Republic of Poland: description, attractions, capital, language. Message about Poland Poland a brief description of the country for children

In the north, Poland borders with Russia (Kalinik-Gradskaya region), in the east with Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine, in the south with the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in the west Poland borders with Germany. In the north it is washed by the Baltic Sea. The area of ​​the country Poland is 312677 km2.

Although Poland is a largely flat country without much elevation change (average altitude about 175 m above sea level), Mount Rysy in the High Tatras in the south rises to a height of 2499 m. Poland is divided into several physiographic regions, running from east to west. However, the most striking contrast exists between the northern two-thirds of Poland and the southern third.

The northern zone of the Republic of Poland is a vast region of plains and low hills: the Central Polish Upland, the Baltic Upland and the Coastal Plain. The Central Plain of the Republic of Poland stretches from east to west and is intersected by several rivers and valleys; to the north of the Central Highlands is the Baltic Upland, covered with numerous lakes. A narrow coastal plain, 40 to 100 kilometers wide, stretches along the entire length of the Baltic coast. The southern zone of the Republic of Poland is more mountainous: in the extreme south and southwest there are several mountain systems: the Western Carpathians, the High Tatras and the Beskids. In the southwest are the Sudetes, whose altitude reaches 1602 m. To the north of the mountain ranges lies the Silesian Plain. Almost all rivers in Poland flow into the Baltic Sea. The main rivers of the country: Vistula and Oder (Odra). There are about 9,300 lakes in Poland with an area of ​​more than 1 hectare. They are mainly concentrated in the Baltic Upland and the Coastal Plain.

The country's population (estimated for 1998) is about 38,606,900 people, with an average population density of about 123 people per km2. The southern part of the Republic of Poland is the most densely populated, the northwestern and northeastern parts are the least densely populated. Ethnic groups: Poles - 97.6%, Germans - 1.3%, Ukrainians - 0.6%, Belarusians - 0.5%, Slovaks, Czechs, Lithuanians, Gypsies, Jews. Language of the Republic of Poland: Polish (state), there are also several dialects based on the Polish language. Religion of Poland: Catholics - 95% (the Catholic Church plays a large role in the life of the country), Orthodox (about 570,000 believers), Lutherans (about 100,000 believers), Jehovah's Witnesses (about 100,000 believers); Before the Second World War, about 3.5 million Jews lived in Poland; now there are about 1,000 Jews in the country. The capital of Poland is Warsaw. The largest cities in Poland: Warsaw (2,316,000 people), Lodz (842,300 people), Krakow (751,500 people), Wroclaw (644,000 people), Poznan (589,000 people), Gdansk (466,700 people), Szczecin (414,900 people), Katowice (366,200 people ), Bydgoszcz (354,000 people), Lublin (352,100 people). State system - the Republic of Poland. The monetary unit is zloty. Average life expectancy in Poland (as of 1998): 67 years for men, 76 years for women. The birth rate (per 1000 people) is 9.8. The mortality rate (per 1000 people) is 9.8.

The first state of Poland was formed around 840 under the legendary King Piast, founder of the Piast dynasty. In the 10th century, King Mieszko converted to Christianity, and under his son Boleslav, the Christian Church already had a strong position in the country. In 1025, Boleslav was recognized as king by the Pope. In the middle of the 13th century, the Teutonic knights came to the north of modern Poland and carried out a brutal colonization of the Baltic lands. The second dynasty of kings of Poland was founded by the Grand Duke of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) Jagiello. In 1386 he married Queen Jadwiga of Poland and was crowned Wladyslaw II of Jagiello. In 1410, the combined troops of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeated the Teutonic knights in the historical Battle of Grunwald (Tannenberg). During the reign of the Jagiellon dynasty, Poland reached its greatest prosperity. In the 18th century, three divisions of Poland took place, as a result of which most of the state came under the rule of the Russian Empire. In the 19th century, Poland tried to achieve independence through the uprisings of 1830-1831, but only after 1917 did it get a real chance to revive statehood. In November 1918, an independent Polish state was proclaimed. 20 years later, on September 1, 1939, Poland was occupied by German troops and liberated in early 1945. After 35 years of communist rule in Poland, the independent trade union Solidarity demanded free elections. The Polish government introduced martial law, and General Wojciech Jaruzelski became the head of the country. On April 5, 1989, an agreement was reached between the government and the opposition to hold free elections, which were held on June 4. The communists of Poland were actually removed from power, and the leader of the Solidarity trade union, Lech Walesa, was elected president of the country. As a result of the 1995 elections, leftist forces came to power in Poland, but did not abandon the reforms of their predecessors. Poland is a member of the UN, GATT, WHO, Council of Europe, and an associate member of the EU.

The climate of Poland has features of both temperate and continental. The climate of the Polish coast can be described as moderate maritime, in the eastern part of the country it is moderate continental. The average January temperature in different regions of the Republic of Poland ranges from -1°C to -5°C. In summer, the average temperature ranges from 20°C in the southeast to 17°C in the Baltic. Forests cover about 28% of Poland's territory, about 80% of all forests are coniferous. Rare tree species grow in northeastern Poland: dwarf birch and Lappa willow. One of the best preserved wild forests is the Bialowieza National Park on the border with Belarus. Among the representatives of the fauna of the Republic of Poland, lynx, wild cat, elk, wild boar, deer and bison, or European bison, stand out especially. In Masuria you can find deer and elk. In mountainous areas there are wolves and brown bears.

Poland has a large number of museums, including in Warsaw (the capital of Poland - the National Museum with a rich collection of Polish and Western European paintings, a magnificent collection of artifacts from antiquity and the times of ancient Egypt, a special hall of Faros frescoes from one of the first Christian temples of Pharos; Museum of Natural History; Technical museum; Polish Army Museum; State Archaeological Museum; Royal Castle Museum. National Museum of Poland and the Wawel State Art Collection in Krakow. Museum of Archeology and Ethnography in Lodz. Polish Maritime Museum in Gdansk. Memorial Museum of the Victims of Fascism in the territory of the notorious the world of the Auschwitz (Auschwitz) concentration camp, in which several million people died.Other Polish attractions in Warsaw include the Renaissance and Baroque Old Town; the Barbican - medieval walls and towers surrounding the Old Town; Lazienki - the summer palace of King Stanislaw II Augustus ( 18th century), in Lazienki Park there is a monument to Chopin and a magnificent rose garden; Gothic Cathedral of St. Yana (XIV century); Church of the Holy Cross (XVI century); in addition to the above, about 30 more museums; zoo. In Bialystok there are magnificent examples of modern Polish architecture - the White Church and the Orthodox Cathedral. In Torun - the Old Town in Gothic style; town hall of the 13th-14th centuries; remains of a castle of the Teutonic Knights (1231); a large number of Gothic and Baroque mansions. In Gdansk - the Church of St. Mary (1343-1505), which houses the famous painting by Hans Memling "The Last Judgment"; town hall in Gothic style; the exchange building, built in 1379; Old city. In Poznan - a Gothic cathedral; 16th century town hall; Old city. In Szczecin there are several magnificent churches, among which the Church of St. Peter and Paul (1124). In Wroclaw - the Church of St. John the Baptist (1158), Church of St. Elizabeth (XIII century); Church of the Holy Cross (XIII-XIV centuries); Church of the Virgin Mary (XIV century); Gothic town hall from the 13th century; former royal palace. In Gliwice there is a church from the 13th century; Chopin Park. In Czestochowa there is the famous Catholic shrine of Jasna Góra; in the monastery there is a miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Czestochowa, also called the “Black Madonna”. In Krakow (former capital of the Kingdom of Poland) - Wawel Castle of the 13th century; Cathedral of St. Stanisław (1359), in which many Polish kings were crowned and the tombs of King John III Sobieski, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Adam Mickiewicz, Jozef Piłsudski are located; Church of St. Mary, built in 1223, which contains an altar by the famous master Bait Stos; the legendary “Dragon Cave”, where the most famous dragon in Poland lived. In Lublin - the Old Town in the Baroque style; Lublin itself is famous for the fact that the Union was signed there, cementing the unification of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

In addition, many tourists in Poland are attracted by the magnificent sandy beaches of the Baltic coast, and in the south of the country - ski resorts, most of which are located near the city of Bielsko-Biala.

All this is an interesting country, Poland.

Throughout Poland it is very cold in winter and warm and comfortable in summer (can be hot sometimes). Better weather (and visiting time) from May and early June to September - October. The mountains around Zakopane are very cold in winter.

Language

Polish, which belongs to the Slavic group, is native to 99% of the country's population. Of the foreign languages, German is the most widely spoken, although English is catching up and is much more popular among young people. In large cities, English-speaking tourists will not encounter any particular difficulties, since most residents know at least a few English words (many Poles speak fluent English and other languages). In rural areas, be prepared for communication difficulties. Polish is a very difficult language, but it would still be useful to learn a few key phrases that... They will help you a lot. The stress in words is usually placed on the second vowel from the end.

Money

Currency

The monetary unit of Poland is the zloty. (zl). There are coins in circulation in denominations of 1, 2 and 5 zlotys, as well as banknotes of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 zlotys.

There are 100 groschen in 1 zloty (gr). Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 groschen.

1 zloty is approximately equal to 12 Russian rubles (2014) .

Currency exchange

Foreign currency can be exchanged at airports, banks, and most hotels. Exchange offices (“kantor”) They only exchange cash and can look very unassuming. They offer the best rates (no commission). A passport is required to exchange money in banks. It is recommended that you keep all receipts until you leave the country. There is no black market for currency in Poland, and therefore any offers from strangers should be rejected - this is a scam. In Polish, cash is called "gotowka".

Credit cards

International credit cards (including Visa, Mastercard and American Express) increasingly accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops, but not everywhere. In some cases, only the cards listed above are accepted for payment. Typically, you won't be able to use a credit card in small supermarkets, museums or small train stations.

ATMs

ATMs (bankomat) PLUS, Cirrus, etc., which accept common credit cards, are available in sufficient quantities in Polish cities and offer favorable exchange rates. They issue cash in zlotys, and some in euros.

Traveler's checks

They can be exchanged for cash at all the establishments listed above, except Kantor; in some cases you can even pay with them, but the rate will always be less favorable than when exchanging cash. The commission is usually between 1 and 5%.

Purchases

The transition to a market economy in 1989 had a huge impact on Poland as a shopping destination. Dull government stores are a thing of the past. Today the pound, dollar, euro and other currencies are not in such demand as before, but foreign tourists and Poles are pleased with the development of trade and the expansion of the choice of goods on the market. Major Polish cities such as Warsaw and Krakow are keeping pace with Western Europe and North America in terms of shopping. Goods in Poland are much cheaper than in Western Europe.

Where to buy

The development of a market economy in Poland has led to the emergence of numerous shops and boutiques, including many from Western Europe. You can now see Western goods in large department stores, specialty stores and market stalls.

Look for works of folk art and other handicrafts in the stores of “Cepelia” - a national network for the sale of works of folk art and souvenirs, which has representative offices in major cities (Sometimes they have other names, but locals still call them "Cepelia"). The main player in the antiques market is the Desa chain of stores. (although there are also smaller, independent dealers). There are several branches in Krakow and Warsaw with a different range of products, so if you are looking for something specific, it is better to look at them all. Polish poster art is presented mainly in three places: in Krakow in the Poster Gallery (ul. Stolarska 8-10), in Warsaw in the Poster Gallery (ul. Hoza 40) and in the Poster Museum (Museum Plakatu) in the Wilanów Palace.

Some cities have specialized markets and shopping arcades. These include Krakow's old Cloth Hall, which sells handicrafts and amber jewelry, Warsaw's bustling Nowy Świat Street with its many boutiques, and Maryacka Street in Gdańsk's Old Town with jewelry stores selling amber. The flea market in Warsaw is called “Kolo” and is located in the Wola district. In Krakow, street vendors are located between the train station and the Barbican. Indoor market in Gdansk (Hala Targowa) located in Dominican Square.

A useful source of information about shops and markets in Warsaw, Krakow and Gdańsk is the local edition of the In Your Pocket guide, which provides lists of shops.

For more information, visit: www.inyourpocket.com.

Bargaining is common only in large open-air markets, although if you ask for a discount in an antique store or art gallery, they may accommodate you.

What to buy

Works of art and antiques

Excellent antique furniture and religious art can be found throughout Poland, but the best examples flock to the varied shops and galleries of Warsaw and Krakow, and to a lesser extent Gdansk and Poznan. Orthodox icons from Russia can be found here, as there is a black market for stolen icons in Central and Eastern Europe, but authorities are reluctant to allow their export, even if the item is not of Polish origin.

Ceramics

Unusual Koshubian ceramics (Ceramika Artystyczna Boleslawiec) sold all over the world, but in Poland it is much cheaper.

Folk art

The rural areas of Wormwood offer a wide variety of folk art and crafts, including carved wooden figurines (mainly on religious subjects), skin (in the Tatra region), embroidery and lace, painted eggs (especially Easter), as well as "naïve art" and glass painting, especially from Zakopane.

Music

In music stores in large cities you can purchase CDs with recordings of music by Polish composers. The best known to Western listeners are probably Chopin, Krzysztof Penderecki and Henryk Gorecki, whose Symphony No. 3 unexpectedly gained popularity in the early 1990s. It is also worth seeking out the recordings of contemporary Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner, who wrote music for many films directed by Krzysztof Kislewski, including The Double Life of Veronica, The Decalogue and the Three Colors: Blue, White, Red trilogy. Note the recording of Preisner's best works, recorded at a concert in the Wieliczka Salt Mine near Krakow. You can also find recordings of Polish folk music, such as the traditional melodies of the Tatra mountaineers.

Poster art

Poster is a very popular and sought-after art form in Poland, and some of the best artists working in this field are Polish. You'll find vintage and modern posters of familiar Western films and the most famous plays, as well as lesser-known subjects. Among contemporary artists working in the poster genre, the most famous are Gorovsky, Stasis and Sadovsky.

