Castles in Poznań

Every European city worth its salt has a castle, and you can find two in Poznań. The impressive Royal Castle started to be built in the mid-13th century by the Great Poland prince Przemysł I and was the largest castle in the Polish Kingdom. Located in the west of the Old Town, the castle has hosted many sovereigns and has been used as a place for royal births and royal weddings. Although it was destroyed and rebuilt many times, the building has remained modest classicist features and a fragment of the old city wall from the end of the 13th century. Today the Castle is fully open, tourists are welcome to visit the castle tower, observation decks, and Prince Przemysł I Hall. Moreover, It houses a Museum of Applied Arts as well, with more than 11,000 exhibits.

Not far from the royal castle, there is a striking architecture in Neo-Romanesque style with a massive tower, known as the Imperial Castle. It’s actually not a castle but a palace, built as the residence of Prussian ruler Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1910. Today the building is home to government offices, a cinema, art galleries, bars and restaurants, as well as the 1956 Uprising Museum. Don‘t miss out on visiting these two wonderful castles while in Poznań.?

Photos: inyourpocket.com

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78th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

78 years ago today, an uprising broke out in the Warsaw Ghetto. It was the first large-scale revolt by Jews during World War II, and the first urban uprising in Nazi German-occupied Europe as well. Hundreds of armed Jews took part in the fighting against the Germans, which lasted 27 days, until May 16. To honor those who fight for the dignity and freedom of the Jewish people, Poles make and wear yellow daffodils?on the anniversary as a sign of solidarity, resistance, and memory. Moreover, there are a series of events streamed online hold by POLIN Museum in Warsaw, to commemorate the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.?️

Photo: Matusz Szmelter / tvnwarszawa.pl

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Warsaw’s Old Town

Warsaw truly is the city of rebirth and there are so many mesmerizing things to see here. Although more than 85% of Warsaw’s historic center was destroyed during WWII, the Old Town was painstakingly rebuilt using painting and photographs as an architecture blueprint, so visitors can get a sense of what it looked like in its former glory. In 1980, the Old Town was placed on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites as “an outstanding example of a near-total reconstruction of a span of history covering the 13th to the 20th century”. 

The Old Town in the city center alone is enough to inspire a visit, with a labyrinth of winding cobblestone streets, ornate tenement facades and picturesque squares with plenty of Medieval charm. Of course, there’s more to Warsaw than just the Old Town, and visitors with plenty of time will explore outstanding historical monuments and museums, like the stunning Royal Lazienki Park and the fantastic ​Wilanow Palace known as the ‘Polish Versailles’. Enjoy a concert, ​or delve into the local markets for delicious local specialties, there is no shortage of things to do in Warsaw. The best time to visit is between May and September, so it’s time to plan your trip to Warsaw. ?

? Check out our Warsaw City break, you might find something you prefer.?

? Warsaw City Break

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Poznań Town Hall

Located halfway between Berlin and Warsaw, Poznań is among the oldest cities in Poland, with a history dating back to the 10th century. You can find many historical monuments in the city, one of the highlights is an impressive Renaissance Town Hall located in the center of Old Town Square, once renowned as the most beautiful building north of the Alps.

The earliest mention of it dates back to 1310, and it was a one-story Gothic building built upon a raised quadrangle. In the mid 16th century, the building was reconstructed in the Renaissance style by Italian architect Giovanni Battista Quadro who added an upper story, Renaissance loggia, and attic walls. A pair of goats were added to the new clock of the building as well, which was and still is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Poznań that every day at noon there are a bunch of people gathered below to watch two metal goats appear above the clock and butt their horns together 12 times. It’s definitely worth taking a look at. ??

Although the Town Hall was destroyed by the hurricane and the war, the building has gone through a major renovation and preserved its characteristic of the Renaissance. Today, it’s home to the Historical Museum of Poznań, which contains a lot of exhibits from the 10th century till the present day that relates to the history of the city, including a pair of retired metal goats. Decorated with ornate three-story loggia in the main facade, the Poznań Town Hall glitters in the sun and captivates all who visit here.

With winding cobbled streets, charming Old Town, beautiful churches and castles, Poznań is a vibrant and colorful city filled with a vast array of stunning attractions, waiting to be explored.?

Photo by Radoslaw Maciejewski

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The sailing season in Mazury is coming

As the weather warms up in Poland, the sailing season in Mazury is just around the corner. And a new scenic water trail is set to be officially opened at the end of April, which will take boating enthusiasts through 150 km of the Great Mazury Lakes. ?⛵️?

With more than 2,000 lakes surrounded by lush forests and unspoiled countryside, the Mazury region is a paradise for sailing enthusiasts as well as water sports enthusiasts. Known as “The land of a thousand lakes”, Masuria is a picturesque region recognized as one of the best kayaking spots in Europe and an excellent base for all water sports. With two of the largest lakes in Poland and hundreds of smaller ones, it is simply perfect for camping, swimming, kayaking as well as sailing. Its natural beauty, clean air, and silence captivated all who visit here. If you are fed up with being at home and eager to immerse yourself in nature with clear water and fresh air, then Masuria is the best spot for you.?

?  Read more about the Great Masurian Lakes.

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The Holy Cross Mountains Geopark

In Poland, the Holy Cross Mountains Geopark has been awarded a UNESCO Geopark Label and become the first one that operates entirely within Poland!

