Poland is one of the most beautiful and mysterious countries of Central Europe. Especially popular with tourists this state is made by local cuisine, a huge selection of hotels and, of course, a large number of attractions! Poland can host guests throughout the year. So, in the summer, tourists can relax on the sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea, a great option for a winter holiday is a trip to the so-called Polish Alps. Separately, it is worth mentioning that it is here that there are 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We bring to your attention the top 7 sights of Poland that are worth a visit.
Marienburg Castle
The main attraction of the Polish city of Malbork is considered to be Marienburg Castle. This is a great example of brick gothic! In addition, the castle is recognized as a World Heritage Site. The history of this landmark of Poland began 7 centuries ago: then Prince Konrad of Mazowiecki turned to the Teutonic Knights. He asked them for help in liberating Polish lands from pagan Prussian tribes.
It was after this that on the Polish lands that belonged to the order, the knights began the construction of border fortresses. In 1274, the foundation stone was laid in the foundation of the castle, later named Marienburg in honor of the Virgin Mary. During the Second World War, the castle, which stood before this for more than a century, was destroyed almost to the ground! Today, this object, rebuilt anew, again appeared before tourists in all greatness. There is a museum on the premises of the castle, often there are craft fairs, theatrical performances and concerts.
Warsaw Old Town
What other objects attract tourists to the Republic of Poland? The landmark of the state can be safely called the Warsaw Old Town. It was founded in the 13th century. It is here, in the heart of the Polish capital, that popular squares are located - Market and Castle, Historical and Literary museums. In the Old Town there is also the main Catholic church of the country - the Church of St. John the Baptist.
Around this landmark of Poland for thousands of years revolved the life of the whole city. Landowners and merchants gathered here not only from this state, but also from all over Europe. In the Old Town, once even burned witches at the stake! Today, monuments, museums and ancient houses remind of the historical past. Experienced tourists recommend visiting this place slowly, best of all - in the evening. For example, you can sit in a horse drawn carriage and drive along the old cobbled streets.
Tatras
Speaking about the sights of the Republic of Poland, one cannot but say about the highest part of the Carpathians - the Tatra Mountains. Tatras are simultaneously located in Poland and Slovakia. It is worth noting that for the Poles, the Tatras are the same as the Alps for the Austrians.
And indeed, these mountain formations have a lot in common: beautiful valleys, meadows covered with aromatic herbs, ski slopes. All this makes the Tatras extremely popular for vacationers. And here you can see mountain lakes, caves and the Wielka Siklava waterfall, falling from a height of 70 meters!
Wawel castle
The most important architectural monument and the main attraction of Krakow (Poland) is the Wawel Castle. Scientists say that already in the X century in these places was a fortified settlement. By the way, right up to the 17th century, it was Krakow that was the capital of the Polish state, and therefore from the 11th to the 17th centuries, the royal residence was located in the Wawel Castle. This building played the role of the center of life - spiritual, political and, of course, cultural.
The royal castle was repeatedly restored after fires and destruction. So, the first large-scale restoration was carried out in 1905, a lot of work was carried out after the Second World War. Today in this castle is an amazing exhibition that introduces guests to the life of Polish kings.
Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum
"Factory of death" - that’s exactly what it is today called a notorious place in Auschwitz. From 1940 to 1945, a whole complex of concentration camps and death camps was located here. In 1947, a museum called Auschwitz-Birkenau appeared here. Two years later, UNESCO took over the museum under its protection. Visitors enter the museum through the gate with the inscription Arbeit macht frei, which can be translated as “Labor liberates”.
In this museum you can see more than a dozen brick blocks where prisoners were once kept! There is also a chilling exposition composed of objects that the Nazis took from the victims. It is worth mentioning that every year at least one million tourists from all over the world visit this sad landmark of Poland.
Bialowieza Forest
Bialowieza Forest is located on the border of Belarus and Poland. The description of the attraction and its photo are amazing - the total area of ​​protected lands is more than 150 thousand hectares of primeval relict forest! This place is distinguished by a huge population of bison and incredible landscapes! By the way, in 1979 the Polish Bialowieza National Park was included in the UNESCO list. What can be visited here? First of all, there is the "Place of Power" - the place of worship of pagan Slavic tribes, various attractions that are associated with the Romanov dynasty.
There are walking and cycling trails in the park. There are many points where you can rent a bike. Vacationers note that the Polish Forest is different from the Belarusian one - there is a water park here, and the level of service is much higher.
Wroclaw Cathedral
One of the main attractions of the city in Poland of Wroclaw is the Catholic Cathedral of John the Baptist. By the way, the current church is the fourth of those that were erected at this place. The first was built in the X century. Later it was replaced by a larger building. The new basilica was also destroyed, and in its place a large church in the Romanesque style appeared. At the end of the Mongol invasion, this church also changed its appearance. Actually, vacationers see this brick Gothic building today.
In 1540 there was a fire that completely destroyed the roof of the cathedral. They restored it only after 16 years, however, in a different style. Another fire occurred in 1759. Then the roof and towers were seriously damaged. Restoration lasted about 150 years! In the XIX century, the interior of the cathedral and its western part were redone in the Neo-Gothic style. However, in the last days of World War II, almost the entire building was destroyed. Those parts of the interior that were saved were housed in the Warsaw National Museum. The reconstruction took place in two stages. The first lasted until 1951, then the church was consecrated again. The second stage was completed only in 1991: all this time the towers were restored to their original conical shape, and the interior of the cathedral was restored. Where is this state attraction located? In the Republic of Poland, the city of Wroclaw, between the Botanical Garden and the Odra River.