Vodka

Real Polish vodka is “Wyborowa”, “Extra Zytnia” or any liqueur, for example “Zubrowka” (with a buffalo grass leaf in a bottle) and "Wisniowka" (cherry).

Entertainment

Warsaw's nightlife is very cosmopolitan and offers a wide range of entertainment, including theatre, opera, ballet and classical music. Other cities do not have such diversity, although Gdańsk and Poznań often host fine art exhibitions. Tickets for concerts and performances are much cheaper than in most countries in Western Europe and North America.

When it comes to pop culture, you'll find jazz bands and films from around the world. Famous pop and rock bands come to Poland only occasionally. There is no shortage of bars, pubs, cafes and nightclubs in the cities; there is also a casino.

Performing arts

Residents of Poland's big cities are passionate fans of the performing arts. In Warsaw, the main stage for opera and ballet performances is the Bolshoi Theater - National Opera (pl. Teatralny 1, tel.: 022-826-5019, www.teatrwielki.pl); Kiri Te Kanawa, Kathleen Battle and José Carreras sang here. Concerts of philharmonic music are held in the best halls in the country, the National Philharmonic (ul. Jasna 5, tel.: 022-551-7131, www.filharmonia.pl) and a small Chamber Opera (al. Solidarnosci 76b, tel.: 022-831-2240, www.operakameralna.pl). Sometimes concerts are also held in the Royal Castle on Castle Square (tel: 022-657-2170). In Krakow, the main stage for opera productions, as well as dramatic performances and concerts, is the Theatre. Julius Slovacki (pl. Sw. Ducha 1, tel.: 012-423-1700, www.slowacki.krakow.pl), for theatrical productions and dance shows - Operetta Theater (ul. Lubicz 48, tel.: 012-421-4200), and for performing music - the Philharmonic (ul. Zwierzyniecka 1, tel.: 012-429-1345, www.filharmonia.krakow.pl).

Concerts are also held in the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary, in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul on Wawel Hill, and in the summer at the Chopin monument in Warsaw's Lazienki Park. In Gdansk on the stage of the State Baltic Opera (al. Zwyciestwa 15, tel.: 058-763-4906, www.operabaltycka.pl), one of the best in Poland, hosts opera performances and symphony concerts, and chamber music is heard in the Baltic Philharmonic Hall (Olowianka 1, tel.: 058-320-6262, www.filharmonia.gda.pl). In Poznań, opera performances are staged at the Bolshoi Theater (ul. Fredry 9, tel.: 061-659-0200, www.opera.poznan.pl), and classical music concerts take place in the Poznań Philharmonic Hall (ul. Sw. Marcina 81, tel.: 061-852-4708, www.filharmoniapoznanska.pl). Poznan is also famous for its dance theater "Poznan Ballet" (ul. Kozia 4, tel.: 061-852-4242, www.ptt-poznan.pl).

Dramatic performances are almost always staged in Polish, which excludes foreign tourists from the audience. The work of directors and actors is of the highest standards, and theater lovers who are not deterred by language skills and want to enjoy first-class acting and production will find a wealth of excellent performances, especially in Krakow, the center of the Polish theater world. The most famous is the Old Theater (ul. Jagiellonska 1, tel.: 012-422-4040, www.stary-teatr.pl), which has a main stage and two additional ones. In Warsaw, the best Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals are performed at the Roma club (ul. Nowogrodzka 49, tel.: 022-628-0360).

Posters for opera performances and classical music concerts can be found in the local edition of the English-language guidebook “In Your Pocket” (www.inyourpocket.com), which contains an in-depth overview of the nightlife in Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk, as well as in the Warsaw Insider, a monthly published in Warsaw.

Movie

Poland is famous for its cinematic traditions and has produced great film directors who have achieved international recognition - Krzysztof Kislewski, Andrzej Wajda, Roman Polanski. Poles love cinema and you'll find quite a few Western films with subtitles competing with the national product; They are shown in good cinemas equipped with a Dolby sound system. Compared to many European countries, tickets are very cheap. Warsaw hosts an annual film festival in October.

Clubs and bars

Polish cities and towns abound with bars, pubs and clubs, and Poles are considered a drinking nation. However, the days of drunks downing bottles of vodka in dimly lit bars are a thing of the past, and today most Poles prefer beer to vodka and other spirits. Throughout Poland you will find Irish and English pubs, as well as nightclubs.

In recent years, numerous bars have opened in the colorful cellars of Krakow's Old Town. Given the large student population in the city, it is not surprising that bars are usually crowded. There are so many of them that it is difficult to name the best; among the most interesting “Black Gallery” (ul. Mikolajska 24), "Free Pub" (ul. Slawkowska 4), "Stalowe Magnolie" (ul. Sw. Jana 15) with live music and boudoir-style back rooms, "U Louisa" (Rynek Glowny 13), "Bastylia" (ul. Stolarska 3), "Alchemia" (ul. Estery 5) and cafe "Singer" (ul. Estery 22) in Kazimierz. The difference between a bar and a café is sometimes almost impossible to tell, and yet there are many excellent cafes in Krakow, including Kamelot (ul. Sw. Tomasza 17), "Dym" (ul. Sw. Tomasza 13), "Jama Michalika" (ul. Florianska 45) and "Wisniowy Sad" (ul. Grodzka 33). Among Krakow's jazz and blues clubs, try U Muniaka (ul. Florianska 3), "Indigo" (ul. Florianska 26) and “Klinika” (ul. Sw. Tomasza 35).

Warsaw does not have a compact cluster of bars and pubs, but the capital has plenty of cafes and a variety of drinking establishments. Here you will find a mini-collection of Irish pubs: Morgan's (ul. Okolnik 1, below the Frederic Chopin Museum), "Irish Pub" (ul. Miodowa 3) and Cork Irish Pub (al. Niepodleglosci 19). Among other bars, “Lolek” should be highlighted (ul. Rokitnicka 20) and the elegant Column at the Bristol Hotel (ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 42-44). The best place to try cocktails is at Paparazi. (ul. Mazowiecka 12). Ground Zero is popular among nightclubs. (ul. Wspolna 62) and "Quo Vadis" (pl. Defilad 1) You can listen to jazz and blues in the jazz cafe “Helicon” (ul. Freta 45-47), jazz in "Bistro" (ul. Pifkna 20).

In Gdansk, lively pubs are concentrated in the Old Town. The most stylish among them are “Lataj^cy Holender” (ul. Waly Jagellonskie 2-4) and "Vinifera" (ul. Wodopoj 7), where wine is served in glasses. You can listen to live jazz music at the Cotton club (ul. Zlotnikow 25) and "Jazz Club" (Dlugi Targ 39-40).

Sport

The most popular sport in Poland, as in many European countries, is football, although Poles also enjoy other sports such as hockey, volleyball, windsurfing and skiing. In Poland, there have not yet appeared special recreation areas intended for sports. However, the country's rural areas are ideal for those seeking outdoor activities, and there are plenty of opportunities for visitors to enjoy horse riding, skiing, fishing and hiking.

Golf

If you want to play golf during a business trip to Warsaw, contact the First Warsaw Golf Club (Rajszew 70, Jablonna, tel.: 022-782-4555, www. warsawgolf.pl), which owns an 18-hole course approximately 30 km from the capital. Probably the best course on the Baltic coast is located at the Postolovsky Golf Club (Postolow, tel.: 058-683-7100, www.golf.com.pl) 26 km south of Gdansk.

Tourism and hiking

The countryside of Poland is ideal for both leisurely walks and more intense hiking trips. One of the best areas for these activities, especially for experienced hikers, is the High Tatras around Zakopane.

Horseback riding

Horse social weekends are becoming increasingly popular; Ask your travel agency about horseback riding tours offered by Orbis. If you just want to ride a horse, contact the Pata-Taj Riding School (Szkola Jazdy Konnej, ul. Krotka 9, tel.: 022-758-5835) in Warsaw. In the vicinity of the capital there are a couple of dozen stables and riding schools; Check with tourist information centers or your hotel for more information.

Skis

The main ski resort is Zakopane at the foot of the High Tatras in south-eastern Poland. There are excellent and inexpensive slopes here, very popular among Poles and some foreign tourists, although recreational conditions are inferior to the ski resorts of the Alps and Pyrenees.

Swimming and water sports

The Victoria, Marriott and Bristol hotels in Warsaw have swimming pools. Less luxurious pools have "Aquapark Wesolandia" (ul. Wspolna 4, tel.: 022-773-9191, www.wesolandia.pl), "Polna" (ul. Polna 7a, tel.: 022-825-7134, www.osir-polna.pl) and Wodny Park (ul. Merliniego 4, tel.: 022-854-0130, www.wodnypark.com.pl). Krakow also has several swimming pools open to visitors: “Park Wodny” (ul. Dobrego Pasterza 126, tel.: 012-616-3190, www.parkwodny.pl), "Copernicus" (ul. Kanonicza 16, tel.: 012-424-3400) and Sheraton (ul. Powisle 7, tel.: 012-662-1000).

Football

Football is the most popular spectator sport in Poland. There are two first division clubs in Warsaw: Legia Warszawa (ul. Lazienkowska 3, tel.: 022-628-4303, www.legialive.pl) and "Polonia Warszawa" (ul. Konwiktorska 6, tel.: 022-635-1637, www.ksppolonia.com).

Most of the places where you can practice yachting and other water sports are concentrated in the Masurian Lakes region in north-eastern Poland and in cities along the shores of the Gulf of Gdansk on the Baltic.

Children

Traveling around Poland with children means being flexible, creative and finding activities that interest children when palaces, castles and restored ancient cities impress them less than their parents. Many of the activities listed below are located in the capital, Warsaw, simply because there are more of them.

Warsaw Zoo (ul. Ratuszowa 1-3, tel.: 022-619-4041, www.zoo.waw.pl) was opened in 1928. It is home to about 4,000 animals on an area of ​​40 hectares, including Siberian tigers, kangaroos, cheetahs, crocodiles, snow leopards and the rare red panda. The zoo also has a hall where birds fly freely. At the Pepeland amusement park (ul. Kolejowa 378, tel.: 022-751-2627) There is a mini zoo and attractions.

Another opportunity to entertain children in Warsaw is the Guliver Theater (ul. Rozana 16, tel.: 022-845-1677, www.teatrguliwer.waw.pl).

In summer, children can waste their energy in water parks and swimming pools, and in winter - at the skating rink.

You can go ice skating in Warsaw at Stegny (ul. Inspektowa 1, tel.: 022-842-2768, www.stegny.com.pl) or "Towarzystwo Lyzwiarstwa Figurowego Walley" (ul. Kombatantow 60, Julianow, tel.: 022-711-1261, www.walley.pl). Another popular activity is paintball; in Warsaw try Marcus-Graf (ul. Widok 10, in Beniaminow in the vicinity of Warsaw, tel.: 022-816-1008) or at Paintballs Club (ul. Lokajskiego 42, tel.: 060-266-9220, www.painballs-club.pl). In Krakow, paintball fans can use the services of the local club "Compass" (tel.: 012-357-3370, www.compass-poland.com), which also offers a variety of other activities, including off-road racing and other activities for men.

Another energetic sport is karting. In Warsaw, you can bring your children to the Imola club, where they can also play paintball (ul. Pulawska 33, Piaseczno, tel.: 022-757-0823, www.imola.pl). If your kids love bowling, you'll find bowling alleys in all major cities. Poznań's Malta district has plenty of activities ideal for children, including an artificial ski slope and a toboggan run.

For older children who love hiking and skiing, the area around Zakopane in the High Tatras is best suited. Children will love the 700-year-old salt mines near Krakow, where you first descend 378 steps and then walk through long corridors, looking at chapels and salt carvings (including the seven dwarfs), and rise to the surface in a fast, but primitive and shaking elevator.

Holidays

Local holidays

• February International Festival of Sailor Songs, Warsaw
• March, April Holy Week, all of Poland
• March Poznan Jazz Festival, Poznan
• April Festival of Contemporary Music, Poznan
• April May Warsaw Ballet Days, Warsaw
• May Music and Arts Festival, Toruń
  International Book Fair, Warsaw
  Jazz Festival, Poznan
• June International Theater Festival, Poznan
  Summer Jazz Days, Warsaw
  Festival of Jewish Culture, Krakow
  Summer Solstice Festival, Krakow
• June 24 Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
• June July Mozart Festival, Warsaw
  Summer Theater Festival, Zamość
• July Summer Early Music Festival, Krakow
  Summer Opera Festival, Krakow
  Organ Music Festival, Gdansk
• July August Dominican Fair, Gdansk
  August International Song Festival, Sopot
  International Early Music Festival, Krakow
  International Festival of Highland Folklore, Zakopane
  International Chopin Festival, Duszniki-Zdroj near Warsaw
• September International Violin Competition named after. Henryk Wieniawski, Poznan
• October International Piano Competition named after. Chopin (held in Warsaw once every five years) Warsaw Film Festival, Warsaw
  International Jazz Festival, Warsaw
• November All Saints' Day
  All Saints' Day Jazz Festival, Krakow
  Warsaw Early Music Festival, Warsaw
• December Competition for the most beautiful Christmas crèche, Krakow (Market Square)

Official non-working holidays

• 1st of January New Year
• 6th January Epiphany
• Floating holiday (March, April) First day of Easter. The first day falls on one of the Sundays between March 22 and April 25. Second day of Easter
• 1st of May"Labor Day"
• May 3 The national holiday of May Third commemorates the Constitution of May 3, 1791.
• 7th Sunday after Easter First day of Pentecost
• 9th Thursday after Easter Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ
• August 15 Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Nov. 1 All Saints' Day
• 11th of November National Independence Day commemorating the 1918 independence from the Russian Empire, Austria and Prussia
• December 25 First day of Christmas
• December 26 Second day of Christmas

Food and drink

Polish cuisine is very diverse - from light and elegant dishes to luxurious and satisfying ones, and they are always served in large portions. A characteristic feature of Polish cuisine is soups, and the main dishes are potatoes and dumplings; it also has a lot of vegetable dishes. Considering that the country's borders have changed over many centuries, it is not surprising that Polish cuisine has been influenced by other national cuisines: Ukrainian, German, Lithuanian and Russian.