Located in Poland’s oldest mountain range known as the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, the Holy Cross Mountains Geopark covers the area of five communities and features unique geo-diversity and distinctive cultural heritage, including Paradise Cave full of stalagmites and stalactites, an active quarry of Upper Devonian limestone, the Royal Castle in Chęciny built on a rocky hill, numerous church and monastic complexes, several Centre for Geological Education as well as interesting museums, and so on. With rock formations dating back 400 million years, the geopark offers many natural and cultural heritage sites where people can learn about the ‘beauty hidden in a rock’.

As the first Geopark in Poland, which combines inanimate nature with living nature and cultural heritage, the geopark not only has scientific and educational values, it’s also an ideal place to visit for people who are looking for attractions in the open air. With outstanding landscapes and numerous historical sites as well as intangible cultural heritage, the Holy Cross Mountains Geopark is truly a geological treasure with so much to explore.

photo: Geopark Świętokrzyski/facebook

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A picturesque spa town of Duszniki-Zdrój

Poland boasts plenty of impressive churches, some of them are magnificent like St. Mary’s Church in Gdańsk, and some of them feature very unique elements that may be hidden in an inconspicuous building.

Have you ever seen the pulpit in the shape of a whale?? Located in a picturesque spa town of Duszniki-Zdrój, there is a historic Saints Peter and Paul church that is well known for its unique pulpit, in the shape of a whale with a twisted tail and an open mouth. Its structure relates to the biblical story about Jonah who was saved by the huge fish. This Baroque church was built in the first half of the 18th century but its history dates back to the 14th century. In addition to the whale-stylized pulpit, the church also contains the original stone baptismal font from 1560, the Baroque main altar from around 1730, and many Baroque sculptures and paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. The church is one of the landmarks in the town and well worth a visit. Moreover, on the same street where the church is located, you can also find the Museum of Papermaking, which was housed in an impressive paper mill that dates from the beginning of the 17th century. Considered one of the highlights of Duszniki, the mill is the only professionally run museum in Poland that’s dedicated to the broad subject of papermaking. If you are a classical music lover, the town is a perfect destination for you as well, for It is home to the annual International Chopin Festival since 1946.

With charming architecture and beautiful natural surroundings as well as unique tourist attractions, the town of Duszniki-Zdrój can be a nice weekend getaway.?

photos: Jacek Halicki/wikipedia

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Spring in Warsaw

Spring is one of the best seasons to visit Warsaw, which is full of beautiful parks and gardens where the trees are turning green and the flowers bloom. Did you know that there are more than 90 city parks and gardens across the city? Some of them are huge like the Royal Łazienki Park and Wilanów park, some are smaller but feature special attractions and scenic views like the Roof Garden of the Warsaw University Library, and some even include lakes where you can go kayaking like Skaryszewski Park. All of them are wonderful places to walk into the spring and get relax in nature. 

In addition to parks and gardens, there are also some cool places to enjoy and capture the beauty of spring in Warsaw. Located on the western side of the River Vistula, the Vistulan Boulevards is one of the best riverside boulevards in Europe as well as one of the busiest and most attractive places in Warsaw. Stretching for a kilometers-long along the west side of the Vistula River, these boulevards have been brilliantly landscaped and dotted with multiple restaurants, bars, and cafes, which stand in stark contrast to the east side of the river full of trees and small beaches. With the spectacular views of the city and river, Vistula boulevards are a perfect place to take a stroll, a bike ride, or meet up with friends at any time of year, especially in colorful spring.

Photo: inyourpocket.com

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Poland wins award for the “Golden Travel Destination Award 2021”

? Poland received the Golden Travel Destination Award 2021, a prestigious award in the Netherlands, which is the result of high ratings for destinations in Poland from travel organizations and visitors. Poland is a traveler’s dream destination, which is full of history, culture, stunning views and world-class attractions. Whether in the vibrant Warsaw, the history-filled Krakow, or the beautiful seaside city of Gdansk, there is no shortage of things to see! From the famous Old Town in Warsaw and the magnificent Wawel Castle in Krakow to the Royal Route lined with ornate buildings in Gdansk, Poland has something for everyone. Visitors will marvel at its rich culture and an abundance of sites and attractions.

With the arrival of spring, the days are sunny though cool, which is perfect for taking a stroll outside to capture the beauty of spring. If Poland isn’t a destination you’ve considered visiting before, maybe it’s time you add it to your travel bucket list. ?

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Easter in Poland

??Easter time is right around the corner and it won’t be long before many people will be joined with their families and taking part in those traditions and customs linked with this particular holiday season. In addition to making Easter eggs?, a traditional Polish Easter breakfast is very much worth looking forward to.? The table will be filled with the blessed food and many other delicious specialties including white sausage, rye soup, and cakes with poppy seed or cottage cheese. Moreover, the table will also be beautifully decorated with Easter eggs, spring flowers, an “Easter lamb”?  made of cake or sugar. 

Don’t hesitate to eat the second piece of Mazurek cake??, for Easter Sunday is the most important day during the Easter holidays and more energy will help you to embrace Easter Monday, known as Śmigus-Dyngus (Wet Monday). On this day, people pour water on each other, but girls need to be more cautious for they are easy targets than boys. If you don’t enjoy “Spring rain” outside, then staying at home on that day would be a smart choice for you.?

Photo: euspecialties.com

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