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The Kashubian Ethnographic Park in Wdzydze Kiszewskie

Many people will visit museums when they travel, it‘s perhaps one of the best ways to learn about the history and culture of the country you are visiting. If you are passionate about traditional culture and want to see more unusual rural architecture and local handicrafts, then the Kashubian Ethnographic Park in Wdzydze Kiszewskie definitely should be added to your travel bucket list.

Located in northern Poland, Wdzydze Kiszewskie is a tiny village with a big attraction, famous for its open-air museum displaying the typical rural architecture of Kashubia. This picturesque Kashubian Ethnographic Park was founded in 1906 by Theodora und Isidor Gulgowski, is the oldest one in Poland. After more than a century, the museum stretches upon 22 ha of lush green land beautifully situated at the bank of the lake Gołuń surrounded by all kinds of local architectures including cottages, manors, a school, smithy, windmills, churches, farm buildings, craftsmen’s workshops and other traditional buildings from Kashubia and nearby Kociewia. Up to know, many of the buildings still function as they used to, such as a steam-driven sawmill and the lovely wooden church from 18th-century which is still performing Mass and the occasional wedding today.

In addition to wooden houses decorated with authentic furnishings, another highlight of the museum is the massive collections of the local handcraft presenting the beauty of Kashubian folk art. Visitors will marvel at the intricate and colorful embroidery from Wdzydze.

With lovely rural buildings and its picturesque location, the Kashubian Ethnographic Park is a really nice place to visit, indulging in local traditional culture and unwinding in nature, especially for families with children! 

? If you are interested in visiting this lovely town, please check our website to find our Bike Tour in northern Poland, there are more interesting attractions are waiting for you! ? Northern Poland By Bike ?‍♀️

Photo:muzeum-wdzydze.gda.pl

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Delicious Polish Mushroom Dishes to Enjoy during Autumn

???Autumn is not only a beautiful season packed with colorful foliage but also a harvest season that one can find all kinds of fresh and delicious fruits and seasonal foods in the market, especially mushrooms! It is well known that the Poles enjoy mushrooms, picking mushrooms in the forest is one of the Poles’ favorite pastimes. Over the centuries, because of the popularity of mushrooms, a lot of Polish mushroom dishes have been invented and they have become a very valuable part of Polish culinary culture. Today, I’d like to share with you some of the classical Polish Mushroom Dishes, and I wonder what would you like to try first If you have the opportunity to visit Poland? ?

1. Mushroom soup

When people talk about mushroom dishes, mushroom soup would be the first to come to mind. Delicate mushrooms are great for soups, and porcini mushroom soup is one of the best-known of this kind of soup, which was made with dried porcini and fresh mushrooms. Besides, there are more interesting variations, such as a traditional Christmas soup, made with dried mushrooms and fruits like prunes and pears, from the Kociewie region near Gdańsk. There is another potato soup from the central part of Poland called Zalewajka, which is a traditional rustic soup made of diced and boiled potatoes, Polish sausage, and dried mushrooms.

2. Mushroom pierogi

The Poles are proud of their pierogi (meaning ‘dumpling’). Though there are many different pierogi fillings, one of the most traditional ones is sauerkraut and mushrooms. This amazing combination is also the foundation of bigos, which is commonly known in English as hunter’s stew. Traditionally, these dumplings are served as the 12th course of a traditional Polish Christmas Eve dinner. 

3. Uszka with wild mushrooms

Uszka, meaning ‘little ears’, are small dumplings (a small and twisted version of pierogi) which usually filled with flavorsome wild forest mushrooms and onion or minced meat. They are mainly made for Christmas Eve dinner and served as an opening dish with a tart and rich beetroot broth. Delicate pierogi dough filled with wild mushrooms almost melts in your mouth and combined with clear beetroot soup is really worth a try.

4. Mushroom kaszotto 

Kaszotto is kind of like polish risotto, made with buckwheat, barley or millet, and whatever you have handy, like lentils, celeriac, squash, and of course seasonal mushrooms. It’s become quite a popular dish, as it’s delicious, easy to make and healthier than a traditional risotto. It can go with different veggies, but with wild mushrooms will produce an amazing umami flavour.

5. Scrambled eggs with mushrooms

Scrambled eggs with mushrooms is one of the most common breakfasts in Poland, which is traditionally made with intensely yellow chanterelles, is very tasty, healthy and easy cooking. Chanterelles is a very tasty edible wild mushroom and very popular in Poland.

