WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.

WELCOME TO POLAND



Why Poland?

Poland is a country with over one thousand years of history, and today it is a country on the crossroads. For centuries many nationalities, cultures, religions have met here. The traces of this can be found everywhere. Folk art is still alive and we foster our traditions. Apart form history and culture there's something more in this country. Something unique, extraordinary, and what have been existing here since millions of years... It is our NATURE.

You will find here mountains from rolling hills to high and craggy peaks, untamed and wild rivers, wetland terrain, swamps, and overwhelming natural forests. It's a place where you can find European bison, elk, and beavers. Poland is a haven for hundreds of thousands of birds, which fly from north to south. It's also a homeland of storks, a Polish national symbol that brings us luck.

We are proud of what we have in Poland. Therefore we want to share it with everybody who wants to discover our nature and culture. We want to show it to those, who would like to meet friendly and hospitable people.

We are Poles, we live in this country and want to show you our homeland.

We invite you to Poland...


Information about the country

Poland is situated in Central Europe; the country borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad region). The northern border is formed by the Baltic Sea.

The surface area of Poland takes up 312 square kilometres. The country has more than 38 million inhabitants. The population has been decreasing for several years, following the trend in other European countries.

The country's biggest cities are: Warsaw, the capital city with 1.6 million inhabitants, Łódź - 0.8 million and Cracow with 0.7 million inhabitants. Over 60 % of the population lives in cities, the rest live in rural areas.

In the past people tended to move from the countryside to the cities. Today, many people are choosing a quiet life in the countryside to escape from noisy and overcrowded cities.

After arrival you should know the following emergency telephone numbers:
112 - the emergency number for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance. Should it not work (and this really can happen), choose from these numbers:
997 for the police
998 fire brigade
999 medical service / ambulance


Nature

Poland's territory stretches from the shores of the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten (Sudety) mountains (on the Polish-Czech border) and Western Carpathian Mountains. This location guarantees a diversity of landscapes, from sandy seacoasts, forest-covered lake districts, the plains of central Poland, marvellous uplands, and the mountain ranges in the south.

Polish nature represents a balance between the urbanised and human-dominated landscape of Western Europe and the many clean, well preserved places in the East (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia).

Forests cover nearly 30 percent of the whole of Poland, inland waters make up ca 2 percent of the land area; arable land prevails in our landscape, covering a total of ca 50 percent of Poland.

The most valuable natural places in Poland are protected in 23 National Parks and approx. 120 Landscape Parks, comprising all types of natural landscapes found in our country.

The routes of our trips cross two National Parks (Wigierski National Park on Suwalki Region, and Babiogórski National Park in Beskidy Mountains) and four diverse Landscape Parks.

A remarkable feature of our trips is the unique opportunity of spotting wild animals that do not live in Western Europe: wolf, lynx, bear, elk, red deer (in Romnicka Forest).

Beavers frequent the riverbanks, and we have managed to reproduce and save from extinction a population of the biggest mammal in Europe - the European bison. The biggest herd lives in northwestern Poland; there are also four other herds. European bison lives in nature reserves and special enclosures.

  


Culture

Polish culture is very diverse. This is because of the country's eventful history and its location on the crossroads of routes leading from east to the west. In the past our country was inhabited by many different nationalities: Poles, Germans, Jews, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Tatars. They lived together in one country, fostering different traditions, praying in various temples.

There were Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox churches, synagogues, even mosques. Although Poland is now a country of one nation and religion, the traces of its former multiculturalism are still vivid. Monuments have been reconstructed, and many festivals commemorate the diversity of cultures that once lived here (e.g. Dialogue of Four Cultures Festival in Łódź)

Polish culture is not only traditions, it is also modern art in diverse forms: film, theatre, music, and painting. Film directors such as Roman Polański, Krzysztof Kieślowski, famous musicians such as Jan A.P. Kaczmarek or Leszek Możdżer, artists Magdalena Abakanowicz or Roman Opałka - these are only some of the acknowledged persons of Polish culture. They have contributed much to the growth of cultural heritage in our country.


History

It is hard to explain the history of a country in only a few sentences. Our country went through many changes, experienced the evils of war and other dramatic events. Poland was founded in 965 by prince Mieszko, who united several tribes in the first capital city - Gniezno (situated 50 km east of Poznań, 330 km west from Warsaw). In the year 1000, Mieszko's son Bolesław was crowned. The next centuries meant the gradual development of the country and constant growth of its territory. In the 16th century Poland had the biggest territory in its history.