Residents of other countries are often familiar with some Polish dishes, such as pies, borscht with sausage, as well as such common dishes as herring, cold meats and sauerkraut. Probably the most famous Polish dish is bigos. ("hunter's roast")- sauerkraut stewed with several types of meat (pork, game, sausage, bacon, etc.).

The restaurant world in Poland, like almost everything else, has changed a lot in recent years. In the past, eating out, especially dining out, was a rare occurrence; There was a shortage of food in the country and rationing was introduced. Now all this is in the past. Restaurants of various styles have appeared in large cities, although, fortunately, establishments that offer classic Polish cuisine have not disappeared. These are the ones that visitors to Poland should pay attention to.

Where there is

Most visitors to Poland eat in restaurants (restauracja). They can be very different, from modest and inexpensive, where office workers dine, to luxurious ones, which are more often visited not by ordinary Poles, but by foreign tourists and the small Polish elite; All restaurants offer table service.

In the cafe (kawiarnia) They serve more than just coffee. Most have menus that offer just about everything from appetizers to made-to-order meals, all day long. Another traditional type of establishment is inexpensive self-service cafeterias called bar mleczny, literally “milk bar”. Here you will be served a full plate of homemade food for little money.

When there is

Breakfast (sniadanie) in Poland they usually offer from 7 to 10 am. In the morning, Poles usually eat bread or rolls with butter, cheese, ham or sausage. Eggs can also be served for breakfast. In the most expensive hotels, breakfast is usually a standard international set of dishes. Quite often, local baked goods and dishes that are not always associated with breakfast are offered.

Lunch (obiad) runs from 14.00 to 16.00 and is considered the main meal - this is reflected in the number of dishes served at this time of the day. Typically, lunch consists of three courses: soup, main course and dessert.

Dinner (kolacja) Served in the early evening, it can be similar and almost as filling as lunch, or much lighter, with the same selection of dishes as breakfast.

Polish cuisine

In traditional Polish cuisine, certain ingredients play an important role: fish, game, potatoes, mushrooms and vegetables. One of the characteristic flavors of Polish cuisine is sour, although there are also spicy and sweet dishes.

Some traditional dishes are prepared with lard, but many use vegetable oil or butter. If the portions are too large for you, order a soup, an appetizer instead of a main course, and try to leave room for dessert.

Pies are considered a traditional Polish dish. (pierogi), which are of Russian origin and appeared in the Middle Ages. Pies can be sweet or spicy. Ravioli-like gnocchi have a variety of fillings, including fresh cabbage, sauerkraut with mushrooms, cheese and potatoes, and, in summer, fruit. Small pies are sometimes served with soup. Another traditional Polish dish is cabbage leaves: cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice and usually served with tomato sauce. Poles are very fond of potato pancakes and potato dumplings.

Restaurant menus often list main courses without side dishes. Potatoes, salads and other side dishes are listed in the dodatki section and are served for a separate price.

Soup

Soup (zupa) very popular with locals and always on the menu. Most Poles consider a meal without soup to be incomplete (on the other hand, some guests may say that Polish soup is a complete meal in itself).

Red borscht (barszcz czerwony) It is prepared according to an old recipe, and the authentic version has a unique taste. It can be served with sour cream or small ravioli-like dumplings. On Christmas Eve, people traditionally treat themselves to beetroot soup in vegetable broth with small ravioli. (uszka) stuffed with mushrooms. White borscht (zurek) prepared with sourdough from rye flour. Sometimes it is served with sausage or a hard-boiled egg. On a cold summer beetroot (chlodnik) add thick sour cream, cucumber, radish, green onions and dill.

Cucumber soup with dill (ogdrkowa) tastes sour, like sauerkraut soup (kapusniak). Try also mushroom soup (grzybowa), sorrel soup (szczawiowa) and zupa koperkowa, which is dominated by the favorite Polish spice - dill.

Snacks

Classic snack (przekqski) considered herring, which is prepared in different ways. It is served with butter, sour cream or plenty of chopped onions. Poland also produces a large number of varieties of sausages and ham - this is a national dish and a favorite delicacy of Poles. As a starter you can enjoy carp jellied fish, pike and smoked eel, as well as small portions of your favorite main dishes such as pies or potato pancakes.

Main dishes

Meat (mieso, dania rnifsne). The Poles are a nation of dedicated meat eaters, and for most Poles, a hearty meal must include meat. The most popular meat dish is pork. The traditional method of preparation is pork cutlet in breadcrumbs with fried onions; usually served with sweet cabbage.

Fried pork is eaten both hot and cold. The stew can be served with prunes. Beef is less common, although beef cutlets stuffed with ham, black bread and mushrooms (zrazy zawijane)- standard dish. Braised tripe (flaki po polsku) consists of strips of beef tripe stewed in meat and vegetable broth; served with black bread. A must-try meat dish in Poland is bigos. (bigos), a classic hunting food. This is fresh and sour cabbage stewed with several types of meat and sausage (meat and cabbage in equal proportions). Excellent winter food in Polish.

Game (dziczyzna) and poultry (drob). Game is very popular in Poland, which is not surprising given the universal love for meat. Olenin (sarna) usually served in expensive restaurants, as well as bear meat (dzik) and other exotic meats. Look for hare on the menu (zajqc) and pheasant (bazant). Chicken is also very common (kiga), usually stuffed and fried. Another favorite dish among Poles is chicken soup, as is roast duck. (kaczka) with apples.

Fish (dania rybne). Fish is as common on Polish menus as meat; In most good restaurants you can find pike, eel, perch, sturgeon and other fish - boiled, fried, grilled. Carp is very popular (especially on Christmas Eve), which is often served with a special Polish sauce with raisins and almonds.

Vegetables (potrawy jarskie). Nowadays, vegetarian restaurants are much more common in Poland, although the classic milk bars that opened as vegetarian now have several meat dishes on the menu. The vegetable side dish usually needs to be ordered separately and can be extremely varied. Vegetarians should pay attention to hash browns, fruit-filled dumplings, cheese and potato pies, and pancakes. Salads often include tomato salad, cucumber salad with sour cream, and sauerkraut.

Dessert

Poles are very fond of pastries and sweets. You will definitely find eclairs on the menu and on visitors’ plates. (eklerka), mille-feuille (napoleonki), cheesecakes (sernik), Apple pie (szarlotka) and traditional thin cookies with nuts and fruits (mazurek).

National strong drink

Poles and Russians may argue over who invented vodka, but the drink is a fixture on the Polish menu. Most vodka is made from rye, but some varieties are made from potatoes; Both vodkas have a characteristic taste. The drink is usually clear; flavored varieties can also be found on the shelves. Vodka “Wyborowa” is considered the standard (rye), and this brand also produces several varieties of flavored vodkas; pay attention to Luksusowa vodka (from potatoes) and "Zubrowka" (infused with bison grass from Belovezhskaya Pushcha), as well as kosher vodka.

Vodka is an integral part of the ritual. If you go to visit someone, then the rules of good manners require you to take a bottle of vodka with you, although you don’t have to drink it. Poles prefer to drink vodka undiluted - in one sip or sip, rather than adding it to cocktails (although cocktails made from Tatanka or Zubrowka vodka and apple juice are quite popular here).

Beverages

Poland does not produce grape wine. Imported wine can be ordered in cafes and restaurants; the cheapest are Hungarian and Bulgarian wines. You'll also find French, Italian and Spanish wines, but be prepared to pay for the pleasure.

Polish beer (piwo) goes well with hearty spicy dishes; With the exception of the most sophisticated restaurants, beer can be drunk with meals like wine. Polish beer is usually served in tall glasses; It is a light, pleasant drink, although it does not have the same reputation as its Czech, German, Belgian or English varieties. The most famous brands are “Zywiec”, “Okocim”, “EB”, “Warka” and “Tyskie”. Information about “beer tours” and the Beer Museum at the Tysz Brewery (town of Tychy 20 km south of Katowice) can be found on the website: www.kp.pl.

Coffee (kawa) is a favorite drink of Poles and is usually served either black (you need to ask for milk), or with a small amount of milk. Espresso and cappuccino are available almost everywhere. Most Poles also drink tea (herbata), which is usually served with lemon.

International brands of soft drinks and mineral water (water mineral) also available everywhere.

Accommodation

Hotels in Poland are unofficially divided into categories ranging from one to five stars, and those with three to five stars meet European standards. There is a shortage of good hotels in smaller towns, but the number of three-star hotels is growing, and there are one- and two-star hotels to recommend. In Warsaw, Krakow and other major cities there is a growing number of first-class five-star hotels aimed at businessmen and wealthy tourists. In the old days, the Orbis chain had a virtual monopoly on middle- and upper-class hotels, but now the situation has changed; competition has intensified with international chains and independent companies.

If there are no rooms in luxury hotels or they are too expensive for you, it is best to stay in the suburbs - in a boarding house or guest house. Other options include private homes or self-catering apartments. Accommodation in private houses (kwatery prywatne) widespread in Poland. In addition, there are more than 200 official campsites in the country, and in large cities there is a network of youth hotels.

During high season (from May to October) It is necessary to reserve a room in advance. Tourist Information Bureau (including at the airport) provide a list of hotels.

The price per room, which should be posted at the reception window, usually includes value added tax and often, but not always, breakfast. The cost may be indicated in US dollars, euros or zlotys, but the invoice will be issued in zlotys. All hotels accept the most common credit cards, unless otherwise specifically announced.

With the exception of the most expensive hotels, prices are usually lower than in other European countries. Oddly enough, prices in hotels can be indicated not only in Polish zlotys, but also in US dollars and euros.

In Poland there is an extensive network - about 950 in total - of youth hostels (schroniska mlodziezowe). More information can be obtained from the Polish Association of Youth Hostels (ul. Chocimska 28, Warsaw, tel.: 022-849-8128, www.ptsm.org.pl). Places in international student hotels can be booked through the travel agency ALMATUR (ul. Kopernika 23, Warsaw, tel.: 022-826-2639, www.almatur.pl).

Among Warsaw hotels, the very clean Hotel Agrykola should be noted (ul. Mysliwiecka 9, tel.: 022-622-9105, www.agrykola-noclegi.pl) and the legendary "Nathan's Villa" (ul. Piekna 24-26, tel.: 022-622-2946, www.nathansvilla.com).

In Krakow, check out the City Hostel (ul. Sw. Krzyza 21, tel.: 012-426-1815, www.cityhostel.pl), decorated in the style of the 1950s-1960s. "Good Bye Lenin" (ul. Joselewicza 23, tel.: 012-421-2030, www.goodbyelenin.pl) and again “Nathans Villa” (ul. Sw. Agnieszki 1, tel.: 012-422-3545, www.nathansvilla.com).

Travel to Poland

By plane

The largest airlines in Europe, as well as Russia, fly to Poland. The Polish national carrier LOT Polish Airlines flies from most major European cities, including Moscow. Aeroflot also has regular flights. Travel time 2 hours 10 minutes.

international Airport

Poland's main international airport is Warsaw's Okęcie, although airports in Krakow, Gdansk, Poznan and other cities also accept flights from other countries. Krakow Balice Airport has been modernized and can now accommodate more international flights.

By rail

Unlike other cities, Warsaw and Krakow are easily accessible by rail from any major city in Western, Central or Eastern Europe. There are five daily trains from Russia to Poland. Two trains run from Moscow to Warsaw (20 h), with trailer cars to Szczecin (34 h) and Wroclaw (28 hours) and by carriage from St. Petersburg via Warsaw to Szczecin (40 h). The daily train Moscow - Prague passes through Katowice (25 h). Another daily train runs from Kaliningrad to Gdynia (6 hours), two trailer cars of the same train continue their journey to Berlin via Poznan. Finally, once a week the Saratov-Berlin train runs through Poland with trailer cars from Novosibirsk, Rostov, Omsk, Samara, Chelyabinsk, Ufa, and Yekaterinburg. However, the cheapest way to get to Poland from Russia is to take the train to Brest and cross the border on a local train or bus. The cost of such a trip from Moscow to Warsaw will cost about 35 euros.

The following travel tickets are valid in Poland: “InterRail”, “Euro Domino”, “EurailPass” (all varieties), "European East Pass" and "Polrailpass".

Trains from other countries arrive at Warsaw Central Station (tel.: 9436). In Krakow - at the Main Station (tel.: 9436).

By car/bus

Warsaw is connected by main highways to Berlin, Prague, Budapest and Vienna. Traveling from London to Warsaw by bus is inexpensive, taking just under a day and a half. Transportation is carried out by European companies, including Eurolines. (www.eurolines.com) and Polish companies such as Pekaes (tel: 022-626-9352) and "Orbis" (tel: 022-827-7140).

If you are planning to cross Europe by car, the shortest route is through Ostend, Brussels and Berlin. Buses from Europe arrive at Warsaw Western Bus Station (Warszawa Zachodnia), tel.: 022-822-4811.

Airports

Warsaw

International flights arrive and depart from Okęcie International Airport south of the capital. There is a car rental agency, currency exchange offices, ATMs, travel agencies, a restaurant and a tourist information office. The journey from the airport to the center of Warsaw takes about 30 minutes. A taxi will cost from 25 to 80 zlotys (more expensive at night), depending on the taxi company. Some of the taxis waiting in front of the airport look like they are official, but they are not and they will try to scam you.

