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The 760th St Dominic’s Fair has already come! ?

?St. Dominic’s Fair is the largest open-air trade and summer cultural event in Poland and one of the largest in Europe. It was established in 1260 by Pope Alexander IV,  and the fair has successfully hosted over 750 editions so far.

Every year in the Old Town of Gdansk,  the St. Dominic’s Fair starts on the last Saturday of July and lasts until mid-August. Over 20 days, more than 1000 merchants, artists, artisans and collectors participate in the Fair occupying with their stands, which attract over 70,000 visitors a day, whose number usually doubles at weekends.

???‍♂️Its unique atmosphere recalls the Medieval tradition of fun and trade, the streets are filled with musicians, mimes, and street artists while shopkeepers present their often unusual, rare and odd wares such as antiques, works of art, silvers, pottery, amber, handmade toys and jewellery, you can find them everywhere! Besides, visitors can enjoy all manner of concerts, street performances, parades, fireworks shows and take part in numerous competitions. There’s also a 50-meter tall Ferris wheel standing in the Ołowianka Island, so-called AmberSky Gdansk, which offers an interesting perspective enjoying the panoramic view of the Gdansk Old Town. The Fair is like a cultural extravaganza that is full of vibrant and colourful activities with an abundance of food & drink stalls to choose from.

Every year, millions of visitors come to participate in the St Dominic’s Fair to find their treasure and immersing themselves into the joyful atmosphere.

Photo by jarmarkdominika

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76th anniversary of Warsaw Uprising

??Today is the 76th anniversary of the start of the Warsaw Uprising‼️

Every year on August 1st, at 5 in the afternoon, so-called “W” hour, Poland’s capital will stop 1 minute and activate alarm sirens to remember thousands of insurgents who put their lives at stake in an effort to liberate Warsaw from the hands of the Nazi German occupiers. At this moment, public transport and other vehicles, as well as Warsaw residents stop in their tracks to pay tribute to the fallen insurgents and those who survived.

?For the people who want to understand more about Warsaw Uprising, there’s a series of 10 audiowalks published by Culture.pl, in both English and Polish, including the most significant events in this important period’s to commemorate this year’s anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. It’s a good way to learn about the history of this phoenix city before you visit Warsaw.

? https://culture.pl/en/article/unseen-soundwalks-warsaw-rising-44

photo by Culture.pl / Aleksandra Rendak

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Krakow has been named ‘City of the Year 2019’

???Kraków, Poland’s second city, has won the prestigious title of ‘City of the Year 2019’, which is the first edition of the Belgian Tourist Awards that attracted more than 10,000 participants to vote for the best tourist destinations. Dominika Szulc, the director of the Polish Tourism Organisation in Belgium, has received the award from the President of the Belgian Tourist Awards. Congratulations!???

? Come to Poland and visit Kraków!

? Check out our Kraków City Break 3 day tours, explore Must-Visit attractions in Kraków with us! ???

Photo by belgiantouristawards

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WAWEL ROYAL CASTLE IN KRAKOW

Often recognized as the symbol of Poland’s statehood, Wawel Royal Castle was built on Wawel Hill located in central Kraków, and it was the seat of Poland’s rulers since the 11th century.

The castle was rebuilt after a fire in 1499 and has had several extensions. The complex we see now consists of a number of structures from different periods situated around the Italian-styled main courtyard, including elements of the Gothic, Renaissance, Rococo and Romanesque. It’s now a museum containing five separate sections, where visitors can admire valuable paintings, sixteenth-century Italian furniture, beautiful tapestries, dazzling jewelry, oriental arts, armory and other significant historic objects, such as the Szczerbiec coronation sword.

The Wawel Cathedral adjoining to the Royal Castle has witnessed many coronations, royal weddings and funerals. Almost all of the Polish kings were crowned in Wawel Castle. The Cathedral is flanked by various chapels, Sigismund Chapel is among the most surprising which has been hailed by many art historians as “the most beautiful example of Tuscan renaissance north of the Alps”. At the top of its Tower, there is the most famous Polish bell – the massive Sigismund’s Bell. The Wawel Cathedral has been standing for nearly 1,000 years, is one of the most important sacred buildings in Poland.

Wawel Royal Castle Complex is the most historically and culturally significant site in Poland and was one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world. Do not miss this place next time you visit Krakow.

?Check out our Polish Royal roots 7 day tours, explore Must-Visit Polish Royal Residences with us! ???

?Royal Castle in Warsaw

?Wilanów palace

?The Palace on the Isle

?Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków

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Explore the Green Lungs of Poland

??? North-eastern Poland boasts vast forest, post-glacial lakes, basins and river valleys, known as “the Green Lungs of Poland”. If you want to explore Poland’s natural treasures, then Bialystok is an excellent base where you can walk deep into the wilderness of the Białowieska primeval forest, be fascinated by the marshes of the Biebrza river valley and enjoy a view of various charming towns and villages.