In 1579, Lithuania and Poland joined into one country thanks which our country stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, bordering with Turkey. Poland was then the biggest and one of the strongest countries in Europe. History was not kind to us, however, and the next centuries were marked by collapse - countless wars with our neighbours and weak authority led to partitions of Poland in the 18th century. Poland was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. For over 120 years it did not exist as a sovereign country.

Poland gained independence in 1918 after World War I. Not long after, however, World War II broke out, beginning with the German invasion on 1 September 1939. After the war, the communists ruled over our country.

In the 1970s and '80s, the Solidarity ("Solidarność") movement fought for worker's rights, democracy and freedom. Important for our country's history was the strike in August 1980 organised by "Solidarność". This was the first crucial moment that showed people's disagreement with the socialist system. It all started in Gdańsk and ended in Berlin, several years later, when the Berlin Wall came down. In 1989 the socialist system was replaced by capitalism...

  


Customs

What kind of customs do we have in Poland? The good ones... we are hospitable, we like to have fun with friends. We are also proud of our country and ourselves (sometimes maybe too much). But at the same time we have a strange inclination to complain - we like to complain about everyone and everything, but mostly about our politicians. Here we should stress that every Polish citizen is an expert in politics... We sometimes have difficulties making decisions, and so we have a common proverb: "When two Poles discuss, there are three opinions". We must admit that is it quite fitting.

To be frank, though, if you want to get to know us and our customs for real, you'll have to come to Poland and experience them personally. So why wait... you are invited!


Cuisine and alcohol

Traditional Polish cuisine is based on grains (wholemeal, wheat flour), potatoes, dairy products, and pork, and is generally not easy to digest. Traditional Polish dishes are: żurek (a kind of sour soup made from sour liquid gained from bread, wholemeal or oatmeal), krupnik (a soup prepared from vegetables and barley porridge), broth (made of boiled chicken) , kapuśniak - sauerkraut soup (soup made of sauerkraut), grochówka (made of peas), and others.

We eat delicious flour-based dishes, for instance: pierogi - ravioli made of dough and filled with meat, cabbage, or fruits.

Generally we like dishes made of cabbage or sauerkraut, you can find them in every restaurant or bar.

On our trips you will taste traditional cuisine and regional delicacies. In Beskid Żywiecki you will have a chance to taste sauerkraut soup, in Suwałki Region kartacze - small balls of potato dough with a meat filling, potato cake - a cake with vegetables, kakory - a sort of dumpling filled with carrots.

Because of the fact that in the past people did not eat fresh food very often, it was highly recommended to additionally drink some alcohol in order to neutralise the food's bad effects. This is a short history of the Polish tradition of drinking alcohol while eating. Poland is famous for its various brands of vodka. One of the best known brands is żubrówka - vodka flavoured with sweet-scented grass.

Strong home-made alcohol is also worth mentioning (famous plum vodka "śliwowica" made in Beskid Sądecki, or dzięgielówka with angelica herb) and all kinds of infusions of herbs or fruits (plums, cherries) steeped in alcohol. Other types of liquors worth mentioning: mead and cognac, also made using traditional methods. Polish beers are definitely among the best in Europe. Apart from well known brands like "Tyskie", it is worth tasting beers from local breweries.


Weather conditions

Climate in Poland is characterised by even greater than Western Europe exposure to air blowing from the east. It manifests in higher number of hot days with cloudless weather in summer compared with Germany during the same period.

In summer the are heavy rainfalls, especially in June and July: in Warsaw for instance, an average rainfall stated during these months is 70 mm, while the total amount of rainfall during the entire year is about 520 mm.

The rest of the months are distinguished by a significant decrease in rainfall. As for regional differences, mountains are among the rainiest areas (take Bielsko-Biala situated in the vicinity of Beskid Żywiecki where annual rainfall amounts to 950 mm).

July and August are the hottest months in Poland. Average temperature for these months in Warsaw is approx. 18 degrees Celsius. But since the last days of August days become cooler, September and November are much colder than May or June. It can be felt especially in the early autumn mornings when you are outdoors.

Suwałki region (in north-eastern Poland) is, however, known as the chilliest region of Poland, apart from high mountain ranges. July and August average temperature in Suwałki is approx. 1,5 degrees lower than in centrally situated Warsaw.