The Joys of Visiting Poland

Poland is a beautiful country with incredible architecture, lots of vibrant flowers, delicious food, warm people, and a country that has had to shake off a difficult past to reinvent itself. Located in the heart of Europe, this country is unique, boasting both a front line and bridge to Western and Eastern Europe. You will find the towns and cities a wonderful blend of old and new, modern day buildings and roads coupled by horse-drawn carts and medieval structures. While the entire country is home to more than 38 million people, today the capital of Warsaw has fewer than two million.

Poland has a draw, something that captivates people’s attention. Many believe it is the feel as if you just stepped back in time to the 10th century. Although Poland is a country torn apart by war, Poland is also a country that has flourished under several great leaders. For example, from 1333 to 1370, Casimir III the Great ruled a powerful monarch. In fact, it was under his rule that Europe’s first university in Krakow was established. This was also a time of impressive castles and fortifications with most of the country’s problems coming from battles over expanding territories from the outside.

By the 17th century, Poland began to experience wavering stability but this time, from the inside. The demise of the parliament and new legislation, the country began spiraling downward. Soon, Poland was thrust into many battles, primarily with Russia but other battles were fought with the Ottomans, Swedes, Ukrainians, Cossacks, and Tatars. Then in the latter part of the 19th century, the entire company was a mess. By that time, more than four million people had lost their lives or been devastated from war, the bubonic plague, famine, and unfortunately, countries such as Austria, Prussia, and Russia trying to divide the country.

Even though it appeared Poland was on the upswing from an economical standpoint, most rural areas were still plagued by poverty. With this problem and no way out, approximately 20 million Polish immigrated to other countries, primarily to the United States. Just when it seemed Poland had hit rock bottom, World War I broke out. Both life and economy fell and fell hard. However, with Russia being focused on the October Revolution, Poland was able to work on rebuilding the nation. Actually, the country was making great strides when World War II erupted. Sadly, the country was overwhelmed by the Soviet Union and Germany.

For Poland, this was a time of unrest and to make matters worse, by 1945, the country was again devastated, losing more than six million people, 50% being Jewish. However, things only got worse when Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin left the country, pushing Poland into a great repression. People had all but given up when Pope John Paul II visited in 1978, increasing political interest while demoralizing Communism. Soon, the economy began to strengthen, worker’s wages increased, and martial law was passed in 1981. Although Poland would go through more issues, especially political, today we see a new Poland, a country emerging from a dark past into a future of hope, working hard to become a member of the European Union.

As a cultural country, painting and sculpture are both popular, typically taking on a religious form. Even in the churches, you will find evidence of Gothic and Renaissance with the representation of Madonna and Christ. However, the rising artists of Poland are trying to leave the darker side of art behind, moving toward fresh, new ideas. As far as the food, every dish is hearty. The soups and sauces are thick and rich, and expect to be served a lot of dumplings and potatoes. Favorite dishes include Barszcz, which is beetroot soup and Bigos, sauerkraut and meat, both delicious.

About 25% of the country is forest region, which is populated by wild boar, deer, and hare although in some of the mountain regions you will also see wildcats and brown bear. The weather in Poland changes, sometimes significantly from day to day, week to week, and year to year. For instance, you could have one winter with extremely heavy snows while the following year there is not snow at all. Therefore, when planning a trip to Poland, you will need to check the current weather to know what to take.

Regardless, the country is magnificent, offering a number of colorful and exciting events. For instance, during the month of August, there is the Music in Old Krakow Festival, the Polish Film Festival in November, or January’s Warsaw Theatre Meetings, which highlights the achievements of the past years theatres, those standing out above others. These are just a few of the many wonderful things you can do while visiting Poland, the land of enchantment and opportunity.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

Poland's Famous Castles
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Slowinski National Park
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Warsaw Opera House
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