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The Jewel of Warmia — Frombork

Malbork Castle is an outstanding example of a medieval fortress and was designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1997. With its unique gothic architectural complex and rich collections related to Malbork, the castle is well worth a visit. 

Known as “The Jewel of Warmia”,  Frombork is an enchanting town, situated on the northeast edge of coastal Poland. There are many historical sites, including the most interesting attraction, Formbork cathedral, which is a Roman Catholic church established by the Warmian bishops in the 13th century and located on the Cathedral Hill. 

✨ ? ? This medieval cathedral complex was classified as one of the highest class monuments, and it was also the home to the famous astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus who wrote the epochal work ‘On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres’ and spent the latter half of his life in Frombork. You can find Copernicus-related attractions everywhere in the town, among the most attractive is Nicolaus Copernicus Museum where you can learn more about his life and work. Stroll the cathedral hill, admire the beautiful views from the tower where he used to lodge, observe the rotary motion of the Earth at Foucault’s Pendulum in the Radziejowski’s Tower, which is the tallest building of the Cathedral Hill. 

Situated in the south-eastern corner of the Cathedral Hill, Bishops’ Palace is the most important building of the area. It’s the gem of gothic-baroque architecture decorated with fascinating stained glass windows, inside you can also view lavish baroque altars and stunning 17th-century organs made by Daniel Nitrowski which is one of the most famous organs in Poland.

With imposing Cathedral Hill and breathtaking sea view, Frombork is undoubtedly worth a visit.

photo by muzeum.frombork.pl

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Malbork Castle – The largest brick castle in the world

Malbork Castle is an outstanding example of a medieval fortress and was designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1997. With its unique gothic architectural complex and rich collections related to Malbork, the castle is well worth a visit. 

Known for its huge medieval castle, Malbork is a town in northern Poland founded in the 13th century by the Knights of the Teutonic Order. Malbork Castle was the headquarters of the Order, situated on a peninsula between two rivers. It is a classic example of a medieval fortress and the largest brick castle in the world. After several times of expansion,  the castle eventually covers over 20 hectares comprising a tripartite layout of the High Castle, the Middle Castle, and the Outer Bailey, separated by multiple dry moats and towers. The castle once housed up to 3000 “brothers in arms” and its largest chamber at 450 sq meters, no wonder it was recognized as the largest fortress built in the Middle Ages. During World War II, over half of the castle was destroyed. After the war, the castle has been mostly reconstructed and still remains the largest brick complex in Europe. 

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The largest wine festival in Poland is underway

?As summer starts to fade it’s time to start celebrating the upcoming golden autumn and harvest with tasteful foods and nice wine. The celebration of wine in Zielona Góra comes on each September for nine days and begins with handing the city-keys to the god of wine – Bacchus. This joyful and colorful feast is filled with concerts, many cultural events including the famous International Festival of Folklore and a spectacular parade, which have earned the city the title of Poland’s wine capital. You can not only taste delicious foods and unique wines from different regions in the wine feast, but you can visit the vineyard of wineries to learn about winemaking in Poland as well. During the festival, the whole city transforms into a huge wine-paradise, everywhere is filled with wine-themed things, even the air was perfumed with the attractive aroma of wines.

photo by finallylost

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It’s 40 years since Warsaw’s Old Town added to World Heritage List

Today is the 40th anniversary of Warsaw’s Old Town listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Considered one of the most famous tourist attractions in Warsaw, The Old Town was established in the 13th century and became the heart of the capital city after the late 16th century. It’s a charming place filled with medieval architecture. Take a stroll down the narrow and winding cobblestone streets, admire its colourful tenement houses and one of the most beautiful squares in Warsaw, The Old Town Square, where you can find a statue of the Warsaw Mermaid brandishing a sword and a shield standing in the middle.

During World War II, more than 85 % of Warsaw’s historic centre was destroyed by Nazi troops. After the war, with the support of the whole nation, a five-year reconstruction campaign by its inhabitants resulted in today’s meticulous restoration of the Old Town, with its churches, palaces and market-place. A town that was laid in ruins has become an architectural miracle today, it still breathes in Medieval atmosphere. Warsaw’s Old Town is not only an outstanding example of the reconstruction of the heritage on a unique scale in the history of the world but also an expression of the unity of Polish people and the determination of the nation.

If you are interested in visiting this spectacular city, contact us for your tailored trip to Poland.?

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Mushroom Picking in Poland

Golden Polish Autumn is the best time of year to pick mushrooms in the forest. Thanks to the abundant resource of forests, Poland is filled with porcini, milk caps, chanterelles and all kinds of mushrooms from September to early November. ????

