw/Warszawa) ☆☆☆☆☆

The palace was built in 1598-1618. Completely destroyed during the Second World War, recreated in 1971-1988. The palace houses an art museum.
The square is located between the palace and the Old Town. In the middle of the square is the column of King Sigismund (1644).

Old Town Market Square (Warsaw/Warszawa) ☆☆☆☆☆

Appeared in the 13th century, modern planning and building took shape in the 17th century. It is a rectangle measuring 90 x 73 meters. In 1855, a monument to the siren was erected in the center of the square. During the Second World War, it was almost completely destroyed, restored in the early 1950s.

Salt mine in Wieliczka (Wieliczka) ☆☆☆☆☆

The rock salt deposit was developed from the 13th to the 20th century. The mine is located on 7 underground levels at a depth of 57 to 198 m, the passages and have a length of more than 200 km. Included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The mine has been shown to privileged persons since the 15th century. The public museum began to take shape in the 18th century. AT
Currently, its expositions reflect the development of methods and technologies for salt extraction over 7 centuries. In addition, there are many salt sculptures in mine shafts, chambers and chapels, made not only by professionals, but also by the mine workers themselves at different times.
Guided tours (including in Russian 1-2 times a day).

Experts offer to get acquainted with the ten most popular tourist sites in Poland. The rating was created by TripAdvisor based on traveler reviews.

In tenth place is the Warsaw Old Town. By the way, it is old only in appearance, since in fact its central part was completely destroyed during the Second World War. And what tourists see now is a detailed and detailed reconstruction that ended only in the early 1980s!

Oliva Cathedral is the main temple of the Gdansk Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Poland. It is located in the Oliva district of Gdansk. The official name is the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Virgin and St. Bernard. This building dates back to 1186.

In eighth place is no longer Krakow, but Western Polish Wroclaw and its Old Town - one of the most beautiful in the country. Moreover, German influences in architecture are noticed here, since for centuries Wroclaw was a city within Germany and was once called Breslau.

The seventh line was occupied by the well-known cloth rows - Sukiennice in Polish. This building is located in the Old Town of Krakow. Its name came from the fact that earlier cloth was traded here.

Well, the sixth place among the most popular tourist places was taken by Wawel itself - the castle complex, which began to be built in 1290. Wawel is a famous museum center in Poland. It contains famous collections of weapons, tapestries and historical documents.

It's hard to believe, but the fifth place also went to Krakow: this is the Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas, opened in 1384 in the presence of King Casimir the Great. It is located on the territory of the Wawel architectural complex - the ancient residence of the Polish kings, when Krakow was the capital of the country.

In fourth place is also Krakow and St. Mary's Church, built in the Gothic style in the XIV and XV centuries. This is one of the most famous churches in Poland.

The third place in the ranking is occupied by the Wieliczka salt mine, where salt was mined from the 13th to the 20th centuries. Now it is one of the favorite places for tourists. The mine was opened to the public in 1976, two years later it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 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.

In second place is the former factory of the German industrialist Oskar Schindler, also located in Krakow. Here, from 1939 to 1945, Jews who were on the so-called "Schindler's list" worked. Steven Spielberg made a famous film about this under the same name. Now the factory building houses a museum, which was opened in 2010.

So, the first place was taken by the Old Town of Krakow, which, in theory, is not a surprise, because the former capital of Poland is generally recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. In a word, in Poland there is something to see and what to see, the main thing is to choose, and the choice, you see, is considerable.

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 US, 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. Polish-born Marie Curie (Maria Skłodowska) 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 in the country: Ukrainians, Belarusians, Slovaks, Lithuanians and Germans.

7. Among the Slavic languages, Polish is the second in terms of 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 was transported along the Amber Route from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic coast for more than 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. 450,000 Poles saved Jews from death during the Holocaust. 6,135 Poles have been awarded the title Righteous among the Nations by the State of Israel, the largest number of any nationality.

10. Nazi-occupied Poland was the only territory where officially any kind of assistance to Jews was punishable by death. Up to 50,000 Poles were executed by the Nazis for saving Jews.

11. Polish "pies" (analogous to Ukrainian dumplings. - Note ed.) is the most famous Polish dish outside of 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 has more than 500 years. 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 Polish Pope. His tenure as papacy 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 father's house 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 broadcasts in the country.

16. Poles more often than representatives of other nationalities won the title "World's Strongest Man" (World's Strongest Man). Pole Mariusz Pudzianowski is a five-time winner of this competition.

17. Poland has one of the best preserved Neolithic flint workings (3500-1200 BC) in the world. This is one of the most valuable archaeological sites in Europe.

18. One of the oldest salt mines in the world - Wieliczka Salt Mine (Kopalnia Soli Wieliczka) - was built in the 13th century. It consists of corridors and galleries at 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 into the salt mountain. The salt mine has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978.

19. Poles are well educated: 90% of young people have at least a secondary education. 50% of Poles have a degree.

20. Restaurant Piwnica Świdnicka in Wroclaw is the oldest in Europe. It has been active since 1275.

21. In Poland, it is still customary to kiss women's hands when they meet.

22. One of the most popular songs in Poland is Żeby Polska była Polską, which was written in 1976 and became the anthem of protesters against the communist regime. Speaking in 1982, Ronald Reagan called his speech Let Poland Be Poland, and Queen Elizabeth II quoted this song while speaking in 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 days to be more important than their birthdays.

25. One of the Christmas traditions in Poland is watching the movie Home Alone.