Transcript Poland -Tourist attractions

Poland -tourist attractions
Tomek J.
Warsaw , the capital and Poland’s largest city, plays the prominent economic,
cultural and educational role in the country. Although it was almost completely
destroyed during World War II, it followed a massive and thorough
reconstruction to restore the grandeur of many monuments to life. Thus the city
can boast of Old Town (Stare Miasto), which was authentically renovated. Apart
from over 20 museums one can admire Zamek Krolewski, the reconstructed
Royal Castle; The Wilanow Palace with a spectacular collection of old paintings
and furniture; the massive post communist Palace of Culture and Science with
a wonderful view of the whole city, The Lazienki Palace
In the north lies Pomerania (Pomorze), a region with a well-developed tourist
base. The area is well known with holidaymakers for its landscape diversity,
consisting of beaches, lakes, hills, numerous rivers and forests as well as the
grandeur of its cities. In the past, there was an amber route crossing over here
followed by Roman merchants. The Baltic Coast offers sandy beaches for most
of its length and many interesting places e.g. Swinoujscie, Miedzyzdroje, Kamien
Pomorski, and Kolobrzeg, each of them being a renowned spa. Kolobrzeg is the
biggest and best-known spa boasting its dozens brine springs. The Slowinski
National Park, an exotic natural attraction with 44-metre tall movable sand dunes
at the banks of Lake Lebsko, is an important biosphere reserve and a haven for
rare bird species.
Swinoujscie
Miedzyzdroje
The capital of Eastern Pomerania is Gdansk, one of Poland's three major seaports,
a marvelous city with a thousand years of history and plenty of priceless
monuments. With Sopot- a resort best known for its wide wooden pier and the Openair Opera Hall ( Opera Lesna) and a classic seaport of Gdynia , Gdansk makes up a
metropolis known as the Triple City (Trojmiasto). More to the east the Hel Peninsula
stretches, marked with quiet and pleasant seaside resorts: Jurata, Jastarnia,
Chalupy, and Hel, all with clean, wide beaches sheltered by dunes and pine groves.
Sopot
Gdansk
The Pomeranian Lakeland region includes two lake districts, the Kashubian and
Drawa Lake Districts, and the vast areas of the Tuchola Forest, which are some of
the biggest natural and tourist treasures in Poland, easily accessible and gorgeous.
The Kashubian vicinity is inhabited by Kashubi, an interesting nation, which maintains
its cultural identity, has own language, customs and even literature and occupies
itself with fishing. In Malbork (Marienburg) there is the biggest in Europe Teutonic
medieval brick castle built originally in the 13 th century. Some other mediaeval-style
elements may be found also in Gdansk, Pelplin, Kwidzyn, Tczew, Slupsk and other
towns.
Malbork
Kaszubi
To the east of Pomerania spreads the Mazury Lake District, a huge, thinly
populated area of lakes, dense forests and swamps, often named "a land of a
thousand lakes"; however, the real number of lakes is about four thousand. It is rich
in wildlife, including wild bison and Europe’s largest herd of elks, and provides
every form of outdoor activity – sailing, canoeing and camping. Most lakes are
linked by rivers and canals, the main tourist attractions of which are the Augustow
and Elblag canals, the latter being a masterpiece of the 19th century Prussian
engineering.
Mazury
Augustow
The medieval walled town of Torun, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the
striking Gothic Town Hall, is the birthplace of the astronomer Copernicus. Poznan
, is the serene provincial capital with interesting sights such as the Italianate Town
Hall in the Old Market Square, the Gorki Palace, the 12th-century Church of St
John and Przemyslaw Castle. The National Museum stores one of the country’s
few displays of old master paintings. The Poznan International Trade Fair takes
place here every year.
The modern city of Wroclaw is cut through with 90km of canals and tributaries of the
River Oder and there are more than 100 bridges. The city boasts a very large Old
Town with 15th-century Town Hall, the Royal Palace; and the Cathedral built on 7
islands.
To the southeast of the capital lies a charming medieval university city of Lublin,
which shelters many buildings designed by Bernardo Morando of Padua, and by
many Armenians and Greeks who once settled down here. Not far from Lublin a
unique artistic town of Kazimierz Dolny is situated, with its a romantic castle ruin,
Baroque churches, winding streets and unspoiled atmosphere is a top attraction of
Poland. Another interesting site is Zamosc with its well preserved Academy,
beautiful tenement houses and fortification walls. The unique site was founded in
the 16th century by the chancellor Jan Zamoysky as a town in ideal shape. It has
preserved the original layout and a large number of buildings that feature Italian
and central European architectural traditions. Its Old Town has been
acknowledged a UNESCO World Heritage status.
Zamość
Kazimierz Dolny