Poland Travel Guide

The Republic of Poland (Rzeczpospolita Polska), at the center of Europe, covers an area comparable to that of New Mexico. Although it is characterized primarily by lowland plains, its landscape includes mountain ranges, freshwater lake districts, primeval forests and more than 325 miles of seacoast. The dry continental climate makes for pleasant and rather temperate weather. The population stands at about 40 million. Poland, a parliamentary republic, is integrating its economic system with a flourishing market economy, and has achieved one of Europe's highest gross domestic product growth rates.

Warsaw, the capital, abounds in memorable attractions: the Old Town, the Barbican defense walls, the Royal Castle, the baroque glories of Wilanów and the Ghetto Memorial. The city's splendor was lovingly restored after World War II. Today, Warsaw is the exciting center of the country's economic revitalization.

Kraków was long Poland's capital. Its history, said to have begun at the end of the 10th century, reached a zenith under Casimir the Great in the 14th century. In 1977, the city's spiritual leader, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, was elected Pope John Paul II. A tour is an unforgettable step into the past, from Wawel Hill with its palace and coronation chapel, to the grand Market Square ringed by St. Mary's Church, the Cloth Hall and Jagiellonian University, whose illustrious students include the great astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

Gdansk is where a series of shipyard strikes in 1980 gave birth to the Solidarity movement. The city has been restored to its medieval grandeur. Among the attractions are the Neptune Fountain, Town Hall, the picturesque waterfront and the Solidarity Monument at the former Lenin Shipyard. Zakopane, a year-round resort center, is surrounded by the snow-capped Tatras, the high peaks of the Carpathian range. Long a mecca for sportsmen, it attracts hikers, campers and skiers.

The Mazurian Lake District is a favorite vacation area. This complex of 1,000 lakes of Ice Age origin is interconnected by canals. The area also abounds in nature preserves.

Travel to Poland:

Featured Destinations from Europe

Pamplona/Iruña : Spain

Pamplona (Basque: Irunea / Iruñea) is the capital city of Navarre, Spain. It has a population of 171,150, and is 92 kilometres from the town of San Sebastián, and 407 kilometres from Madrid. From 9th century up to 12th century, Navarrese country was known as Kingdom of Pamplona. Pamplona is famous

Hanover (Hannover): Germany

Hanover (Hannover): Germany Hanover (German: Hannover [ha?no?f?]), on the river Leine, is the capital of the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Germany. It is also the capital of the surrounding Hanover district and region. Population: 515,219 (2001). Auto registration prefix: H. Sights Marktkirche Altes Rathaus Neues Rathaus Marktkirche (church, 14th century) Altes Rathaus (old

Krosno Odrza?skie : Poland

Krosno Odrza?skie (German: Crossen an der Oder) is a city in Western Poland with 12,500 inhabitants (2002), situated in the Lubusz Voivodship (since 1999), previously capital of Zielona Góra Voivodship (1975-1998). (Note: Do not confuse Krosno Odrza?skie with Krosno in the Subcarpathian Voivodship.) Crosno was first mentioned in 1005 and was

Regensburg: Germany

Regensburg: Germany Regensburg (English formerly Ratisbon, Latin Ratisbona, Czech ?ezno) is a city (population 146,824 in 2002) in Bavaria, south-east Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the

Herisau : Switzerland

Herisau is a municipality in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Switzerland. It has a population of 15,600 (2002). The area of Herisau is 25.17 km². Herisau is the capital of the canton. History Herisau was first mentioned in 837, its church in 907. In 1084 Herisau was destroyed as part of

Opatija : Croatia

Opatija (Italian Abbazia) is a city in western Croatia, just southwest of Rijeka on the Adriatic coast, population 7,850 (2001), total municipality population 12,719 (2001). Opatija is situated in the Gulf of Kvarner (Quarnero or Carnaro) in a sheltered position at the foot of U?ka mountain (Monte Maggiore), with Vojak peak

Juankoski: Finland

Juankoski is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of 5,685 (2003) and covers an area of 586.11 km² of which 118.74 km² is water. The population density is 9.7 inhabitants per

Solec Kujawski : Poland

Solec Kujawski is a town with 15505 inhabitants and an area of 176 km² 14 kilometres southeast of Bydgoszcz in Poland. Solec Kujawski belongst to the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship. The town leads the Saint Stanislaus in its coat of arms. Urban Parts Makowiska Otorowo Przy?ubie Solec Kujawski - City Wypaleniska Points of Interest South of Solec Kujawski there is

Antakya: Turkey

Antakya: Turkey The city of Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern Antakya) is located in what is now Turkey. It was founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, who made it the capital of his empire in Syria. Seleucus I had served as one of Alexander the Great's generals,

Castelo Branco : Portugal

Castelo Branco is a city, a municipality and a district in eastern Portugal. The city is made of one parish with the population of 31242, the municipality has 25 parishes and 56001. The city itself is quite old and is named after its castle (now in ruins). Castelo Branco literally means White