If you need a taxi, order a car at the information desk: "Halo Taxi" (tel.: 022-9623), "MPT" (tel.: 022-9191) or "Super Taxi" (tel.: 022-9622). Buses will take you to the city center (from 5.00 to 22.30) No. 175 or 188 (beware of pickpockets); buses stop at all red stops and at the central train station. Some hotels have their own transport connecting them to the airport. Information about airport operations can be obtained by calling: 022-650-4220.

Krakow

Krakow Balice Airport, also known as Krakow International Airport. John Paul II, located 18 km west of the city. You can get to Krakow by taxi: Barbakan Taxi (tel.: 012-9661) or "Mega Taxi" (tel.: 012-9625). Prices range from 40-60 zlotys. You can take bus route 192, which will take you to the Old Town and the train station. Information about the airport's operations can be obtained by calling: 012-639-3000. A free bus runs from the airport terminal to the train platform, from which trains depart to the city's central station. Travel time is 15 minutes, ticket price is 8 zlotys.

Gdansk

Flights from London and some other European cities (Hamburg, Copenhagen, Brussels) land at Gdansk Airport, located less than 10 km west of the city center.

A taxi will cost from 30 to 40 zlotys; It is recommended to call City Plus (tel.: 058-9686) or "Servis Taxi" (tel.: 058-9194), rather than waiting for an unofficial taxi. Bus route "B" runs between the airport and Gdańsk Central Station (40 min). Information about the airport's operations can be obtained by calling: 058-348-1111.

Travel budget

Although prices have increased significantly over the past few years compared to other European countries, Poland remains a relatively inexpensive country for visitors from Western Europe and North America. However, tourists expecting the recent cheapness of Central Europe will be a little surprised. Four- and five-star hotels in Warsaw and Krakow are almost as expensive as in Western Europe. However, many aspects of everyday life will seem very cheap to visitors: highly efficient public transport, restaurants and cafes, museums and concerts.

Road to Poland

For most Europeans, a trip to Warsaw or Krakow is a short and relatively inexpensive journey by train or plane. There are a growing number of low-cost carriers that offer competitive prices.

Accommodation

The cost of a room in first-class hotels is approaching and can even reach the cost of rooms in other European capitals. Approximate prices for a double room in high season in the center of Warsaw or Krakow: 5-star hotel - 500-1000 zlotys (US$125-250), 3- and 4-star hotels 200-400 zlotys (US$50-100), 2-star hotel or boarding house - 40-150 zlotys (US$10-40).

Food and drink

Food in Polish restaurants and cafes remains quite cheap, except for the most luxurious and famous establishments. A three-course dinner for two with wine (including service) in a mid-range restaurant can cost around PLN 80 (US$25), and in an expensive restaurant - from 160 zlotys (US$50) and higher.

Local transport

Public transport (bus, metro, tram) very cheap (2.4-4 zlotys). Taxi services are relatively expensive (especially unofficial). It is recommended to use public transport except in special cases (for example, at night) and order a taxi by phone instead of hailing a car on the street.

other expenses

Car rental in Poland is expensive: the price per day starts from $70-100 for a small car (unlimited mileage and accident insurance). In 2013, gasoline cost 4.20 zlotys per liter. Entrance fees to the museum are approximately 4 zlotys. Entertainment: ticket prices for dramatic and musical performances and classical music concerts usually start from 20 zlotys.

Car rental

Unless you're planning to explore Poland's rural hinterland, renting a car might not be the best idea. Rental cost is high (US$70-100 per day), and the road network in Poland leaves much to be desired: the roads are in need of repair, there are few motorways (for example, there is no motorway between Warsaw and Krakow). Rental rules are similar to those in other countries. The minimum age is 21 years, the minimum driving experience is 1 year. International driving licenses are valid.

Ask if accident insurance is included in the price. Local car rental agencies such as Global Poland (Warsaw, tel.: 022-650-1483) usually cheaper.

International agencies: Avis (Warsaw, tel.: 022-650-4872, Krakow, tel.: 060-120-0702, www.avis.pl), "Budget" (Warsaw, tel.: 022-650-4062), "Europcar" (Warsaw, tel.: 022-650-2564, Krakow, tel.: 012-633-7713), "Hertz" (Warsaw, tel.: 022-650-2896, Krakow, tel.: 012-429-6262) and "Sixt" (Warsaw, tel.: 022-650-2031, Krakow, tel.: 012-639-3216).

Cloth

Residents of large cities in Poland, especially Warsaw and Krakow, tend to follow fashion, and chic European outfits can be seen on the streets. A jacket and tie will be required in rare cases - to the theater, opera or a very expensive restaurant. In rural areas, they prefer a loose style of clothing.

Crime and safety

Crime rates have increased significantly in Polish cities and Warsaw cannot be considered a safe place. As for tourists, the main danger for them is pickpocketing and theft from cars.

Take the usual precautions, especially on the way to the airport, train station, and at night. Robberies also happen, although rarely; In this regard, drug addicts pose a particular danger.

Other cities, including Krakow, are considered safer, but in tourist areas (Wawel Hill, Market Square) One should not forget about caution. In the Tricity - Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot - the level of hooliganism is high even during the day.

In places where tourists gather, at railway stations, on trains, as well as on bus and tram routes in large cities, pickpockets sometimes operate. Thefts do occur on night trains, especially in second class compartments, although most of them occur during boarding. Theft from cars and car theft are also common. Don't stop your car if another driver is signaling that something is wrong with you - it could be a trap leading to a robbery. There have also been reports of thieves breaking into or opening the doors of slow-moving or stopped vehicles.

Customs and entry rules

To enter Poland you need a passport valid for three months after the date of entry. Citizens of the Russian Federation need to apply for a visa. The visa is valid for 90 days and can be obtained from the Polish embassy.

Customs restrictions. There are no restrictions on the import of foreign currency into Poland, but large amounts must be declared upon entry into the country. The export of antiques and works of art created before 1945 is prohibited; works by artists created after 1945 may be exported with the permission of the National Museum/Regional Office for the Restoration of Antiquities (the same applies to objects produced before 1945, if the National Museum recognizes them as “non-museum”).

The export of some works of art created after 1945 may be prohibited if the artist is no longer alive and the work is of significant cultural value.

Anyone wishing to export a work of art dating from before 1945 must obtain a certificate from the National Museum's Department of Art Certification (Dzial Opinionwania Dziel Sztuki), ul. Mysliwiecka 1, Warsaw. Inquiries by phone: 022-694-3194, www.mf.gov.pl.

Public transport

Local transport

Most Polish cities have a developed public transport system, which includes bus and tram routes (and Warsaw also has one metro line).

In Warsaw, 1,200 buses transport passengers from 5.00 to 23.00; Night buses run from 23.30 to 5.30. Tickets (valid for bus, tram and metro) can be purchased at yellow-green kiosks with the inscription “Ruch”; a ticket purchased from the driver will cost a little more. After boarding, the ticket must be validated (obsolete punched cards have now been replaced by magnetic cards). The controller has the right to collect a fine for ticketless travel on the spot.

There are 22 tram and more than 100 bus routes in Krakow. They work from 5.00 to 23.00. Tickets can be one-time, as well as passes - for an hour, a day or a week.

Bus

Most city buses are red. A trip on an express or night bus will cost twice as much as a regular one. If you want to get off, signal the driver by pressing the button.

Tram

Most Polish cities have an extensive network of tram routes; Some trams also operate at night. Timetables are posted at stops, although they are not always strictly followed. Warsaw's Old Town has a tram route that starts and ends at Castle Square and allows a 30-minute journey through both the Old and New Towns.

Taxi

Taxi prices start at 5 zlotys and increase by 1.4 zlotys per kilometer (at night for 2 zlotys). Polish taxi drivers are known for overcharging foreigners. There are many unofficial taxis in Poland, which are very difficult to distinguish from officially registered ones. They line up outside airports and train stations with impunity.

If you need a taxi, order it by phone; ask the hotel receptionist to do this for you. It is not recommended to hail a car on the street, since it almost always turns out to be an unofficial taxi. In emergency cases, agree on the cost of the trip in advance.

Metro

The Warsaw metro consists of one 13 km line that stretches from Bank Square in the city center to the southern suburb of Kabaty (near the Ursynov district). The metro operates daily 5.00-23.15; The traffic interval is 5 minutes during peak hours and 8 minutes at other times.

Travel around the country

Bus

Warsaw Main Bus Station - Western Bus Station (Warsaw West, Al. Jerozolimskie 144, tel.: 022-822-4811). Krakow's main bus station is located next to the train station (pl. Kolejowy, tel.: 012-422-3134). Bus station in Gdansk (Dworzec PKS, ul. 3 Maja 12, tel.: 058-302-0532) also located next to the train station.

The national transport company, PKS, has an extensive network of bus routes covering the entire country. Private alternative - Polski Express company (tel.: 022-854-0285, www.polskiexpress.pl).

Information about the bus service can be obtained by calling: 0-300-300-300.

Railway

The Polish railway network, which extends over 26,500 km, covers the entire country; The train is the fastest and most convenient way to travel between major cities. The exception is for trips over short distances, where the bus is faster (for example from Krakow to Zakopane). Warsaw has six railway stations; most trains from other countries arrive at Central Station (Warszawa Centralna, Al. Jerozolimskie 54, tel.: 022-9436), the rest - to the Warszawa Wschodnia station. Smaller stations, mostly on the outskirts of the city, serve commuter routes.

To the Main Railway Station of Krakow (Krakow Dworzec Glowny, PL Dworcowy 1, tel.: 012-9436) International and local trains arrive. Gdańsk Main Railway Station (Gdansk Glowny, ul. Podwale Grodzkie 1, tel.: 058-9436) serves a local route between the cities of the Tricity, from 6.00 to 19.30, the traffic interval is 10 minutes, then less frequently.

The train journey from Warsaw to Krakow takes 3 hours, from Warsaw to Gdansk - 3 hours 40 minutes, and from Warsaw to Poznan - 3 hours 20 minutes.

Schedules and other information can be found on the website www.pkp.com.pl.

Car driving

To drive a car in Poland, you must have a valid driver's license and vehicle registration documents. Cars from most European countries (including Britain, Germany and Austria) are assumed to be fully insured and therefore no additional paperwork is required. Just in case, take your insurance policy with you.

Road condition

Poland is not the best place to travel while driving. It has the highest road fatality rate in Europe; roads are generally in poor condition (according to one estimate, 45% of roads in Warsaw require repairs) and are often clogged with traffic. There is no highway system in the country (there is only one top class motorway, the toll road between Krakow and Katowice), and therefore traffic will be slow - cars have to compete for space on the road with trucks and other vehicles.

The driver should be very careful, especially on country roads, which are usually narrow, poorly lit at night and often under repair (mainly in summer). You may find that country roads are used not only by cars, but also by pedestrians and animals. Alcohol intoxication is often the cause of road accidents.

Rules

You should drive on the right, overtake on the left, being careful. The vehicle must be equipped with a national license plate or sticker indicating the country. It is necessary to have a set of spare lamps, a first aid kit and a warning triangle with you. Seat belts are required in front and rear seats; Children under 12 years old can only be transported in the back, on a special seat. Motorcycle drivers and passengers are required to wear helmets. Talking on a cell phone while driving is prohibited. The regulations governing blood alcohol content are very strict: more than 0.02% is severely punished. Headlights must be on at all times.

Speed ​​limits: 130 km/h on a motorway, 110 km/h on a highway with a median, 100 km/h on a highway without a median, 90 km/h outside cities, 50 km/h in cities (including Warsaw). A fine will be charged for speeding.

Gasoline cost

Petrol stations are common along motorways and main roads, but don't venture onto country roads without filling up your tank. As a rule, stations operate around the clock. Unleaded gasoline is available almost everywhere (4.20 zł). Credit cards are almost always accepted.

Parking

Car parking is a serious problem in all major cities, especially if the historical part has been turned into a pedestrian zone. If you are driving, make sure your hotel has parking. Cars parked in the wrong place will be towed away. You should only use secure parking lots.

If you need help

If you need assistance, call the Polish Roadside Assistance Service on 071-9637 and they will tell you the address of the nearest repair shop. Don't forget to place a warning triangle 50 m behind the car (100 m on a highway with a median). Victims should be reported to the police.

Emergency helpline in several languages ​​is available by phone: 0800-200-300 (regular telephone or payphone), from mobile phone: +48-608-59-99-99.

Road signs

Standard international pictograms are used throughout Poland. A sign with “Czarny Punkt”, a cross on a black circle, indicates a particularly dangerous area.

Religion

Almost all Poles belong to the Roman Catholic Church, and 80% are Roman Catholics. The previous pope, John Paul II, was the archbishop of Krakow before being elected head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Poland also has religious minorities, particularly Protestants, Orthodox Christians and Jews. The tourist information office has lists of services in English and other languages (rarely).

Telephone

Currently, most payphones in Poland only accept calling cards - but this does not mean that all of them are working. Telephone cards, of which there are many varieties, can be purchased at newsstands, some hotels, post offices and tourist information offices. There are call centers for long-distance and international calls in Warsaw: Netia Telephone (ul. Poleczki 13, tel.: 022-330-2000) and TPSA (ul. Nowy Swiat 6-12, tel.: 022-627-4081). In Krakow "Netia Telephone" (ul. J. Conrada 51, tel.: 012-290-1143).

To make an international call from a payphone, dial the international line access code (0 - beep - 0 - beep), then the country code and telephone number, including the area code. The reduced rate does not apply to international calls. For long distance calls, dial the area code (after 0) and telephone number; preferential rate starts from 22.00. For local calls, you do not need to dial the area code. Mobile phone numbers are 10-digit. Poland telephone code: 48

• Information for local and long-distance calls: 913
• International call information: 908

Region codes:

• Gdansk / Gdynia / Sopot 058
• Krakow 012
• Lodz 042
• Poznan 061
• Torun 056
• Warsaw 022
• Zamosc 084
• Zakopane 018

Tips

In Poland it is customary to tip - but not required. In restaurants, tips are usually 10-15%; in bars, the bill is rounded up. Some restaurants may charge 10% service charge; carefully study the bill and check so as not to tip twice. Porters, maids and guides also expect you to tip.

