The Legend of Lech, Czech and Rus
Over a thousand years ago, there were three Slav brothers wandering with their tribes through the lands of forests and fields stretching between two large rivers, Oder in the west and Dnieper in the east, in search of the best place to settle. One day, after months of weary travel, a beautiful sight appeared before their eyes: on a hill there stood a huge oak tree with a nest between its branches. From the nest a mighty white eagle soared into the sky. Lech was amazed by the view and considered it as a sign from the gods for him and his people. He decided to settle there and chose the white eagle with its wings spread wide against the sunset sky for their emblem. Soon they built a town which they called Gniezno (a “nest” in the Slavic language). The town became the capital of their nation and the first capital of Poland. And so the three brothers separated: Czech decided to go south and Rus chose the east where they started their own countries.
History of Poland in brief
966 – Christianisation
Poland’s history dates back to when Slavic tribes arrived on this territory and settled down. The first documented ruler was Mieszko I (from Piast dynasty) in the 10th century. In 966 duke Mieszko I converted to Christianity and by baptism brought Poland to the community of Western nations.
1025 – Kingdom of Poland
The first coronation took place at Wawel Cathedral in Krakow in 1025 with Mieszko I son, Bolesław I Chrobry (the Brave), and the Kingdom of Poland began to take shape. The Piast Dynasty ended with the death of King Casimir III the Great, who did not have an heir to the throne.
1386-1569 – Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Jagiellonian dynasty phase brought close ties with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1385, Lithuania accepted Christianity from the Polish with the baptism and marriage of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila (later Władysław II Jagiełło) to the Queen of Poland, Jadwiga. The Polish-Lithuanian union was formed, which lasted for more than 400 years.
1410 - Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwald was fought on 15 July 1410 during the Polish–Lithuanian and Teutonic War. The alliance of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respectively by King Władysław II Jagiełło, and Grand Duke Vytautas, decisively defeated the German Teutonic Order, led by Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen. Most of the Teutonic Order's leadership were killed or taken prisoner in one of the largest ever battles in medieval European history.
1795 – Partitions of Poland
In the 18th century the Republic was in crisis. The state required reorganization. King Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski (the last king of Poland) introduced numerous reforms. On May 3rd, 1791, Europe’s first and the world’s second constitution was signed. However, the reform process was not enough to turn the tide of failing fortune. Poland gradually fell under foreign influence. The rulers of Russia, Prussia and Austria invaded Poland and partitioned its territory in 1772, 1793 and finally in 1795 where the country disappeared from the map of Europe for 123 years until 1918.
1807 – Duchy of Warsaw
Despite the oppression, the idea of Polish independence was still alive in the nation and Poland continued to exist as a spiritual and cultural community. Poles engaged in armed resistance. They fought with Napoleon Bonaparte when the Duchy of Warsaw was established and then disbanded after Napoleon’s defeat. Poles also organized the November Uprising (1830-1831) and January Uprising (1863-1864), all of which failed.
1918 – Reconstitution of Poland
The outbreak of World War I gave Poland a chance to regain freedom. On November 11th, 1918 (Polish Independence Day), Poland reappeared on the map of Europe after 123 years. The Second Polish Republic was established. In 1920, the young state stopped a massive Soviet invasion aimed at spreading communism into Western Europe during the battle of Warsaw in what was known as the “Miracle on the Vistula.”
1939 – Invasion of Poland, World War II
On September 1st, 1939, Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany and World War II began. On September 17th the Soviet Union also launched an attack and the country was again divided between the two powers. The Poles formed the strongest underground resistance movement in the occupied territories (known as Home Army) to fight the oppressors. Many Polish soldiers joined military formations on the western and eastern fronts and fought together with the Allies against the German aggressor. In 1944, the Warsaw Uprising broke out, being the largest single military effort taken by any European resistance movement of World War II. Six million of Polish citizens perished during the war, including three million Polish Jews. The country was laid in ruins and was now in the hands of Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union.
1945 – Communist Poland
After World War II ended, Poland fell under Soviet control and the communist People’s Republic of Poland was created as a Soviet satellite state. The country’s boundaries were radically changed and shifted to the west, followed by mass movements of people in various nations. In the difficult years of communism, a new hope for Poles arose when Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II) was chosen Pope in 1978. Two years later, in 1980, the “Solidarity” movement was founded, being the first mass independent trade union in communist states. This reform movement, led by Lech Wałęsa, eventually broke Soviet control in Eastern Europe.
1989-Present – The Third Republic of Poland
The first free elections of the Third Polish Republic were held in 1989 and the country entered a period of transition from a communist state to the capitalist economic system and liberal parliamentary democracy. A modern Polish state arose. Poland now has a new constitution which was signed in 1997. The country has been a member of NATO since 1999 and joined the European Union in 2004. After years of turbulent history, the country has found stability and chance for growth in peace.
