ABOUT POLAND

Probably no place in Poland is as well-known internationally as Warsaw. No wonder – as the capital, largest city, and the location of some of the most infamous events of the Second World War, Warsaw has received plenty of exposure.

Unlike some other cities in Poland, Warsaw was left mostly in ruins by 1945. The Russian occupation following the end of the war didn’t help matters, and for a long time life in Warsaw was known to be particularly tough compared to the rest of the country.

Today, Warsaw has rejuvenated itself to an almost unbelievable extent. Not only its public infrastructure has improved, but culturally, the city is also more alive than ever. Warsaw hosts a renowned international jazz festival, a film festival, and many other local events year-round. It also offers a beautiful old town and some of the finest places to eat in all of Poland.

The former capital of Poland, Kraków today is one of the most popular destinations in the country for many travelers. It’s easy to see why – its old town is picturesque and combines architectural styles from the early middle ages up to 19th-century neoclassicism.

Kraków is also intertwined with many famous milestones of Polish history and folklore. There’s the legend of the great dragon that was said to live here in the 1300s. To this day, Wawel castle where the king of Poland reigned remains a major sight.

Darker chapters of Poland’s history also unfolded here. Kraków was the site of a major ghetto established during World War II, and Oskar Schindler’s factory was also just outside of town.

The Auschwitz concentration camp is about an hour away, remaining a somber monument to one of Europe’s darkest chapters. Visiting from Kraków is easy, though you should make sure you’re able to stomach it.

CUISINE

CULTURE

Thanks to the internationally successful Witcher series of books, games, and TV shows, Polish mythology has now gone mainstream. But beyond legends of scary monsters, classic Polish folklore has a lot to offer!

Poland is the only country in the world where Polish is the national and official language. As an EU member, Polish is also an official language of the Union.

Foreigners are quick to point out just how hard Polish can be to learn as a beginner. If you already speak a language Polish is closely related to, such as Czech, you might have a different view. However, for most, Polish remains very tough to master indeed.

What makes Polish so unique is that it features many sounds not found in almost any other language. More than that, it uses a modified Latin alphabet to represent these sounds – unlike even most other Slavic tongues.

The overwhelming majority of the Polish population is Roman Catholic, and a large number are practicing Catholics. Though the country claims no official religion, Poland is among the most uniformly Catholic countries in the world, and the Roman Catholic Church in Poland enjoys immense social prestige and political influence.