Time

All of Poland is in the same time zone and lives according to Central European Time + 1 hour. Summer time + 2 hours is valid from the last Sunday in March.

Electricity

In Poland, the voltage in the electrical network is 220 V with a frequency of 50 Hz. Standard European plug (with two round pins); UK and US devices will require an adapter. 110V/60Hz appliances require an adapter or voltage converter.

Toilets

Public toilets in Poland can be few and far between. There is usually a small fee (1-2 zlotys), and even in cafes, visitors sometimes have to pay to use the toilet. Men's toilets are usually indicated by a triangle symbol, women's by a circle.

Guides and excursions

A large number of tour agencies and other organizations sell tourist packages to Poland. Some offer special tours such as Jewish pilgrimage and religious trips. Thematic tours also include an excursion to Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter of Krakow, where the film Schindler's List takes place.

The largest Polish tour operator Orbis offers all types of services, from city tours and day trips to exploring the main attractions of Poland; Other travel agencies offer similar services. Information about guide-translators and organized excursions in major cities can be obtained from the tourist information office or the local RTTK office.

Medical service

Doctors and other medical personnel in Poland are generally knowledgeable and experienced; most speak English or German. In some cases, you will have to pay in cash for medical services provided, although for EU citizens with a European Health Insurance Card (can be purchased from the post office or online at: www.ethic.org.uk), medical care is free. Non-EU citizens must purchase health insurance; EU citizens can also purchase separate insurance, say, for faster delivery to a medical facility.

As a precaution, it is recommended to drink bottled water - it is inexpensive in Poland. If you plan to spend a lot of time in rural areas, especially in areas bordering Russia, Lithuania, and Belarus, ask your doctor about the symptoms of Lyme disease.

Foreigners are provided with emergency medical care on site. Ask your hotel or consulate for the name of a doctor who speaks your native language. In Warsaw, Krakow, Gdańsk, Katowice, Szczecin, Łódź and Poznań, call the Falck service by dialing the area code and 9675 - there are medical staff who speak English. The main ambulance station in Warsaw is located at ul. Hoza 56 (intersection with ul. Poznanska). The private hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs enjoys a good reputation (ul. Woloska 137, tel.: 022-508-1552). Centrum Medicover has medical centers in many Polish cities, in particular Krakow, Warsaw, Poznan and Gdansk; In case of emergency, call: 9677 (24 hours a day).

Pharmacies

Look for the “apteka” sign. In Poland, pharmacies sell only medicines and medical products. A list of night pharmacies can be obtained from the tourist information office. There are two of them in Warsaw: a pharmacy on ul. Putawska 39, tel.: 022-849-3757) and pharmacy at al. Jerozolimskie 54, Central Station, tel.: 022-825-6986). For other pharmacies, check your local In Your Pocket publication or visit www.inyourpocket.com.

Internet cafe

Internet cafes are very popular in large Polish cities, and prices there are very low, from 4-6 zlotys per hour.

Warsaw: Casablanca (ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 4-6, tel.: 022-828-1447), cafe "Cyber" (Zwirki i Wigury 1, in the courtyard of the Marriott Hotel opposite the airport, tel.: 022-650-0172)"Silver Zone" (ul. Pulawska 17, tel.: 022-852-8888).

Krakow: Garinet (ul. Florianska 18, tel.: 012-423-2233), PCNet (ul. Kosciuszki 82, tel.: 012-411-2688).

Cards

Tourist information offices usually provide tourists with free maps of cities and regions (often for a small fee), which in most cases is sufficient. There are a huge number of more detailed maps produced by PPWK and other publishers. Drivers may find the road atlas useful (Atlas Samochodowy).

Mass media

Newspapers and magazines

In Poland, periodicals are published in Russian, for example, the newspaper “Russian Courier of Warsaw”, the magazine “New Poland”. The most authoritative newspaper in the English language is the weekly Warsaw Voice. It covers Polish politics, business and culture in detail, and has a special section for tourists. Pay attention to publications such as “Welcome to Warsaw” (free news magazine), "Warsaw Insider" (free quarterly magazine with posters of cultural events) and "In Your Pocket" (Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk edition - mini-guides with numerous lists and useful information).

Radio and television

The first channel of Polish radio, broadcasting on different frequencies throughout the country, broadcasts news in English. Poland has two state television channels and one private one, PolSat. Four and five star hotels (and some three stars) offer satellite television with the main European and American channels and news programs.

Opening hours

Opening hours may vary, but most organizations in Poland are open Mon-Fri 8.00-17.00. Supermarkets, department stores and shopping centers are open Mon-Sat 9.00-20.00, Sun 10.00-18.00. Small shops are open Mon-Fri 10.00-18.00, Sat 9.00 (10.00) - 23.00 (24.00) . Some people have a day off on Saturday, and almost all shops are closed on Sunday. The “Non-Stop” sign indicates 24-hour operation.

Banks are usually open Mon-Fri 9.00-16.00 (on Friday some close at 13.00). Museums are open: Tue-Sun 10.00-17.00, closed: Mon. Post office is open: Mon-Fri 8.00-20.00, Sat 8.00-14.00. The Central Post Office in Warsaw is open 24 hours a day.

Mail

At post offices (poczta) you can send a letter, talk on the phone, send a telegram, telex and (in large branches) Fax. Stamps are also sold in newsstands and shops, in the same place as postcards. Red mailboxes on the streets have the inscription "Poczta".

Central Post Office (Urzqd Pocztowy Warszawa) in Warsaw (ul. Swietokrzyska 31-33, tel.: 022-505-3316) works around the clock. Other convenient branches are located on Targova Street (ul. Targowa 73, tel.: 022-590-0360), on Constitution Square (pl. Konstytucji 3, tel.: 022-621-4825) and on the Old Market Square (Rynek Starego Miasta 15, tel.: 022-831-2333).

In Krakow, the Main Post Office is located on Westerplatte street (ul. Westerplatte 20, tel.: 012-422-3991, open: Mon-Fri 7.30-20.30, Sat. 8.00-14.00, Sun 9.00-14.00). Another branch is located opposite the train station (ul. Lubicz 4, open: Mon-Fri 24 hours a day, some services are limited from 20.00 to 7.00, Sat 7.00-20.00).

Sending a postcard or letter to Europe costs PLN 1.90, to the USA and Canada - PLN 2.10.

There are representative offices of DHL, TNT and UPS in Warsaw and Krakow.

Units

Poland uses the metric system of weights and measures.

Tourist Information

From a table in the corner of a small tourist office to an entire building filled with interactive maps and loads of useful information, Polish tourist information centers are your first stop upon arrival. Here they will not only help you plan your route, but also recommend a hotel, a car rental agency, restaurants with authentic local cuisine, and also provide many other services. Below are the addresses of tourist information offices in the main cities of the country.

Warsaw

There are two tourist information offices at Okęcie Airport: in the arrival hall of terminal 1 and in the Etiuda terminal. (open: daily May - September 8.00-20.00, October - April 8.00-18.00). The other two branches are located at the Central Railway Station (al. Jerozolimskie 54, open: daily May - September 8.00-20.00, October - April 8.00-18.00) and on ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 39 (open: daily May - September 8.00-20.00, October - April 9.00-18.00). General tourist information can be obtained by phone: 022-9431 and on the website www.warsawtour.pl.

Krakow

“Poland will be brilliant, powerful, independent!” - F. Chopin wrote in his diary when he learned about the suppression of the uprising for the independence of Poland. Today these words have become reality.

Brief characteristics of modern Poland

Official name
It borders with Russia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany. It is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea.
Capital- Warsaw.
Largest cities– Warsaw, Lodz, Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan, Gdansk, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Lublin.
Form of government- parliamentary republic.
Head of State- the president.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.
Territory– 312,679 km².
Population– 38,383,809 people. Poland is considered one of the most mononational states in the world: 96.74% of the country's population are Poles.
Climate– moderate, transitional from maritime to continental with mild (cold in the mountains) winters and warm (cool in the mountains) summers.
Administrative division– 16 voivodeships, which are divided into powiats (districts), and powiats into gminas (communities).

Economy- industrial-agrarian country. The main industries in Poland are mechanical engineering, ferrous metallurgy, coal, textile and chemical industries. Automobile and shipbuilding, production of fertilizers, petroleum products, machine tools, electrical engineering and electronics are developing. In Poland, hard and brown coal, copper, zinc, lead, sulfur, natural gas, table salt are mined, and logging is carried out.
In Poland, highly developed Agriculture. Agriculture is dominated by crop production. Main grain crops: rye, wheat, barley, oats.
Poland is a major producer of sugar beets, potatoes, and cabbage. The export of apples, strawberries, raspberries, currants, garlic, and onions is important.
The leading branch of livestock farming is pig farming; Dairy and beef cattle breeding, poultry farming, and beekeeping are developed. Sea fishing and reindeer husbandry (deer and red deer in the Lublin Voivodeship).
Poland exports fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy products, and imports wheat, feed grains, and vegetable oil. The country is a major producer of potatoes, sugar beets, rapeseed, grain, pork and poultry in Europe.
Currency– Polish zloty.
Religion – the most influential religion in the country is Christianity (Roman Catholicism), which is professed by 75 to 95% of the population. The 264th Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) was Pole.
Sport- popular and developed. Polish athletes and boxers achieved the greatest success at the Olympics compared to other sports.

National Stadium in Warsaw

Education. Preschool education – up to 7 years.
Secondary education is compulsory until the age of 18. The basis of the education system is the 12-year school, in which the first 8 grades constitute the primary level. Four senior classes form the lyceum. There are two types of lyceums: general education and technical. Particular attention is paid to the development of vocational and technical schools. A lyceum diploma is a necessary condition for entering a university.
After 1989, numerous non-government primary and secondary schools were opened. These include private and parochial schools, as well as “public” schools, which are partially paid for by financial donations.
The state higher education system includes classical universities and specialized universities. There are differences between these two types of higher education institutions when it comes to newly established or small institutions that do not have the right to award doctoral degrees. A special place is occupied by the Catholic University in Lublin, which was previously recognized, funded and supported by the state.
As in other European countries, universities are more prestigious among universities. The largest number of universities are located in Warsaw, Krakow, Breslau and Poznan.

State symbols of Poland

Flag(national) - consists of two equal horizontal stripes, the top stripe is white and the bottom stripe is red. The ratio of the width and length of the flag is 5:8.

The national flag of Poland also has the coat of arms in the center of the top stripe.

Coat of arms- an image of a white eagle with golden claws and beak, wearing a golden crown, on a red background.
The appearance of the coat of arms was approved by the Constitution of the Republic of Poland in 1997.

Famous Poles

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)

“As long as the Earth remained motionless, astronomy remained motionless,” G. Lichtenberg said about Copernicus.

Monument to N. Copernicus in Warsaw by Thorvaldsen

N. Copernicus- Polish astronomer, mathematician, mechanic, economist, canon of the Renaissance. He is best known as the author of the heliocentric system of the world, which marked the beginning of the first scientific revolution. In addition, Copernicus was a doctor and treated for free everyone who turned to him for help.
He also developed a monetary system for Poland, was involved in the fight against the plague epidemic, organized the successful defense of his bishopric during the war with the crusaders, etc.
He also dealt with issues of monetary circulation and wrote a treatise “On the Minting of Coins” in 1519, where for the first time the economic law he discovered was formulated that “worse money will crowd out better”: according to this principle, money that is more stable in its exchange rate (for example , gold) will be forced out of circulation, as people will accumulate savings in them, and “worse” (for example, copper) money will participate in real circulation (this effect is observed only if the state has established a fixed exchange rate for gold to copper or silver).

Marie Skłodowska-Curie (1867-1934)

Polish-French experimental scientist (physicist, chemist), teacher, public figure. Twice Nobel Prize laureate: in physics (1903) and chemistry (1911), the first two-time Nobel laureate in history. Founded the Curie Institutes in Paris and Warsaw. Pierre Curie's wife worked with him on radioactivity research. Together with her husband, she discovered the elements radium and polonium (from the Latin name for Poland, Polōnia, a tribute to Maria Skłodowska’s homeland).

Janusz Korczak (1878-1942)

Monument to J. Korczak in Warsaw

An outstanding Polish teacher, writer, doctor and public figure. Real name Ersh Henrik Goldschmit. He took his pseudonym in 1898, when he began publishing.
Born in Warsaw into an intelligent family. He devoted his entire life to children: he worked in children's hospitals, summer camps, founded the Orphanage for Jewish children, and directed orphanages. In 1940, together with the pupils of the Orphanage, he was moved to the Warsaw Ghetto. He rejected all offers to take him out of the ghetto and hide him on the “Aryan” side. In the ghetto, he devoted all his energy to caring for the children, heroically obtaining food and medicine for them. In August 1942, an order came for the deportation of the Orphan House. Korczak went with his assistant and friend Stefania Wilczynska, other teachers and about 200 children to the station, from where they were sent in freight cars to Treblinka (a concentration camp in Poland). At the last minute he was offered freedom, he refused it and chose to stay with the children, accepting death with them in the gas chamber.
Korczak owns over 20 books on education, the main ones of which are “How to Love a Child” and “The Child’s Right to Respect.”

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Great Polish composer and pianist. A world-famous composer who made a huge contribution to world piano art, combining depth and sincerity of feelings with grace and technical perfection in his works.
F. Chopin is, to this day, perhaps the most performed composer. In his polonaises, ballads, mazurkas, and nocturnes, Chopin talks about his native country, Poland, about its beauty and tragic past. In his works he uses folk Polish melodic music; his music is very graphic, extremely original and lyrical.