Photo: culture.pl

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Sandomierz – Poland’s little Rome

Sandomierz is a lovely historical town located in eastern Poland, with a charming Old Town and a 14th-century brick and stone castle. Though there are not many tourists in the town, it used to be – with Krakow and Wroclaw – one of the main 3 towns in Poland during the Middle Ages and still retains some of its former glory. This picturesque town is a nice place to while away the day exploring its quaint historic lanes and enjoying the views of the Vistula river.

? What to see in Sandomierz?

?Sandomierz used to be called the little Rome because it located on seven hills just like the Italian capital. You may start your visit at the Opatowska Gate, which is the town’s only surviving entry gate, built over 650 years ago. Climbing the 130 steps to the heart of the Sandomierz’s Old Town is the best way to explore the city, you can find many traces from the past along the way. One of the highlights in the Old Town is an impressive Gothic town hall standing in the center of the old market and surrounded by lots of pastel-colored Baroque townhouses.

?Besides the exquisite architecture and buildings aboveground, there is another exciting option to travel underground. Over 500m beneath the Old Town, the Underground Tourist Route in Sandomierz is 470 meters long and connects to 34 gothic cellars. On the 40-minute guided tour, you will learn a lot about Sandomierz’s history and a legend of how brave Halina Krępianka rescued the city from the Tartars.

?High on a hill overlooking the Vistula river is the Sandomierz Royal Castle, it was built by Casimir III the Great on the site of a previous wooden stronghold and was gradually extended in the 16th century. It is one of the oldest buildings in the Old Town as well as a mysterious place. According to an old legend, there were three underground passages constructed for the castle crew in case of need, but no one has ever found it. Now the castle is home to the Regional Museum and is the best place to appreciate the amazing views of the Vistula river.

This beautiful town feathers enough points of interest for those looking for a perfect weekend and is only two hours away from Krakow.

Photo: sandomierz.pl

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The Royal Garden of Light at the Wilanów Palace

??? The annual light show in Wilanów Palace is already underway! located south of Warsaw, Wilanów Palace is one of the must-see attractions in Warsaw during late autumn and winter evenings. 

✨?✨ The Royal Garden of Light at the Wilanów Palace is an outdoor exhibition in which thousands of colorful diodes forming tunnels, trees, installations, and sculptures, emphasizing the history and beauty of the royal palace and gardens. After dark, you will be seduced by a 75-meter-long tunnel of light at the entrance, and there are numerous illuminated decorations, that are displayed in the courtyard as well, including a new carousel dressed with lights and the popular sparkling swans. In addition to the light show,  the exhibition is also accompanied by classical music and projection mappings on the palace.

☀️ By day, you can admire the stunning 17th-century baroque royal residence at Wilanów Palace and stroll through the surrounding park of 45 hectares containing a series of individual gardens, such as a two-level Baroque garden, a Neo-Renaissance rose garden, a classical English landscaped park, and a Roman Bridge. 

✨ By night, the wonderful exhibition of the Royal Garden of Light will bring you into a dreamlike world full of colorful lights and blow you away! Apart from fantastically illuminated gardens, you will have a chance to participate in mappings displayed on the facade of the palace.

The Royal Garden of Light at the Wilanów Palace invites everyone to the open-air exhibition from October 22 to February 28, except on November 1, December 24, and December 31.

Opening hours: 

? October 10, 2020: 5 pm – 10 pm (last entry 9 pm)

? October 11-31, 2020: 5 pm – 9 pm (last entry 8 pm)

? November 2, 2020 – February 28, 2021: 4 pm – 9 pm (last entry 8 pm)

Photo: Go2Warsaw

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Haunted Places in Poland

???Halloween is coming up soon, It’s this time of year where people get to dress up in spooky costumes, eat a bunch of candy, and share some chilling stories with friends. Sometimes, the most terrifying Halloween stories are the true ones, just like some of Poland’s spooky spots that I want to share with you, they all still exist in real life and retain an eerie atmosphere.?