Castles (Zamki)
Baranów Sandomierski Castle:
The Baranów Sandomierski Castle is a Mannerist castle located in the town of Baranów Sandomierski in the Subcarpathian Province in south-eastern Poland. The castle was built around the years 1591–1606 in the style of Poland's Mannerism with richly decorated attics, side towers and arcade courtyard.
Moszna Castle:
The Moszna Castle is a historic castle and palace located in the small village of Moszna, in southwestern Poland. Situated approximately 19 miles south of the regional capital Opole, the residence is an excellent example of romantic fairy-tale and eclectic architecture. The history of this building begins in the 18th century, although traces of older cellars were discovered in the gardens during excavation and reconstruction works at the beginning of the 20th century.
Malbork Castle:
The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork is a 13th-century Teutonic castle and fortress located near the town of Malbork, Poland. It is the largest castle in the world measured by land area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle is a classic example of a medieval fortress and, on its completion in 1406, was the world's largest brick castle.
Łańcut Castle:
Łańcut Castle is a complex of historical buildings located in Łańcut, Poland in the Subcarpathian Province in south-eastern Poland. The castle was originally built in the second half of the 16th century, but was later modernized into a palace residence by its owners. The complex includes a number of buildings and is surrounded by a park.
Czocha Castle:
The Czocha Castle was designed as a fortress in the 13th century in Lower Silesia. After centuries of political turbulence, followed by a fire which destroyed the castle in the 18th century, the construction was restored to its former glory. Today, the impressive stronghold is home to an elegant hotel and its historic interiors can be visited like any other museum.
Książ Castle:
Książ Castle is located in the Lower Silesian Province of Poland. The largest castle in the region of Silesia, it is the third-largest in Poland behind Malbork Castle and Wawel Castle. Constructed in the late 13th century, the beautifully situated castle overlooks the gorge of the Pełcznica river with its pristine gardens. Seized by the Germans during WWII, it was planned to be a future headquarters for Adolf Hitler until being occupied by the Red Army.
Niedzica Castle:
Niedzica Castle, also known as Dunajec Castle, is located in the southernmost part of the Lesser Poland Province. It was built between the years 1320 and 1326 by a Hungarian known as Kokos of Brezovica on the site of an ancient stronghold surrounded by earthen walls in the Pieniny mountains.
Kwidzyn Castle:
Built in 1233, Kwidzyn Castle is a large brick gothic castle in the town of Kwidzyn in the Pomeranian Province of Poland. Like Malbork Castle, it is an example of the Teutonic Knights castle architecture.
The Royal Castle in Warsaw:
The Royal Castle in Warsaw is a state museum and a national historical monument, which formerly served as the official royal residence of several Polish monarchs. The personal offices of the king and the administrative offices of the royal court were located in the Castle from the 16th century until the final partition of Poland in 1795. Having been constructed in 1598, The Royal Castle witnessed many notable events in Poland's history including the adoption of the Constitution of May 3rd, 1791, the first of its type in Europe and the world's second-oldest codified national constitution after the US Constitution.
Wawel Royal Castle:
The Wawel Royal Castle and the Wawel Hill on which it sits constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in Poland. A fortified residence on the Vistula River in Kraków, it was established over the course of the 13th and 14th centuries on the orders of King Casimir III the Great and enlarged into a number of structures around an Italian-styled courtyard. It represents nearly all European architectural styles of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. The complex consists of numerous buildings of great historical and national importance, including the Wawel Cathedral where Polish monarchs were crowned and buried.
Cities (Miasta)
Main Square of Old Town Krakow:
The Main Square of the Old Town of Kraków, Lesser Poland, is the principal urban space located at the center of the city. It dates back to the 13th century, and at 9.4 acres is the largest medieval town square in Europe. The Main Square is surrounded by historic townhouses and churches. The center of the square is dominated by the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), rebuilt in 1555. On one side of the cloth hall is the Town Hall Tower, on the other the 11th century Church of St. Adalbert and 1898 Adam Mickiewicz Monument. Rising above the square are the Gothic towers of St. Mary's Basilica (Kościół Mariacki). On every hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a trumpet signal—called the Hejnał Mariacki—is played from the top of the taller of Saint Mary's two towers. The plaintive tune breaks off in mid-stream, to commemorate a famous 13th century trumpeter who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before a Mongol attack on the city.
Old Town Wroclaw:
The Old Town in Wrocław originates from the thirteenth century. It is surrounded by the City Moat, a remnant of the complex system of fortifications, largely based on natural and artificial sections of the Oder River and the Oława River flowing into it. The green belt along the moat is called the Old Town Promenade. The center of the old city is the historic Market Square, with numerous townhouses, as well as the Old and New Town Hall.