Krzysztof Zanussi (b. 1939)

Polish film director.
Zanussi is called a dispassionate researcher of the morals of the modern Polish intelligentsia, prone to posing the most complex problems.
He directed the films “Crystal Structure”, “Protective Colors”, “Spiral”, “Constant”, “From a Distant Country”, “Pope John Paul II”, “Imperative”, “The Year of the Quiet Sun”, “Wherever I Am.. .”, “Touch of the Hand”, “Brother of Our God”, “Persona non grata”, “Black Sun”, “Heart in the Palm”, “Revisit”, etc.
K. Zanussi works not only in cinema, but also on television; he has staged a number of theater and opera performances in various countries: Poland, Italy, Germany, France, Russia and Switzerland.

Andrzej Wajda (b. 1926)

Polish theater and film director.
During the war, he worked as a draftsman, a loader, a cooper's apprentice, and a storekeeper in German workshops: this saved him from being deported for forced labor in Germany. After the war, he studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, but without completing the course, he entered the directing department of the Lodz Film School. She laid the foundation for the Polish School of Cinematography. The themes of the war were touched upon in the films “Letna”, “Samson”, “Landscape after the battle”, “Korchak”, “Ring with an eagle in the crown”, “Holy Week”, “Katyn”.
I worked a lot on film adaptations: “The Shadow Line” based on the story by D. Conrad, “The Siberian Lady Macbeth” based on N. Leskov, “Demons” based on the novel by F. Dostoevsky, “Pilate and Others” (based on the novel “The Master and Margarita” by M. Bulgakov ), “The Promised Land” based on the novel by V. Reymont, “Pan Tadeusz” based on the poem by A. Mickiewicz.
When A. Wajda received the Kyoto Film Prize in 1987, he donated the entire amount to the creation of a museum of Japanese art in Krakow. The project was created free of charge by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. The Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology was inaugurated on November 30, 1994.

Stanislaw Lem (1921-2006)

Polish writer, satirist, philosopher, science fiction writer and futurist. His books have been translated into 40 languages. He anticipated the creation of virtual reality (the fundamental work “Sum of Technology”), artificial intelligence, developed the ideas of human autoevolution, the creation of artificial worlds, and many others.
He was studying medicine at Lviv University when World War II began. Then he studied medicine at the Jagiellonian University. He began writing stories in his free time to earn money during the difficult post-war times. The first literary success came with the publication of the novel “The Astronauts” in 1951.
S. Lem wrote about the difficulties of communication between humanity and extraterrestrial civilizations far from humans, and about the technological future of humanity. His later works are devoted to an idealistic and utopian society and the problems of human existence in a world that is lost in it due to technological development.
The most famous works of S. Lem: “The Man from Mars” (1946), “Hospital of the Transfiguration” (1948), “The Magellanic Cloud” (1955), “Invasion from Aldebaran”, “Return from the Stars”, “Manuscript Found in the Bathtub” "(1961), "Solaris" (1961), "Cyberiad" (1965), "Absolute Void" (1971), "Imaginary Value" (1973), "Peace on Earth", "Megabit Bomb" (1999), etc. .

Jan Matejko (1838-1893)

Polish painter, author of battle and historical paintings. He studied at the School of Fine Arts in Krakow, the Academy of Arts in Munich and Vienna. From 1860 he worked in Krakow, where he died.
From his youth, he studied the details of historical life, continuously sketched them, and later compiled “The History of Polish Costume.” He considered religious creativity to be his calling. He is the author of multi-figure paintings depicting key episodes in the history of Poland, and portraits of heroes of the past.
His paintings are kept in the National Museum (Warsaw), the National Museum (Krakow), the Lviv Art Gallery, etc. He painted cardboards for stained glass windows, in particular, the stained glass windows of the Cathedral in Lviv were made from his cardboards.

Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855)

Famous Polish poet, political publicist, figure in the national liberation movement. They had a great influence on the formation of Polish and Belarusian literature in the 19th century. In Poland he is considered one of the three greatest Polish poets of the Romantic era (along with J. Słowacki and Z. Krasiński), in Lithuania he is considered a Lithuanian poet.
Born in Novogrudok district (modern Belarus). He graduated from Vilna University and served as a teacher in Kovno.
In Russia, he became close to participants in the Decembrist movement K. Ryleev and A. Bestuzhev, with prominent Russian writers and poets A. Pushkin, A. Delvig, I. Kireevsky, D. Venevitinov, E. Baratynsky. Mitskevich had especially friendly relations with the poet and journalist Prince P. Vyazemsky, who became the first translator of the Crimean Sonnets into Russian. For many years he lived and worked in exile. Mickiewicz concentrated the spirit of his people in himself, and was the first to give Polish poetry the right to have its own voice among other voices in Europe. He is the author of poems, sonnets, and his largest work is the epic poem “Pan Tadeusz,” which he wrote in 1832-1834. The poem creates a nostalgic and humorous image of the colorful, but historically doomed gentry morals. This poem is considered the Polish national epic and a masterpiece of verbal painting.

Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846-1916)

K. Modrasevich “Portrait of G. Sienkiewicz”
Polish writer, Nobel Prize laureate in 1905 “for outstanding services in the field of epic.” Graduated from the Faculty of Medicine and History and Philology of the University of Warsaw. Lived and worked in Europe for some time. Author of the historical trilogy “With Fire and Sword” (1883-1884), “The Flood” (1884-1886), “Pan Volodyovsky” (1887-1888). The epic novel "Quo vadis" ("Camo is Coming") depicts the struggle of early Christians against the despotism of Nero. The novel "Omut" (1909-1910) touches on the events of the Russian Revolution of 1905-1907. During his lifetime, G. Sienkiewicz became one of the most famous and popular writers in Poland and abroad. His work played a big role in the history of Polish culture and received worldwide recognition.

Julian Tuwim (1894-1953)

One of the greatest Polish poets and prose writer. Born into a Polish Jewish family in the city of Lodz. He graduated from school there and in 1916-1918. studied jurisprudence and philosophy at the University of Warsaw. In poetry he often used colloquial, everyday language. He was one of the founders of the experimental literary group Scamander in 1919. Since 1924, Tuwim wrote a weekly column in the Literary News newspaper. He sharply criticized fascism. After the outbreak of World War II, Tuwim fled Poland to Romania, then moved to France, Portugal, Brazil and the United States. In 1946 he returned to Poland.
Translated works of Russian and Soviet literature into Polish (“The Tale of Igor’s Campaign”; “Woe from Wit” by A. S. Griboedov; poetry by A. S. Pushkin, V. V. Mayakovsky, B. L. Pasternak). He is better known to Russian readers for his poems for children translated by S. Marshak and S. Mikhalkov.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Poland

Historical city center of Krakow (ancient capital of Poland)

It belongs to the historical and geographical region of Galicia and, historically, is one of its capitals along with Lviv.
The city consists of an inner city and 7 suburbs. Here are the remains of a 15th century fortress; 39 churches, many chapels, 25 monasteries, 7 synagogues.

Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas

Cathedral of the Krakow Archdiocese of the Catholic Church of Poland. On the site of the current temple there were two other buildings: the cathedral church of St. Wenceslas (built in 1020 and destroyed by the Czech prince Břetislav in 1038) and the three-nave church of the bishop and holy great martyr Stanislav Szczepanovsky, consecrated in 1142. This building also fell victim to a fire in 1305, leaving only the crypt of St. Leonarda.
A few years later they began to build a third, already Gothic, temple. Since Krakow remained the capital of Poland until 1609, the cathedral also served as a court temple, and the kings of Poland were buried in underground tombs.

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Catholic parish church of Gothic architecture. The first stone church in the Romanesque style was founded in 1221-1222. Bishop Ivo Odrovong on the site of the former wooden church. Soon the church was destroyed as a result of Tatar raids.
In 1290-1300, partly on the same foundation, an early Gothic hall temple was built; construction work continued until the 1320s. As a result of the earthquake of 1443 (or 1442), the vault of the temple was partially damaged. At the end of the 15th century. The church acquired one of its main decorations - a sculptural masterpiece of late Gothic - the Great Altar (sculptor Wit Stwosz).

Czartoryski Museum

Art collection as part of the National Museum in Krakow. Founded in 1878 as a continuation of the first art museum in Poland, established in 1796 by Princess Isabella Czartoryska on the grounds of the Czartoryski residence in Puławy. The most significant exhibits were brought to Puławy from Italy by Isabella’s son, Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, in 1798. These include “Lady with an Ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci and “Portrait of a Young Man” by Raphael (lost during the Second World War). The painting is the only work by da Vinci in Poland and is a source of national pride.

Jagiellonian University

One of the university buildings
The Academy of Sciences is also located in the building of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. The Jagiellonian Library contains approximately 300,000 volumes and 5,000 manuscripts.

Salt mine in Wieliczka

The rock salt deposit in the city of Wieliczka, which was developed from the 13th to the 20th centuries. The mine reflects the development of salt mining methods and technologies over seven centuries. It consists of corridors and galleries on seven underground levels at depths from 57 m to 198 m with a total length of more than 200 km.

Auschwitz

Main gate of the Birkenau camp (Auschwitz 2)

Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp is a complex of German concentration camps located in 1940-1945. near the city of Auschwitz, which in 1939 was annexed by Hitler’s decree to the territory of the Third Reich, 60 km west of Krakow. In world practice, it is customary to use the German name “Auschwitz” rather than the Polish “Auschwitz”, since it was the German name that was used by the Nazi administration.

Crematorium ovens

About 1,300,000 people, of whom about 1,000,000 were Jews, were killed at Auschwitz between 1941 and 1945. Auschwitz was the largest and longest-lasting of the Nazi extermination camps, making it one of the main symbols of the Holocaust.
On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops under the command of Marshal Konev entered Auschwitz, which at that moment contained about 7.6 thousand prisoners.
A museum was created on the territory of the camp in 1947.

Historical center of Warsaw

The symbol of Warsaw is the mermaid Sawa
The center of Warsaw was almost completely destroyed by the Nazis as a result of the bombing of 1939 and the suppression of the uprising of 1944. Warsaw was liberated on January 17, 1945 by Soviet troops as a result of the Vistula-Oder operation. Warsaw's Old Town is an exception on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as it is the only architectural ensemble almost completely restored after destruction. The restoration work was so successful that it earned recognition from the international community. One of the attractions of the Old Town is the Royal Palace.

Royal Palace

The palace was built in 1598-1618. King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Vasa on the site of the medieval castle of the Mazovian princes. It was erected on an artificial hill, had the shape of a pentagon and stood out against the background of urban development with the 60-meter Sigismund Tower, the prototype of which, according to some authors, was the fortifications of Smolensk.
After World War II, the place where the castle once stood was empty until 1971, when the Sejm finally decided to restore the palace based on surviving fragments and photographs. Restoration work continued until 1988.

Old part of Zamość

Market Square
The city was founded in 1580 during the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by the State Chancellor and Great Hetman Jan Zamoyski as the center of his hereditary latifundia. It was built according to the design of the Venetian architect Bernardo Morando, who gave the city the style of the Italian Renaissance. For this, the city was called “Northern Padua”. In 1594, Jan Zamoyski opened an Academy in the city on the model of Italian universities, but in 1774 the academy was turned into a lyceum by the Austrian government.

Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (Marienburg)

The Order Castle Marienburg gave rise to the city of the same name. Served as the residence of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order from 1309 to 1456. This is the largest medieval brick castle in the world, one of the standards of brick Gothic.
The castle in honor of the Virgin Mary was founded by the Teutonic knights on the banks of the Nogat (the mouth of the Vistula) in 1274.
In 1410, Malbork was besieged by Polish-Lithuanian troops led by King Władysław II Jagiello during the Battle of Grunwald.
In 1457, during the Thirteen Years' War, the castle was sold to the Polish king Casimir Jagiellon.
During the Napoleonic Wars, Marienburg housed an arsenal and barracks.
The Second World War left the castle in smoking ruins.

Medieval city of Toruń

The city has preserved striking examples of brick Gothic architecture: St. Mary's Church, Toruń Town Hall, Teutonic Order Castle, Copernicus House, town houses. In 1853, a monument to Copernicus, a native of Toruń, was erected in the center of the Old Town.
The city dates back to the 13th century, when the Teutonic Order built a fortress here to Christianize Prussia. The settlement near the castle was named Torun and acquired city rights in 1233. In 1250-1260. Franciscans and Dominicans settled here. In the XIV century. the city joined the Hanseatic League.
The old city is separated by a moat and a river; the city walls with numerous gates have also been preserved. In the center is the Old Market Square with the Town Hall.

House of Nicolaus Copernicus

This house is considered the most likely birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus. The modern museum buildings were built in late Gothic style. House No. 17 was owned by the Copernicus family between 1464 and 1474. The father of Nicolaus Copernicus carried out reconstruction in the late Gothic style around 1480. Subsequent reconstructions of the facade and interior were carried out in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Museum "House of Nicolaus Copernicus" was opened on June 5, 1960. After the opening of the museum in 1960-1963. Restoration work was carried out in building No. 17, which returned the building to its original medieval appearance.

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: monastery architectural and park complex

A religious complex in the town of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, including Mannerist buildings, gardens and a park. Erected in the 17th century.
The construction of the complex was supposed to represent the appearance of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus. The 24 chapels represent the Passion of Christ and the 14 Stations of the Cross, connected by a road through the forest and marked with crosses. These crosses in 1605-1632. were replaced by chapels in the Mannerist style typical of the Low Countries of that time. In 1632, the complex was surrounded by a wall and a network of paths was laid connecting 10 chapels related to the theme of the Virgin Mary.
Subsequently, 9 more chapels were added, and the “Bridge of Angels” was replaced by a building in 1907.