Ogrodzieniec Castle

Ogrodzieniec Castle is one of the biggest fortresses in Europe, was originally built in the 14th–15th century, and is home to an atypical ghost: a big, black dog, which is said to be the disembodied spirit of Stanisław Warszycki, the early 17th-century owner and administrator of the castle, who did not want to share his wealth with anyone even after his death. Besides the legend, the castle is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved ruins, located on the peak of the Upland – the Castle Hill, rising at 515,5 m above sea level. One can see climbing the “Eagle Nest Path”  that runs through the dramatic landscape and will marvel at its wonders. 

Niedzica Castle

It is a medieval castle that was originally built in 1325 by the Brezevichy family. It’s said that one of the first owners of the castle,  Sebastian Brezevichy, whose wife was an Inca royal and they brought the Inca treasure of the family to the castle. The legend says that the ghost of Umina, called “white lady”, appears every night to scare away the people who want to steal their treasure that were hidden on the castle grounds. You can even find a sign along the road leading up to the castle, it’s said “Haunted Attention”. Thanks to its picturesque location and the legend behind it, Niedzica Castle is one of the most popular attractions in Poland and appears on many national publications and books, including one of Netflix TV shows The Witcher that was shot here.

Chęciny Castle

The castle was built around the 13th century and has had several different owners, such as the Casimir III the Great’s second wife Adelaide of Hesse, Elisabeth of Poland, and Queen of Hungary. The Queen of Poland Bona Sforza is one of the most famous occupants, it’s said that after she died, her ghost often wanders in the Chęciny Castle searching for the treasures that were supposed to be taken to Italy, but it’s believed the treasures had been hidden somewhere in the castle.

photo: Marek Skorupski/Forum

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GDAŃSK and WARSAW voted as some of the Best and the Safest European Christmas Destinations 2020.

Following recommendations made by the World Health Organization, the European Best Destinations (EBD) organization has unveiled a carefully selected list of destinations located in countries less affected by the coronavirus where it will be possible to enjoy the magic of Christmas while still following strict health and sanitary rules. And we are delighted to share the good news with you that two Polish cities of GDAŃSK and WARSAW were voted onto the list of the safest Christmas markets in Europe for Covid-19. Congratulations!???

?Gdańsk Christmas market is probably the most romantic Christmas market in Europe where you can find the fairy-tale Christmas fairs situated in the historical center of Gdańsk with its unique atmosphere and beautiful scenery. The streets and squares would be illuminated by colorful Christmas lights, and visitors will find many festive displays on the streets only for this special time of year such as the two-level Gdańsk Carousel, food and drink wooden stalls offering ethnic culinary specialties, craft workshops, and street performances. Do you know that the Gdańsk Christmas market was also nominated as the only one from Poland for the “Best European Christmas Market 2020” award In 2019? The Gdańsk market is definitely worth a visit.

Date: 20 November – 27 December, 2020

?As one of the most incredible cities in Europe, the capital of Poland, Warsaw is very impressive with its historic center declared a Unesco World Heritage. Visitors can find two Christmas markets here, the main Christmas market is held in Castle Square in front of the Royal Castle where you will be captivated by the giant colorful Christmas Tree and the abundance of colors and smells coming from the wooden stalls. In addition to seeing the stunning Christmas decorations and tasting local treats, ice-skating around the mermaid statue in the Old Town Square would also be an awesome experience. Another Christmas market can be found in front of the Palace of Culture and Science packed with lovely wooden stalls filled with ceramics, jewelry, candles, amber, hand-made crafts.

Date: 25 November – 27 January (Castle Square)

Photo from bozonarodzeniowy.gda

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The cutest guidance on social distancing measures for the EU states

How to get to know the EU social distancing measures quickly??‍♂️??‍♀️
At least distance yourself from others:
one bison in Poland?
two wolves in Estonia??
three pulis in Hungary???
? Take a look at the photo above, short and sweet!
? Well, if you haven’t met Bison in the wild, I strongly recommend you to visit Białowieża Forest in Poland to see the king of the forest – the bison!?
? Click on the link Europe’s last well-preserved primeval forest to find more information about the amazing forest and legendary creatures.

Photo from europapont.blog.hu

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The Corpus Christi Basilica in Kraków brought back to former glory

After four years of renovation work, the Corpus Christi Basilica in Kraków has been restored to its former glory. You should definitely visit it if you have the chance.

