Discovering Poland – Seven Places to Visit

Poland is one of the obscure countries of Europe. It has a huge history behind it which involves war atrocities, Nazis, communism, etc. It is the 19th most visited country of the world. Not only does it have a lot of natural scenic attractions, it is also known for many Jewish and Christian religious sites. This article is not about the normal landscape tourist attractions of Poland, it’s about some of the unusual sites of Poland which really get your mind thinking.

1. Czestochowa

Czestochowa is known for its ruins of medieval castles, the Jasna Gora Monastery, icon of Black Madonna which is associated with many miracles. It’s a place of pilgrimage and many locals and tourists counting up to 5 million visit it each year.



2. Malbork Castle

Malbork Castle is the world’s biggest brick made castle. It is also Europe’s largest gothic castle, something which brings a lot of memories of WWII fresh in minds. It was built by the German Teutonic Knights. There’s also a cathedral inside the castle. There is handful of grey-communist architecture and sights from medieval times.



3. Wolf’s Lair

It really is a Wolf’s Lair in Mansuria because this used to be Hitler’s command bunker complex from 1941 – 1944. As soon as you enter this lair, it gives you a chill in the spine to think of the atrocious crimes commanded by Hitler while sitting in this place. It is mostly ruins because of the bombings done by Germans and Russians over here but it still remains as a historical sight to see. A failed assassination attempt was also made on Hitler on this sight.

4. Oswiecim

This is another unusual and gruesome tourist site in Poland. It is best known by its German name, Auschwitz. This used to be a Nazi extermination camp where over 1.5 million people were killed. You’ll also find an old Jewish synagogue over here which was the only one of its kind spared during WWII. This place acts as lesson of the horrid effects of war and that we should eliminate racism from our world. 25 million people have paid their respects to the innocent prisoners killed at this site.



5. Wawel Castle

This is another royal landmark of Poland. It is a gothic castle and the main attraction of this castle is the Szczerbiec coronation sword. It is a priceless sword marked with ambiguous symbols. It is the only living piece of Polish crown jewels. This sword is popularly known as the Jagged Sword.



6. Wieliczka Salt Mine

Wieliczka Salt Mine is thought of as one of the oldest companies in the world. People have mined salt from this archaic mine since the 13th century. It is a kingdom within itself. With its underground city made of rock salt and sculptors carved out of rock salt, this mine is a marvel to witness and awe at.



7. Bialowieza Forest

Interested in rare endangered wildlife? Then you’ll love the Bialowieza Forest which is home to 800 wisent, an endangered species of the European bison. Tourists are guided in this forest by foot or horse-drawn carriages where they get to see the creature behind fences.

Have you been to Poland? Feel free to share your tips and recommendations.

Photo Credits: Czestochowa by Bogdan Migulski/ Malbork Castle by futureshape/ Oswiecim by crystalmartel/ Wawel Castle by Anosmia/ Wieliczka Salt Mine by jhadow/ Bialowieza Forest by vlod007

Ten Places to Visit in Krakow

Krakow is the second largest city in Poland and it is also the oldest city. It dates back to the 7th century and is situated on the Vistula River that is located in the Lesser Poland region. The city has been the capital of the country from 1038 to 1569 and is also one of the leading centres of academic, cultural, and arts. Krakow is also one of Poland's most important economic hubs.

The city of Krakow is very beautiful and it is visited by a lot of tourists yearly, the major attractions are located at Old Town like some historical monuments, churches, and a lot of nice statues and palaces and a whole lot other sites.

There are so many places to see and explore in Krakow and here’s our list of ten places to visit in Krakow.

Photo Credits (Flickr CC): Krakow by Allie_Caulfield

1. Sukiennice – This place was built in the early 14th century and is located in the middle of the Main Market and was used as a trading hall in Gothic style. In the 19th century, Sukiennice was turned into a museum and the first floor was used for great banquets but now it is used as a place for souvenir shops.

Photo Credits (Flickr CC): Sukiennice by Alina Nagórna

2. Wawel Castle – The name Wawel is the name of a lime hillock that is situated on the left bank of the Vistula. There are some great buildings that are also situated on the Hill like the Royal Castle and the Cathedral. Polish Royalty and many other distinguished Poles are interred in the Cathedral and this is also where the royal coronations took place. The place is considered by some to be the most beautiful castle that can be found in Central Europe.

Photo Credits (Flickr CC): Wawel Castle by atkinson000

3. Town Hall Tower – The tower was once a part of the big Gothic-Renaissance Town Hall that is on the Main Market. Sadly the town hall was destroyed by the Austrians in the 19th century after they took control of Krakow. Nevertheless, this is still a great place to visit to learn some about history and at the same time it offers a nice view of the city from upstairs.

Photo Credits (Flickr CC): Town Hall Tower by exfordy

4. Florian Gate – This gate is the only part of the medieval walls which has survived today and it consists of four towers and the arsenal and gives you a good idea of what the walls around the Old City looked like in the middle ages.

Photo Credits (Flickr CC): Florian Gate by Fearless Fred

5. Barbakán – The place was built in during the 15th century and it is the biggest European defense building of its kind. The Barbakán was meant to be used to defend the Florian Gate from attacks of the Osman.

Photo Credits (Flickr CC): Barbakán by laslandes

6. Rynek Główny – This is a beautiful medieval square that is situated in the heart of the Old City and the place is full of gorgeous churches, restaurants and bars. This square is the biggest medieval marketplace that can be found in the world with more than four hectares of area and eleven streets beginning in this place.

Photo Credits (Flickr CC): Rynek Główny by Alina Nagórna

7. Plac Mariacki (Mary´s Square) – This square is a small medieval place that connects the Main and Little Marketplaces. It was used as a cemetery during the middle ages, but is now a charming and quiet place with the Sculpture of a medieval Cracovian Student.

Photo Credits (Flickr CC): Plac Mariacki by Jacob Wodzyński

8. Plac św. Marii Magdaleny (St. Mary Magdalene Square) – The place is a beautiful square that is located in the center of Okół. It is the oldest part of the Old Town and just under the Wawel. This is located in the square are the early baroque St. Peter and PaulChurch and the Roman St. Andrew Church and in the middle stands the column of Piotr Skarga.

Photo Credits (Flickr CC): Plac św. Marii Magdaleny by Jorge Lascar

9. Pijary Church – This church was built in 1718 by Kasper Bazanka and the late baroque shape of the facade was made by Franciszek Placidi in 1759. The church was based on the Il Gesu church in Rome.

10. St. John's the Baptist and St. John's the Evangelist Church – The church was built by Piotr Wlast in the 12th century in Romanique style and in the 17th century, the church was altered in Baroque style. A nice place to visit.

These are just some of the places that you can visit in Krakow. There are more places to see and explore if you spend a day or two more.

Have you been to Krakow? Feel free to share your tips and recommendations.