Churches of Peace in the cities of Jawor and Świdnica

The Churches of the World are the largest wooden sacred buildings in Europe. Churches of the world were built in the second half of the 17th century. after the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which ended the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). Under pressure from Protestant Sweden, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III of Habsburg (Catholic by religion) granted the Silesian Evangelical Lutherans the right to build three churches on the territory under his direct control.
The emperor's consent contained a number of additional restrictions:
churches were to be built only from short-lived materials (wood, straw, clay, sand);
churches could only be built outside the city, but no further than a cannon shot from the city walls;
churches were not supposed to have towers, bells, or have a traditional shape;
churches had to be built within one year;
the construction was to be carried out exclusively with Protestant money;
It was forbidden to open parochial schools at churches.

In total, three churches were built: in Glogow, Jawor and Świdnica. Two of them have survived to this day: the Glogow church burned down in 1758 after a lightning strike.

Wooden churches in Southern Lesser Poland

Wooden churches of the south of Lesser Poland are a group of historically valuable and architecturally interesting wooden churches located in the south and east of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship and in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship.
Most of the churches are built in the form of a log house and represent architectural styles from Gothic to Renaissance, Baroque and more modern styles. The style of some of the buildings was influenced by the proximity of the Greek Catholic and Orthodox worlds: many have distinctive domes and are built in the shape of a Greek cross.
The earliest buildings were built in the 14th century. The churches have survived to this day in good condition and are the second oldest cluster of wooden churches in Europe after the Norwegian frame churches.

Mužakowski Park in Lenknica (Prince Pückler Park in Bad Muskau)

New Palace in Bad Muskau

The largest English landscape park in Central Europe, on the border between Germany and Poland. Two thirds of the park are located east of the border river Neisse and since 1945 belong to the Polish Lenknice. Both parts of the park are connected by a bridge over the Neisse.
Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau wanted to decorate his city with a magnificent and large park. To do this, he went to England, where he studied the latest trends in park art. The design of the park began in 1815. Later, Pückler’s student Eduard Petzold took over the park, since already in 1845 Prince Pückler was forced to sell Muskau for debts.
Today, on the territory of the park there is the Muskau Palace, renovated by Pückler - the New Palace, the Museum of Renaissance Architecture - the Old Palace, the ancient Tropical House with cacti, the Cavalier House to house the courtyard, which now houses the mud clinic, the bathing and mountain areas of the park, the palace park, as well as the built greenhouse in Moorish style.

Centenary Hall in Wroclaw

The Centenary Hall, or People's Hall, is a visual and sports hall located in Szczytnicki Park in Wroclaw in honor of the centenary of the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig in 1813. Built in 1911-1913. designed by the architect Max Berg in the early modernist style. At the time of its creation, the Hall was an exceptional facility. It had the widest reinforced concrete floors in the world. The hall was 42 m high, and the dome crowning it was 67 m in diameter. The Centenary Hall survived World War II without major damage, but the organ was damaged.
The Hall hosts major fairs, opera performances (the Wagner Opera Festival took place in October 2006), and the Hall was used for basketball competitions for several seasons. In 1997, it hosted the Eucharistic Congress with the participation of Pope John Paul II.

Natural attractions of Poland

Tatras

The highest part of the Carpathians, located in Slovakia (3/4 of the area) and Poland.
Both the Polish and Slovak sides of the mountains are protected by the Slovak and Polish Tatra National Nature Reserves, which have been cooperating since 1954. In 1993, the Tatras were included in the list of UNESCO biosphere reserves.
Now the Tatras are open for tourism and skiing. The tourist center on the Polish side is the city. It is considered the highest city in Poland and is a popular ski resort. Zakopane has the largest ski jump in the country - Wielka Krokiew.

Bieszczady

Mountains in Poland and Ukraine, part of the large “bow” of the Eastern Carpathians. Bieszczady is home to the Bieszczady National Nature Reserve, Poland's third largest national park. Forests cover about 80% of the Bieszczady territory and mostly retain their pristine appearance. About 780 species of vascular plants, 250 species of mosses, 500 species of lichens and 1000 species of fungi grow in the Bieszczady Park. 30 species are endemic to the Eastern Carpathians. More than 230 species of vertebrates live. Mammals such as brown bears, wolves, wild boars, beavers, lynxes, and bison are abundant (about 100 individuals live in the Bieszczady Mountains).
The territory of the park is sparsely populated, which ensures free movement of animals.

Ojcowski (national park)

National park in southern Poland. Created on January 14, 1956. The smallest park in Poland with an area of ​​only 21.46 km², more than half of which is occupied by forests. The park is famous for its rock formations. One of these formations (“Hercules Mace”) is a 25 m high limestone column. There are about 400 caves in Ojcow Park.
About 4,600 species of insects, 35 species of birds and 15 species of bats live here. Mammals: beavers, stoats and badgers.

Lynxes

A mountain located on the Polish-Slovak border in the High Tatras. It has three peaks, of which the highest is the middle one, it is located on the territory of Slovakia (2503 m), and the northern one is the highest point in Poland (2499 m).

Masurian Lake District

Lake plateau in northeastern Poland, forming the southeastern part of the Baltic ridge between the lower reaches of the Vistula River and the middle part of the Neman River basin. The dominant terrain is glacial-accumulative, with a large number of moraine hills up to 317 m high and inter-moraine basins, often occupied by lakes (about 2,700 lakes in total) connected by numerous rivers. The most famous are the Masurian Lakes.

Wielkopolski (national park)

National park in central Poland. It was created in 1957. The current area is 75.84 km², of which 46.17 km² is covered by forests; 4.62 km² is occupied by inland waters (mainly lakes) and 25.05 km² is occupied by other types of land. About 70% of the forests are pine. Home to about 190 bird species, 40 mammal species, 5 reptile species and all amphibian species in Poland.

Other sights of Poland

Majdanek

Death camp of the Third Reich on the outskirts of the Polish city of Lublin. Currently it is a museum institution.
The order to create the camp was given on July 20, 1941 by G. Himmler. It was about creating a concentration camp designed for 25-50 thousand prisoners, who were supposed to work on the construction of buildings for the SS and police. After the capture of a huge number of Soviet prisoners of war in an encirclement near Kiev, plans were changed: “According to orders from Berlin, prisoner of war camps should be immediately created in Lublin and Auschwitz, designed for 50 thousand each...”. About 150,000 prisoners visited the camp, about 80,000 were killed, of which 60,000 were Jews.
The mass extermination of people in gas chambers began in 1942. Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) was first used as a poisonous gas, and from April 1942, Zyklon B. Majdanek was one of two death camps of the Third Reich where this gas was used (the second - Auschwitz).
The death camp was liquidated by the Red Army on July 22, 1944.

Ergo Arena

Indoor multifunctional arena. Located on the border of the cities of Sopot and Gdansk. Opened on August 18, 2010. Capacity is approximately 15,000 seats.

Palace of Culture and Science (Warsaw)

The tallest building in Poland. Built on the model of “Stalin’s high-rise buildings” as a gift from the Soviet Union to the Polish people (built with Soviet money by Soviet builders). Today, the palace is one of the ten tallest skyscrapers in the European Union, and from 1955 to 1957. it was the tallest building in Europe. The author of the project is Soviet architect Lev Rudnev. The architecture of the building is a mixture of Art Deco, Socialist Realism and Polish Historicism styles.
The height of the 42-story skyscraper is 167.68 m, including the spire - 230.68 meters. The building has 3288 rooms. On the 30th floor of the building (at an altitude of 114 m) there is a terrace with an observation deck that is free to visit, offering a panoramic view of the city.
Today it is an office building and exhibition center, the headquarters of a number of companies and government agencies. It houses cinemas, museums, bookstores, scientific institutes, swimming pools, a theater and the largest conference hall in Poland, capable of accommodating 3,000 people.

Westerplatte

A peninsula on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea near Gdansk (Danzig), where the heroic defense of the Polish Military Transit Depot took place from September 1 to 7, 1939. Germany's claims to the city became the main reason for the attack on Poland. On September 1, 1939, the Germans announced the inclusion of Danzig into the Reich and began to liquidate all Polish institutions on its territory. The main ones were the Polish Post Office and the Military Transit Depot, which were the first targets of the German offensive in World War II.

National Museum (Warsaw)

Museum of Art. Founded in 1862 under the name "Museum of Fine Arts". In 1916, the museum became the property of the city of Warsaw and received the name “National Museum”.
The museum building was built in 1927-1938. designed by architects Tolvinsky and Dygat,
During World War II, the Nazis took away a significant part of the collection. During the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, a significant part of the remaining exhibits was destroyed.
In 1961-1964. Polish scientists under the direction of prof. K. Michalovsky conducted archaeological excavations in Faras (northern Sudan), from where they brought a rich collection of art of ancient Coptic Christians.
Currently, the museum's collection is a collection of works of art from antiquity to the 20th century.

St. Anne – fresco from the Coptic temple in Faras (Sudan)

Polish Theater in Warsaw

It arose in 1913, when Warsaw was still part of the Russian Empire. It became the property of the state only in October 1945 (before that it was a private theater).

Cloth Hall (Krakow)

The building, located in the center of Krakow's Market Square, was built as a shopping arcade for the former capital of Poland.
In 1257, King Bolesław V the Bashful built a double row of cloth trading establishments from stone in the middle of the market square. They were rebuilt several times. In 1875-1879 The cloth rows were rebuilt according to the design of the architect Prylinsky. There are pointed neo-Gothic arches around the building. The capitals of the arcade columns were made according to designs by Jan Matejko.
Today, the top floor houses the exhibition halls of the National Museum of Krakow.

Jasna Gora

Catholic monastery in the Polish city of Czestochowa. The monastery belongs to the monastic order of the Paulines. The Jasnogorsk Monastery is famous for the Czestochowa Icon of the Mother of God kept here, which is revered by Catholics as the greatest relic. Jasna Gora is the main site of religious pilgrimage in Poland.

Biskupin

An ancient settlement of the Lusatian culture, located on one of the peninsulas of Lake Biskupin.
In 1933, archaeologists J. Kostrzewski and Z. Raevski discovered traces of an ancient settlement on one of the lake’s peninsulas. Wooden buildings dating back to approximately 550 BC. e., perfectly preserved. This made it possible for archaeologists to recreate the appearance of houses, fences, and the technology of their construction.
The settlement of Biskupin took place from the mid-Bronze Age, around the 14th century. BC e. until the period of the Early Iron Age, or around the 5th century. BC e.

The settlement was surrounded by a high fence on an earthen foundation. The outer walls are made of wood, the inside is filled with earth. The houses (there were about 105 of them) stood very close to each other and actually formed 13 long streets. Their structure was simple: a canopy, a fireplace in the center of the home, and beds to the left. There could be livestock in the canopy in winter.
Finds indicate that the inhabitants were mainly engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding, iron processing, fishing, hunting, gathering, etc.
During archaeological excavations, about 6 million different objects were found: nets, looms, wheels, boats, a large number of various dishes, including ceramics. Some finds indicate trade relations with the Scythian tribes of the Northern Black Sea region.
Now the Biskupinskoye settlement is an open-air museum. Here you can see the restored streets and houses of the fort, and archaeological treasures put on public display. In summer, archaeological festivals are held here.

Museum of the Polish Army

Hussar armor, 17th century.

Dedicated to the history of the armed forces of Poland from the emergence of the Old Polish state to the Second World War.
Founded by Józef Pilsudski in 1920. Contains a rich collection of ancient weapons, banners of the Polish legions and uprisings from the era of the partitions of Poland. Among the museum's exhibits are a gilded helmet of a warrior from the time of Boleslaw I, swords, saddles and armor of kings and generals, a Gothic reliquary - the Jogaila trophy after the Battle of Grunwald, an authentic saddle of Napoleon I from the time of the Egyptian campaign and his hat, personal belongings of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, military equipment of the 20th century.
In the courtyard of the museum there is an exhibition of military equipment. There are branches: the Museum of Polish Military Technologies and the Katyn Museum in the Chernyakiv Fort (opened in 1993).

PGE Arena (Gdansk)

Football stadium in Gdansk, one of the arenas where Euro 2012 matches were held. The stadium's capacity is about 44 thousand spectators.
From the outside, the stadium resembles the amber found on the Baltic coast.

Crooked House (Sopot)

It was built in 2004 in Sopot according to the design of architects Shotinski and Zalewski.
The architects were inspired by drawings by artists Jan Marcin Schanzer and Per Oskar Dahlberg.
The usable area of ​​the building is about 4000 m². This is part of the Resident shopping center. On the ground floor there are retail premises, a restaurant and a slot machine salon. On the second floor there are studios “Radio RMF FM” and “Radio RMF MAXXX”.

History of Poland

At the beginning of our era, the territory of Poland was inhabited by the Germanic tribes of the Sciri and Lugians. Then – the Goths of the Wielbar culture. At the end of the 1st millennium, Western glades, Lendzians, Kuyawis, Pomeranians, Mazovsans, Vistulas, Slzyans, etc. were known on its territory. Gradually, proto-state associations emerged on the basis of large tribal principalities.

Gniezno Poland (877-1320)

In 877, after the conquest of Lesser Poland by Great Moravia, Greater Poland remained the center of formation of the Polish state; the capital was the city of Gniezno. The first known ruler of Poland was the Greater Poland prince Mieszko I from the Piast family (960-992); in 966 he converted to Christianity according to the Western rite. Under his son, Boleslav the Brave, the Polish Principality reached the pinnacle of power. Boleslav became related to the Kyiv prince Svyatopolk the Accursed and, supporting him against his brother Yaroslav the Wise, occupied Kyiv in 1018; in 1025 he takes the title of king.
Bolesław II the Bold (1058-1079) completely revived the former power of Poland and again assumed the royal title; in 1068, supporting his relative Izyaslav Yaroslavich, he also took possession of Kiev. He was overthrown by a conspiracy; but under Boleslav III Wrymouth (1102-1138) the Old Polish state reached its final flourishing.