This historic massive church was commissioned by King Casimir III the Great in 1335, located in the Kazimierz district of Kraków, is one of the city’s largest, and defiantly most beautiful Gothic churches. The exterior of the Basilica remained mostly Gothic, with a free-standing bell tower, while its Baroque interior is a feast of brick, marble, gold, as well as a myriad of oil paintings. The Gothic walls are a sharp contrast to gilded Baroque altars adorning each pillar. Visitors will marvel at the fantastic interiors inside, which feature a boat-shaped pulpit held aloft by two mermaids, the largest organ in the city containing a total of eighty-three pipes, the Renaissance-style mausoleum with a painted door as well as the iconic paintings of Christ the Savior and Mother Mary in the nave, which was the masterpiece of the Polish artist Luke Porębski at the beginning of the 17th century. Another feature of the Basilica is the special opening placed near the apex of the vaulted ceiling, which is called ‘a rift in the skies’. 

The Corpus Christi Basilica is considered one of the most beautiful Baroque-style temples in Central Europe and is well worth seeing while you visit the Old Jewish Quarter of Kraków.

Photo from krakow.wiki

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The first capital of Poland – Gniezno

You might hear of the fairy tale city of Krakow, the former capital of Poland, and its famous dragon legend.?

Do you know that the establishment of the first capital of Poland also came with its own legend❓

Gniezno is only 50 km from Poznań, beautifully located on five hills among lakes. Considered as the cradle of the Polish state, Gniezno was the birthplace of its Royalty and Christianity and served as the capital of Piast Poland. It was here that Bolesław the Brave was crowned as the first Polish king in the year of 1025.

It is said that the name ‘Gniezno’ relates back to a legend. Once up a time, there were three brothers who went hunting together but each of them followed a different prey and eventually they all traveled in different directions. Among the three brothers, Lech decided to travel northward and he eventually stopped in a large valley where he noticed that there was a nest of a white eagle on the highest hill. Taking this as an omen, he chose to settle in this area and named his settlement Gniezno, meaning ‘nest’, and adopted the White Eagle as his coat-of-arms.

Known as one of the oldest towns in Poland, Ginezno is packed with historic buildings that most of them can stem from the 10th century and early 11th century. Its Old Town is a charming collection of winding streets and colorful, slope-roofed buildings centred on a pleasant cobblestone square and the city’s famous cathedral. The highlight of the town’s attraction is the 14th-century Gothic Cathedral, which dates back to the end of the ninth century, served as the coronation place for several Polish monarchs and the seat of Polish church officials continuously for nearly 1000 years. The Gniezno Cathedral is famous for the Gniezno Doors and the coffin containing the relics of St Adalbert. The Gniezno Doors fitted in the Gothic portal of the south entrance representing one of the outstanding examples of Romanesque metalwork in Europe. It contains two massive winged bronze doors decorated with 18 bronze panels, and each of them was engraved with scenes from the life of St. Adalbert of Prague. There are also several Gothic churches, the Archdiocesan Museum and the Museum of the Origins of the Polish State that are well worth a visit.

If you are tire of visiting museums and churches, wandering along the tranquil Jelonek Lake is another fun way to enjoy the splendor view of the old town of Gniezno.?

Photo by Getty Images

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MUSKAUER PARK

Did you know that there is a cross-border park located on the Polish and German border? Known for the largest and one of the most famous English gardens in Central Europe, MUSKAUER PARK is a landscape park that covers 3.5 km² of land in Poland and 2.1km² in Germany, extending along both sides of the border river Lusatian Neisse. This grand park was created by Prince Hermann von Puckler-Muskau from 1815 to 1844, an accomplished artist in landscape gardening who pioneered new approaches to landscape design and influenced the development of landscape architecture in Europe and America. 

The park blends in so well with the local town and surrounding agricultural landscapes. Natural ponds, ravines, streams, glades, the various parts of the park are connected with sweeping vista and paths that wind through the landscaping. On the Polish side of the park, visitors can enjoy a beautiful view of the heart of the park called the Park on Terraces, as well as Petzold’s Arboretum and beautiful wooden bridges that connected both parts of the park. Muskauer Park was considered one of the most remarkable examples of garden art of the 19th century in Europe and has added to World Heritage List in 2014, as an exemplary example of cross-border cultural collaboration between Poland and Germany.

This landscaped park is too large to be fully explored on foot in one day, taking a bicycle would be an excellent way to explore the park.?

Photo from pinterest

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