Poland is Closer Than you Think

Poland is a garden of nature and a treasure trove of cultural riches. A democracy located in the middle of Europe, inhabited by a friendly, hospitable people building a modern economy, yet dearly cherishing their heritage.

Every year, Poland is visited by millions of tourists.

They leave with wonderful memories, wanting to come back for more. Here, everyone can find something interesting. The modern leisure infrastructure provides for recreation of the highest standard. Museums, modern art galleries and concert halls on a par with swimming pools, equestrian clubs, discos and night clubs: all is here to satisfy even the most demanding guests. Visitors can feel truly welcome in Poland and experience the remarkable traditional Polish hospitality. Poland’s natural environment makes possible active rest and recreation at any time of the year: in many regions of Poland natural sites have been preserved in their primeval state, rarely encountered in other parts of Europe.

Poland’s climate ensures favourable conditions for entertainment and leisure activities throughout the year. On the Amber Coast of the Baltic Sea and Masuria, the Land of a Thousand Lakes, one can find old forests, rivers, hills and amidst them, paths, bridleways and trails to be enjoyed by walkers, water sports enthusiasts, cyclists and horse riders.

We guarantee nobody will leave Poland disappointed; the adventure hungry will get oodles of adrenaline, those who fancy peace and tranquillity will be able to unwind at Poland’s natural sites, and those looking for entertainment will experience the fun of a lifetime.

The Poles like to entertain guests at their homes; such friendly encounters, conversations and laughs will surely remain in your memory for a long time.

One thousand years ago, the Polish prince Boleslaus the Brave and the German emperor Otto III met in Gniezno to sign a treaty, the first ever international agreement in this corner of Europe.

Always in the European Home

For the last thousand years, Poland was the place where cultures from the east and west of Europe would come in contact. Poles frequently had to defend their independence and to befriend many different countries. Therefore, it is easy to understand how Poland’s national character was forged, one that drives the Poles to staunchly defend their freedom but always to show great tolerance for others.

Helping Others

Considering the history of many other nations, one can see that Poles have continuously played important roles throughout history: Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pułaski joined the fight for the independence of the United States of America in the 18th century. Ernest Malinowski helped build a railway line in the Peruvian Andes and Bronisław Piłsudski is highly respected in Japan for his ethnographic works. It is not widely known that Joseph Conrad, the famed conscience of world literature, was born and educated in Poland before he set off on his quest for adventure at sea. During the Second World War, the allied forces were reinforced by Polish airmen who played a crucial role in the Battle of Britain. Polish mathematicians helped break the Enigma code, giving the Allies access to the secrets of the Third Reich.

On the Threshold of the 21st Century

Poland is a full member of the NATO Alliance and the European Union. A stable democracy with a robust economy and monetary system – this is Poland’s ticket to the third millennium.

The Age of Tolerance

Poland has never been a scene of religious wars. Even though the majority of Poles are Roman–Catholics, all Poles have always peacefully shared their country with the followers of other religions.

Protestants have lived in Poland for hundreds of years and contributed greatly to the nation’s culture. A good testimony to such peaceful coexistence is the memorial to Martin Luther in Bielsko-Biala or the cemetery at Wschowa, with tombstones of Lutherans and Calvinists. Today, many Evangelical centres are in southern and western Poland.

In the 13th century, Jews came to live in Poland. Until the Second World War they constituted the largest Jewish community in Europe. From such families as Rubinstein, Natanson, Kronenberg and Epstein came many eminent Jewish personalities in the fields of art, science and economy. The wealth of the Jewish culture and tradition in Poland can be seen from Tykocin and Warsaw to Lezajsk and Lublin, from Cracow and Lesko to Bobowa.

One of the major religious communities in Poland are the followers of the Eastern Orthodox faith, for centuries living in south-eastern Poland. Tartars have lived in Poland for the last 600 years, preserving their cultural autonomy and Muslim faith, enjoying all rights and privileges as Polish subjects.