It’s kind of like local seasonal activities that lots of families in Poland go mushroom picking in the forest at least once a year. It’s one of the Poles’ favorite pastimes as well, back to nature, surrounded by the beautiful sceneries and trying to find the hiding places of the tastiest ones. Mushroom is the gifts of autumn, you don’t need any permission to go picking, and there are no quantitative restrictions on how many mushrooms you can pick. But be careful not to pick the protected mushrooms, or destroy the inedible ones, you may get a hefty fine.

Poland has a long tradition of mushroom picking, and therefore mushrooms become basic ingredients for many traditional cuisines. There are many Polish mushroom dishes that have been invented, such as Mushroom soup with dried porcini, Sauerkraut & mushroom dumpling(pierogi), Hunter’s stew (bigos), and so on. If you don’t have much time to visit Poland then try some polish cuisines in a local restaurant would be an ideal option. ???

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Stunning Golden Autumn in Poland

If you’re familiar with Poland you must have heard of the term “Golden Polish Autumn”. It is a period of a few days sometime between the end of September and the beginning of October. In these short weeks, the burning summer begins to fade quickly, replaced by a colourful and cool autumn. ???

The colourful changing surroundings take place in all of Poland. During the season, the last green leaf faded, through yellow, into orange(hence “golden autumn”) and then gradually at the end red and brown. Together they weave the unique colour-changing coat for autumn. Only conifers can stay green and wait to become the first delightful ornament in the winter.

There is no better season to come and visit the Polish mountains, to admire its stunning landscape adorned with falling, colourful leaves. One of the best regions to see during autumn in Poland is the Bieszczady mountains, located in the most south-eastern part of Poland on the border with Slovakia and Ukraine. The most beautiful part of the mountain range is protected by the Bieszczady National Park, which is the third-largest national park in Poland. It’s mostly covered by forest and therefore is blessed with a variety of flora and fauna. 

While there you can take a hike to the highest peak of Bieszczady Poland surrounded by some dramatic mountain scenery, or walk along the wooden architecture trail filled with historical attractions and beautiful wooden churches.

By day, feast your eyes on peaceful nature, beautiful mountains, various wild animals and charming wooden Orthodox churches that date back to the year 1799. By night, you can also find the darkest place in Europe here, up to 7,000 stars may be seen by the naked eye at Starry Sky Park.

Golden Polish Autumn is truly beautiful, if you have any chance to visit Poland during autumn, do not miss it!?

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Visit Niedzica Castle and experience the medieval atmosphere

Located about 110km south of Krakow, Niedzica Castle (also known as Dunajec Zamek) in the Pieniny Mountains is a medieval castle that was originally built in 1325 by the Brezevichy family. The castle was among the most important fortifications along the Dunajec River and it’s a vital centre of Polish-Hungarian relations since the 14th century.

Due to its special location, the castle has always played a part in the Polish-Hungarian relations. For centuries, the castle was a border post of Hungary and Hungarian owners lived in the castle until World War II. After the war, the castle was repaired by Poland and since then it has become one of the most visited places in this part of the country.

This gem of architecture was built on a limestone cliff, 566 meters above the sea level, located at the upstream of Dunajec River. The castle is a superb way to get a sweeping view of the river and surrounding area. There are some legends about the castle. It’s said that one of the first owners of the castle,  Sebastian Brezevichy, whose wife was Inca royal and they brought the Inca treasure of the family to the castle. The legend says that the ghost of Umina appears every night to scare away the people who want to steal their treasure. You can 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.

Its impressive location atop a hill, breathtaking views and ghostly legends attract hundreds of visitors each year. If you are interested in visiting this stunning castle, contact us for your tailored trip to Poland.?

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Magnificent Ruin of Krzyżtopór castle in Poland

With its rich history, from regal residences in Krakow to the ruined castles off the beaten path, Poland bosts over 500 castles and 2,5 thousand of palaces around the country. These charming buildings are not only witnesses of Poland’s history, but also the best recorders of the long history of Poland.

We like to share with you the most peculiar ruined castle in Poland, which is also one of my favorite attractions. Located in the little village of Ujazd, Krzyżtopór castle is a grand but dilapidated structure from many centuries ago, one of the largest buildings in Poland. It’s a little known fact that the castle was the largest palace complex in Europe until the famous French Versailles was built.