Jan Matejko "Portrait of Bolesław III"
After his death, as in the same years in Rus' after the death of Vladimir Monomakh, feudal fragmentation began in Poland.

Krakow Poland (1320-1569)

In 1320, the Kuyavian prince Władysław Łokietek, having annexed Greater Poland to his possessions, was crowned Polish king in Krakow. From now on, Krakow becomes the new capital of Poland. Under his successor, Casimir III the Great, Poland flourished. In 1349, Galicia was annexed to Poland.
In 1385, a Polish-Lithuanian union was concluded in Kreva, according to which Jagiello (Grand Duke of Lithuania) was baptized according to the Catholic rite, introduced Catholicism as the state religion in Lithuania, married Jadwiga and ascended the Polish throne under the name of Vladislav II.

Jagiello. Portrait by Marcello Baciarelli

This is how the Polish-Lithuanian state arose in the East of Europe. Under Jogaila, the infringement of the Orthodox population of the Russian lands captured by the Poles began. Jagiello handed over the Orthodox cathedral in Przemysl to the Catholics, marking the beginning of the Catholicization and Polonization of this city.
In 1454, according to the Nieszawa Statutes, Poland became a republic, where the highest power belonged to the Sejm.
In 1505, the Nihil novi law was passed, limiting the power of the king in favor of the gentry. Since that time, the term Rzeczpospolita has become commonly used in relation to the Polish system of government.
Since 1562, Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian alliance found themselves drawn into the fierce, lengthy and devastating Livonian War for both sides.

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569-1795)

According to the Union of Lublin (1569), Poland formed a united confederal state with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, headed by the Sejm and the king chosen by it. The state received the name “Rzeczpospolita” (Polish literally “republic”). The era of elected kings began. In 1586, the Poles elected the Swedish king Sigismund III Vasa.

Portrait of Sigismund III Vase by Jan Matejko
He soon lost the Swedish throne because of his Catholic fanaticism. Three important events are associated with his reign: the transfer of the capital from Krakow to Warsaw in 1596; The Brest Union of the Orthodox and Catholic churches (1596), which ended traditional Polish religious tolerance and created the preconditions for the Khmelnitsky uprising and Polish intervention in Russia during the Time of Troubles.

Polish intervention in Russia during the Time of Troubles (1605-1818)

The Polish magnates Mnishek supported the impostor False Dmitry and supplied him with an army of Zaporozhye Cossacks and Polish volunteers. In 1604, an army invaded Russia, the cities and armies sent to meet it swore allegiance to the new tsar. In 1605, the impostor entered Moscow and was crowned, but was soon killed.
The impostor promised the Polish king Sigismund III to return Smolensk in payment for his help. Sigismund in 1610 begins the siege of Smolensk. The army of Vasily Shuisky was defeated by Hetman Zholkiewsky, and the Poles approached Moscow, and the troops of the new impostor False Dmitry II besieged it on the other side. Shuisky was overthrown and subsequently extradited to Zholkiewsky. The Moscow boyars swore allegiance to Sigismund's young son Vladislav, and then allowed the Polish garrison into Moscow. Sigismund did not want to let his son go to Moscow and baptize him into Orthodoxy (as was supposed under the terms of the agreement), but tried to rule Moscow personally. The result was the unification of the former “Tushino thieves” - the Cossacks with the nobles of Shuisky against the Poles (early 1611) and their joint campaign against Moscow, supported by an uprising in Moscow itself, which the Poles were able to suppress only by setting the city on fire. The siege of Moscow by the first militia was unsuccessful due to contradictions in its ranks. The campaign of the second militia, led by Minin and Pozharsky, put the Poles in a critical situation. Sigismund, who took Smolensk, disbanded his army, unable to support it. On November 1, 1612 (new style), the militia took Kitai-gorod, the Poles took refuge in the Kremlin. On November 5, the Poles signed a capitulation, releasing the Moscow boyars and other nobles from the Kremlin, and surrendered the next day.

Khmelnitsky uprising (1648-1654)

N. Ivasyuk “Entry of Bogdan Khmelnitsky into Kyiv”

The war was fought under the slogans of liberation of the Orthodox population from social, national and religious oppression in the society of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The uprising was led by the hetman of the grassroots Zaporozhye Cossacks and colonel of the Zaporozhye Army Bogdan Khmelnytsky. The uprising was supported by the Orthodox population of Ukraine and Belarus.

Russian-Polish War (1654-1667)

Military conflict between Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth for control over Western Russian lands. It began in 1654. At the first stage of the war, the Russian-Cossack army advanced to the west, almost realizing the centuries-old goal - the unification of Rus' around Moscow and the restoration of the Old Russian state within its former borders.
But the invasion of Sweden into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Swedish-Lithuanian union led to the conclusion of a temporary Vilna truce with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the beginning of the Russian-Swedish War of 1656-1658. The war ended in 1667 with the signing of the Truce of Andrusovo by the weakened parties, which legally secured the split of the Hetmanate along the Dnieper. In addition to Left Bank Ukraine with Kiev, Smolensk went to Russia.
The Swedish invasion of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1655-1660. caused enormous damage to it and led to the conclusion of the Vilna Truce in the Russian-Polish War of 1654-1667. and the joint struggle of the warring parties against the threatening hegemony of the Swedes.
In the era Seven Years' War (1756-1763) Poland turns into a battlefield between the Prussians and their opponents. Frederick II of Prussia cherished the hope of partitioning Poland. In 1764, Stanislav August Poniatowski was elected king of Poland under Russian pressure. In fact, a Russian protectorate is established over Poland. Poniatowski was an educated and intelligent man, but he lacked the political will to act in such a difficult situation. Russia, with the support of Prussia, forced him to equalize the rights of Orthodox and Protestants with Catholics and to cancel the reforms that had begun; Catherine proclaimed herself the guarantor of the “liberum veto”. The gentry's response was to launch a partisan war against Russian troops.

Partitions of Poland

In 1772, the first division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place between Prussia, Austria and Russia, according to which Galicia went to Austria, West Prussia went to Prussia, and the eastern part of Belarus (Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk, Dvinsk) went to Russia. In 1793, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was divided between Prussia and Russia. In March 1794, the national liberation uprising of Kościuszko began. Kosciuszko was defeated at Maciejowice and captured; the Warsaw suburb of Prague was taken by storm by Suvorov; Warsaw capitulated. After this, the third partition occurred (according to an agreement between Russia, Prussia and Austria in 1795), and Poland as a state ceased to exist.
For more than 100 years, Poland did not have its own statehood; Polish lands were part of other states: Russia, Prussia and Austria.

Duchy of Warsaw (1807-1813)

Napoleon, having defeated Prussia, created the Duchy of Warsaw as a vassal to France from part of its Polish lands. Russia recognized this principality, led by the Saxon king Frederick Augustus, loyal to Napoleon, and received the Bialystok region. In 1809, after a victorious war with Austria (in which the Poles also participated), Lesser Poland and Krakow were annexed to the Duchy of Warsaw.
The next partition of Poland took place in 1814-1815. at the Congress of Vienna between Austria, Prussia and Russia. Most of the former Duchy of Warsaw was transferred to Russia, the Poznan region to Prussia, Krakow was declared a “free city”.

Kingdom of Poland (1815-1915)

In 1815, Poland, as part of Russia, received its own constitution, which bound Poland and Russia in a personal union and allowed Poland to choose a diet, its own government and have its own army. First, Kosciuszko's old comrade General Zayonchek was appointed governor of Poland, then the tsar's brother, Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich. The Constitution, relatively liberal at first, later became restrictive. A legal opposition appeared in the Polish Sejm, and secret political societies arose. In November 1830, the November Uprising broke out in Warsaw, suppressing which in 1831, Nicholas I revoked the constitution granted to Poland in 1815.

After the death of Nicholas I, the liberation movement rose with renewed vigor. During the Revolution of 1905-1907. In Russia, revolutionary uprisings also took place in the Kingdom of Poland. The Polish Socialist Party of Józef Pilsudski, which organized a number of strikes at industrial enterprises in the Kingdom of Poland, gained increasing influence.

World War I

After the outbreak of the First World War on August 14, 1914, Nicholas II promised, after victory in the war, to unite the Kingdom of Poland with the Polish lands that would be taken from Germany and Austria-Hungary into an autonomous state within the Russian Empire. In 1915, the territory of Russian Poland was occupied by Germany and Austria-Hungary. On November 5, 1916, the German and Austro-Hungarian emperors published a manifesto on the creation of an independent Kingdom of Poland in the Russian part of Poland.

Polish Republic (1918-1939)

The Treaty of Versailles in 1919 transferred to Poland most of the German province of Posen, as well as part of Pomerania, which gave the country access to the Baltic Sea; Danzig (Gdansk) received the status of a “free city”.
In 1919, the Soviet-Polish war began, which went on with varying degrees of success.
In 1926, after a coup d'etat, an authoritarian regime was established in Poland led by Józef Pilsudski.
On June 15, 1931, the USSR and Poland entered into a Treaty of Friendship and Trade Cooperation. On January 25, 1932, the USSR and Poland signed a Non-Aggression Pact.
On January 26, 1934, Poland and Germany signed a Non-Aggression Pact for a period of 10 years. On November 4, 1935, Poland and Germany signed an Economic Cooperation Agreement.
On March 21, 1939, Germany demanded that Poland hand over the free city of Danzig to it and open a “Polish corridor” for it to ensure Poland’s access to the Baltic Sea. Poland rejected all German demands.
On March 28, 1939, Hitler broke the Non-Aggression Pact with Poland.
On August 23, 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union entered into a non-aggression pact. According to the secret additional protocol to the agreement on the delimitation of spheres of mutual interests in Eastern Europe in the event of “territorial and political reorganization”, it was provided for the inclusion of Eastern Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Bessarabia in the sphere of interests of the USSR, Lithuania and western Poland in the sphere of interests of Germany.

The Second World War

On September 1, 1939, the troops of the Third Reich invade Poland. By September 16, the Germans are 150-200 km from the Soviet border. Warsaw is surrounded.
On September 17, Soviet troops invade Poland and occupy Western Belarus and Ukraine. On September 27, Warsaw fell and the Polish army effectively ceased resistance. On October 5, the last major Polish formation of General Kleeberg capitulated.
The territorial division of Poland between the USSR and Germany was completed on September 28, 1939 with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Border between the USSR and Germany. As a result of the division of Polish territory between Germany and the USSR, the Soviet borders moved far to the west, and the USSR began to border on Lithuania.

Polish People's Republic (1944-1989)

In 1948, the Polish United Workers' Party under the leadership of Boleslaw Bierut became the ruling party. In 1956, after the 20th Congress of the CPSU, Bierut was dismissed and his place was taken by Władysław Gomułka. In 1968, after the suppression of student demonstrations and the proclamation of a chauvinist “anti-Zionist” campaign, after rising prices for consumer goods and the resulting strikes and mass unrest in Gdańsk, Gdynia and Szczecin, Gomulka was replaced Edward Gierek.

Gierek's government actively took out loans from the West and the USSR, which initially contributed to economic growth, but by the end of the 1970s, making the debt burden unbearable, plunged the country into a socio-economic crisis. The government was losing control of the situation. In February 1981, the Minister of Defense, General Wojciech Jaruzelski, was appointed prime minister, and in October - general secretary of the party, concentrating in his hands three posts of the highest national importance. On December 12-13, 1981, Jaruzelski introduced martial law (valid until July 1983)

Modern Poland

Gorbachev's perestroika policy weakened the influence of the USSR on Poland, which led to changes in the country. Prime Minister T. Mazowiecki and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance L. Balcerowicz began market and democratic reforms: liberalization of prices and privatization of state property. Jaruzelski became the president of the country.
In 1990-1995 During Walesa's presidency, the main market institutions were created. In 1995-2005 - Kwasniewski's presidency. Poland joined the European Union.

Capital of Poland. Warsaw.

Poland Square. 312,685 km2.

Population of Poland. 38,634 thousand people

Location of Poland. Poland is a state in Central Europe. In the north it borders with Russia, in the east - with, and, in the south - with and, in the west - with. In the north it is washed.

Administrative divisions of Poland. Poland is divided into 16 voivodeships, 373 powiats and 2,468 communes.

Form of government of Poland. Republic.

Head of State of Poland. President, elected for a term of 5 years.

Supreme legislative body of Poland. The People's Assembly is a bicameral parliament (Sejm and Senate), term of office is 4 years.

Supreme executive body of Poland. Government.

Major cities in Poland. Lodz, Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan.

Official language of Poland. Polish.

Currency of Poland. Zloty = 100 groschen.

Useful information for tourists

When entering the church, you should bow your head or kneel and cross yourself, therefore, when entering the interior, you should carefully monitor the parishioners ahead so as not to bump into them. The service can be watched either from the back rows or from the side aisles. Filming in churches is not prohibited, but the use of flashes or other devices that interfere with the service is not allowed - this is usually indicated by a special sign at the entrance to the church: a crossed-out camera with a flash. The only exceptions are mass celebrations (weddings, first communion, etc.), when all types of filming are officially permitted. In churches-museums with paid entrance, you need to pay separately for filming. In museums, all types of filming are usually paid; to carry them out, you need to purchase special tickets for photo or video filming (slightly more expensive).

Almost all excursions are conducted in Polish (although you can pre-order service in Russian or English), so it is better to buy a guidebook or a special tourist card in advance. The crime rate is still high, so you need to be very careful in crowded places and in crowded areas. It is not recommended to carry large amounts of cash with you. The international passport and securities should also be kept in a place inaccessible to unauthorized persons.

Tips in a restaurant are 10% of the bill, but if they are included in the cost of services, it is recommended to simply round up the bill. Tipping in taxis is not accepted.