Old Town Warsaw:
Established in the 13th century, Old Town Warsaw is the oldest part of Warsaw, the capital city of Poland. It is bounded by the Gdańsk Boulevards, along with the bank of the Vistula river. It is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Warsaw. The heart of the area is the Old Town Market Place, rich in restaurants, cafés and shops. Surrounding streets feature medieval architecture such as the city walls, St. John's Cathedral, Sisimund’s Column and the Barbican which links the Old Town with Warsaw New Town. During WWII, Warsaw saw arguably the worst destruction of any city, with between 85-90% of the city being leveled due to bombings. After the war, a five-year reconstruction campaign by its citizens resulted in today's meticulous restoration of the Old Town.
Zakopane:
Zakopane is a town in the extreme south of Poland, in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Zakopane is a center of Góral culture and is often referred to as “the winter capital of Poland”. It is a popular destination for mountaineering, skiing, and tourism. Zakopane lies near Poland’s border with Slovakia, in a valley between the Tatra Mountains and Gubałówka Hill. The city lies 800–1,000 meters above sea level and centers on the intersection of its Krupówki and Kościuszko Streets.
Gdańsk:
Gdańsk is a city on the Baltic coast of northern Poland and is the capital of the Pomeranian Province. The city lies at the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay, close to the city of Gdynia and resort town of Sopot; these form a metropolitan area called the Tricity. The city’s history is complex, with periods of Polish and German rule that are reflected in its architecture, and autonomy as a free city. Gdańsk is Poland’s principal seaport and has been an important shipbuilding and trade port since the Middle Ages.
Sopot:
Sopot is a seaside resort city in Pomerelia on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland. Located in Pomeranian Province, it lies between the larger cities of Gdańsk to the southeast and Gdynia to the northwest. Sopot is a major health-spa and tourist resort destination. It has the longest wooden pier in Europe, at 511.5 meters, stretching out into the Bay of Gdańsk. The city is also famous for its Sopot International Song Festival, the largest such event in Europe after the Eurovision Song Contest.
Nature (Natura)
Baltic Sea:
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Poland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, and Sweden. In Poland, the Baltic coast is lined with beautiful lagoons, picturesque lakes, high cliffs, walking dunes and wide beaches covered with powdered, almost white sand. A good autumn or winter storm at the Polish Baltic coast brings up a lot of amber on the beaches. These prehistoric treasures are known as “Baltic gold”. Gdańsk, located at the crossroads of historical and present amber trading routes, is known as the world’s capital of amber.
Tatra Mountains:
The Tatra Mountains are a series of mountains within the Western Carpathians that form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. They are the highest mountains in the Carpathians. The highest peak, called Gerlach Peak, sits at 8,710 ft and is located entirely in Slovakia. The highest point in Poland, Rysy, sits at 8,200 ft and is located on the border with Slovakia, just south of Zakopane.
Morskie Oko and Czarny Staw:
Morskie Oko, or Eye of the Sea in English, is the largest and fourth-deepest lake in the Tatra Mountains, in southern Poland. It is located deep within the Tatra National Park at the foothills of the Tatras and is surrounded by many peaks, including Rysy, the highest peak in Poland. Czarny Staw pod Rysami (Black Lake below Mount Rysy) is another mountain lake on the Polish side of Mount Rysy in the Tatra mountains. At 1,583 meters above sea level, it overlooks the nearby lake of Morskie Oko. A walking path circumnavigates the lake, and leads up to Mount Rysy, or down to Morskie Oko.
Bison in Białowieża National Park:
Białowieża National Park is a national park in Podlaskie Province, in Eastern Poland adjacent to the border with Belarus. The total area of the park is 40.6 square miles. It is known for the protection of the best preserved part of the Białowieża Forest, Europe's last temperate primeval forest fragment that once allegedly stretched across the European Plain. It is home to the world’s largest population of European bison, the continent’s heaviest land animals. The characteristic feature of the park is its biological diversity. Białowieża National Park is the only Polish natural property designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Wieliczka Salt Mines:
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is a salt mine in the town of Wieliczka, near Kraków in southern Poland. From Neolithic times, salt was produced there from the upwelling brine. The mine, excavated from the 13th century, produced table salt continuously until 2007. Due to falling salt prices and mine flooding, commercial salt mining was discontinued in 1996. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is now an official Polish Historic Monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its attractions include the shafts and labyrinthine passageways, displays of historic salt-mining technology, an underground lake, four chapels and numerous statues carved by miners out of the rock salt, and more recent sculptures by contemporary artists.