Beautiful Poland

28/09/2022

Torun
We already have a few historical cities on this list of the most beautiful places in Poland, but it wouldn’t be complete without Torun. Torun is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest cities of Poland. It has ties to some of the other cities on this list, as Torun was expanded by Teutonic Knights (like Malbork) and a member of the Hanseatic League (like Gdansk).

Much like Gdansk, it wasn’t always Polish, but at different times part of Prussia and Germany. It is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, with an exciting mix of architecture from Brick Gothic to Baroque. The historic city centre survived the Second World War completely intact! The Old Town, with its many monuments and churches, is a sight to behold.

The city is also famous as the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. His family home has been turned into a museum. Another must-visit is the Gingerbread Museum. And you can’t leave without trying the delicious Torun gingerbread which has been baked here for over a millennium.

27/09/2022

Slowinski National Park – known for its huge, shifting sand dunes

Transfigured by the Baltic Sea, in the Pomeranian region of Northern Poland, is the remarkable Slowinski National Park. Perhaps the most notable features of this exceptional destination are the shifting dunes; moving at an average pace of 32ft per year, they keep the landscape in a state of constant animation.

Their journey conceals and unearths: fossilised trees reach up through the sand, long-lacking the green that once clung to their boughs.

These colossal, sandy mountains can be viewed from many vantage points within the Park, but one of the most stunning is Lake Lebsko, upon whose shores is an observation point from which the dunes can be seen. Slowinski National Park is a World Biosphere Reserve, meaning that its wonderfully diverse flora and fauna are under protection – so much so that much of its terrain is inaccessible to humans.

27/09/2022

Zamek Ksiaz – the largest and most attractive castle in the Silesia region.

Obscured by the thick, lush woodland of the Owl Mountains is a castle seemingly spun from the threads of legend.
Perched upon the highest rock around, the blushing, dusk-drenched facade of Zamek Ksiaz belies the sinister plots once hatched within.
Though the tunnels and chambers are magnetic in their appeal, what dwells above the ground is worth exploring too; combining Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical elements, the exterior and interior are equally awe-inspiring, and the Palm House contained within the castle’s complex is home to over 250 species of plant!

The surrounding forests are not only beacons of natural beauty, but also draw in treasure hunters near and far to try their hand at unearthing the hidden N**i gold.

26/09/2022

Pieniny National Park – a scenic beauty spot in Poland.

The seemingly vertical walls of the Peniny Mountains plunge down to the Dunajec River, within whose basin Pieniny National Park resides.

Small but potent, the park supports masses of life, including 640 varieties of mushroom; its human-carved meadows are some of the most fruitful in all of Poland, hatching 30-40 species of flower for each square meter. About 6500 animal species are known to roam the land, with the strong possibility of more still unseen.

The range’s apex predator is the lynx, and along the banks of the river, otters frolic. Aside from mammals, there are a great diversity of birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians – a concoction certain to swipe the breath from many chests.

For an alternative to walking trails, you may wish to seize the opportunity to ebb down the Dunajec by raft: an exciting, yet soothing means of transport.

23/09/2022

Sopot Beach – one of the best beaches in Poland

A stone’s throw from Gdansk is the opportunity to sink your toes into the several miles of fine, silver sand that comprises the glitteringly pretty Sopot Beach.

Its wooden pier (the longest in Europe) provides a simple artery directly into the vast, yawning sea. A few lungfuls of Sopot’s bright, clean air will leave you revitalised – a throwback to its roots as a spa town, now transformed into an elegant, coastal community.

22/09/2022

Tatras Mountains – a stunning destination to explore in Poland

Forming a natural wall between Poland and Slovakia, the Tatras Mountains dominate a landscape that could have fallen from the pages of a fairy-tale.

Exploring is restricted to designated paths due to the dangers of the terrain, and the ridge can be crossed only by foot (or skis during the winter).

Its coverage is not especially vast, but the peaks are huge, with astonishing biodiversity; the Polish domain alone sustains over 10,000 botanical and animal species, including the brown bear, lynx, and golden eagle as well as dwarf mountain pine, sprawling spruce forests, fir, edelweiss, and crocus.

The highest peak of the Polish fragment (constituting just 1/5 of the range) is the Rysy apex, ascending 8200ft above sea level – a point of elevation sure to leave an imprint that will linger long after the descent.

22/09/2022