The Krzyżtopór castle was erected in the years 1631-1644 as the aristocratic residence of Krzysztof Ossoliński, designed by Italian architect Lorenzo Muretto and cost the enormous sum of 30 million Polish złotys and took 13 years to complete. The grandeur and splendor of the castle exceeded the assumption of all other buildings during the same time period.

For defensive purposes, the castle was built upon a rocky hill, with bastions at the five corners. It is said that the eccentric governor Krzysztof Ossoliński was obsessed with magic and astrology which was also infused in the design of the castle. The unique symmetry of the castle is really obvious even from different perspectives. This majestic castle embodied the structure of the calendar, with four towers representing the four seasons, 12 halls symbolizing the 12 months of the year, 52 rooms for the 52 weeks, 365 windows for 365 days,  and there’s another one used only in leap years. It is said that the ceiling of the ballroom was replaced by a transparent aquarium in which various exotic fishes were swimming above people‘s heads, while marble and mirrors were used in the interiors of the underground stables to illuminate the rooms. In terms of equipment, Krzyżtopór was furnished with amenities that were rarely seen in the 17th century, such as ventilation and heating system, and unique waterworks that provided all rooms with fresh water. Though it is regarded as a permanent ruin due to the destruction by war, there’s about 90% of the walls have been preserved and that is enough to inspire our imagination to recreate how splendid Krzyżtopór was in the 17th century.

To this day, the magnificence and spectacularity of Krzyżtopór castle captivate all who visit here. Its dimensions and architecture are still unique in many places. In addition, some interesting activities are organized here include artillery shows, concerts, dancing classes and staged knights’ battles, every few months. With this magic atmosphere and imposing views, Krzyżtopór Castle is definately worth a visit.

There’s plenty of splendid landscape to discover in Poland, contact us to find out more fantastic attractions in Poland.?

 

Photo by zloteprzeboje.tuba.pl

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A heart-shaped lake in Międzyrzecz

?What a beautiful lake! Situated in Międzyrzecz County, an incredible heart-shaped lake has been spotted hidden deep in the Pszczewski Landscape Park established in 1986. Although its official name is Black Lake?, from the air, It looks more like a blue heart?, surrounded by flourishing forests, everywhere you can see rich greenery of grass and trees. Thanks to the great natural resources, Poland boasts lots of stunning landscapes. ?

Take a stroll with your lovers or family around the Black Lake, leaving a heart-shaped track on your roadmap.?‍♀️❤️?‍♂️How romantic is that?

? In addition to natural attractions, there are also many historical places and cultural attractions for visitors to explore. North of the Park, west of the town, Międyrzecz Castle located on a small hill in the forks of Obra and Paklica rivers. This brick castle was raised in around 1350 by Casimir III the Great, is the successor of a wooden borough located in this place earlier. During the Piast dynasty of Poland, It was one of the most important Polish fortresses served as the watchtower of the Polish western border. After several reconstructions, the castle gate fortified with roundel bastions is currently the only such preserved in Poland. Besides, not far away from the park, there is a beautiful town named Świebodzin where you can visit the world’s tallest statues of Jesus completed in 2010 there.

There’s plenty of splendid landscape to discover in Poland, contact us to find out more fantastic attractions in Poland.?

Photo by thefirstnews

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The 17th Jewish Culture Festival has kicked off in Warsaw.

?The 17th Jewish Culture Festival – Singer’s Warsaw has kicked off in Warsaw. It seems that August is a music holiday for all music lovers, various music events were coming one after another.??

This multicultural event was named after Nobel Prize-winning Polish-Jewish writer Isaac Bashevis Singer, presenting Jewish culture through various cultural activities lasting more than a week, including indoor and large outdoor music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings, exhibitions and interesting lectures.

The list of this year’s performers includes Francesco Bruno from Italy, Polish-Ukrainian violinist Vadim Brodski and the Preßburger Klezmer Band from Slovakia, etc. An opening cantorial concert at Warsaw’s Nożyk Synagogue is among the highlights of the festival, which was performed by many musicians including Yoni Rose from Germany. The festival is held in various places around Warsaw every year, but mainly in the part of the city that was once the hub of Warsaw’s Jewish community.

It’s a good opportunity to explore and celebrate Jewish culture and tradition, among a wide range of cultural activities, there’s something for everyone, even for children. The festival runs until August 30, some of the significant activities are available to watch online as well, do not miss it!?

More info: https://www.poland.travel/en/travel-inspirations/the-17th-jewish-culture-festival-singers-warsaw-22-%E2%80%93-30-august#i

Photo by Polish Tourism Organisation

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