??? Visitors can travel from Białystok to Białowieża Forest, which is one of the last and largest remaining parts of the immense primeval forest in Europe. Spend the morning meeting an actual bison in European Bison Show Reserve and then pass the afternoon wandering into the depths of the Strict Protection Area to watch hundreds of species of birds, or visiting Nature and Forest Museum to learn about various animal’s lifestyles in the forest. If you love the sounds of rushing water, the blowing wind and singing birds, then the Biebrza Valley is a perfect place for you to travel. It is one of the largest wildlife refuges in Europe with pristine wetlands and marshes, the park is home to a diverse animal population, especially for different species of water birds. These picturesque parks are perfect for people wanting to switch to a slower pace of life. ???

Besides its natural beauty, Bialystok is also full of numerous historical sites. It is the capital and largest city in northeastern Poland located close to Belarus and Lithuania, which makes it become a melting pot of diverse nations, cultures and traditions.

⛪️ You can start off in the historical Old Town Square known as the Rynek Kościuszki. Visit the stunning Branicki Palace to admire its Baroque architecture and fantastic French style gardens. Appreciate the impressive Bialystok Cathedral from 17 century, which is known for its sheer magnitude and its lofty vaults. Be sure to taste special local cuisine combined with multiple traditions of Ukrainian, Baltic, German, and Russian.

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Fantastic Beast from Kraków

Poland is a European country with thousands of years of history, filled with many mythical creatures inspired by legends. Among them the most famous one is the Wawel Dragon in Kraków.

??  According to local legend, Kraków was a happy place under the rule of King Krakus, until a dragon came along. The Wawel dragon was constantly hungry and asked people to feed him with cattle or girls, which terrorised all local residents. Both Knights and princes failed to vanquish the beast, until a young smart shoemaker Skuba stood up and outsmarted the Dragon with a calfskin stuffed with smoldering sulfur. As a result, the dragon ate the skin and died poisoned by the sulfur, the inhabitants of the region could finally return to peaceful life.

?? Today, you can still find the Dragon’s Den form 21 meters below ground. At the exit of the cave is a large dragon-shaped statue. It stands on the Vistula riverbank in the shade of Wawel Castle and expells fire out of its mouth every five minutes. Due to the popularity of the legend and the statue, the Wawel dragon became a symbol of the city. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kraków, especially for children.

??? There’s plenty more fantastic beasts to discover in Poland, are you ready to explore more interesting attractions with us!

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Poznań, a colorful playground ?

POZNAN is among the oldest cities in Poland and also served as the capital for a short time in the 13th century. Today, as the capital of Wielkopolska province, this vibrant and colorful city is still a major economic, commercial, cultural and tourism hub in west-central Poland, filled with unique places and attractions.

?Stroll into the most picturesque market squares in Poland, you will be fascinated by the colorful townhouses. The famous Renaissance Town Hall stands in the center of the square, where you can watch the traditional duel of the Town Hall goats at high noon!

?Along the Royal-Imperial Route, you can find the former Imperial Castle that used to be a residence of the German emperor. The architecture of its Neo-Romanesque style harks back to medieval castles, and the most impressive room in the edifice was the Throne Room in Byzantine style. Today it houses a cinema, art galleries, a puppet theater, music clubs, and others.

?Whether you are a history buff or just want to get a much deeper understanding of Poland, the cathedral located in Ostrów Tumski is one not to be missed. It’s the oldest church in Poland, dates back to the 10th century, where the first two sovereigns of the country were buried.

?If you have a sweet tooth, St. Martin’s Croissants, a local specialty in Poznan won’t let you down. You can learn the story of this baked goodie and even make a croissant yourself in the Poznan Croissant Museum.

? Top things to do in Poznan.

https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/destinations/poznan/

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Finding inner peace at BIESZCZADZKI NATIONAL PARK

The Bieszczady National Park is the third-largest national park in Poland, located in the most south-eastern part of Poland on the border with Slovakia and Ukraine. During the day, feast your eyes on peaceful nature, beautiful mountains, various wild animals and charming wooden Orthodox churches. At 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.

? Hiking to the highest peak of Bieszczady Poland ?

Tarnica is the highest peak of Bieszczady Poland, is also one of the Polish Crown Peaks. Leave from the village Wołosate, hike along the red trail, run through Tarnica (1346 m) and Halicz (1333 m) to Rozsypaniec (1280 m), and eventual return to Wołosate. The length of the route is almost 20 km with hiking time more than 6 hours, is one of the most beautiful trails in the Bieszczady Mountains. It’s a little challenging to finish the whole route, but picturesque valleys along the road are worth seeing.

? Visiting wooden orthodox churches ⛪️

If you walk along the wooden architecture trail, you will find a series of wooden churches. As a borderland area, there was a busy trade route that full of people from Hungary, Poland and Ukraine. As more and more people came to this area, the wooden Orthodox and Catholic churches served for different ethnic groups were well established. Apart from the wooden churches, there is also one made out of stone in Łopienka village which is abandoned after the II World War.

? Looking up at the stars ✨✨✨

It’s one of the few places in Poland and Europe where you can get an undistorted view of the starry sky. Since the invitation of the light bulb, more than 99% of the European populations live under light pollution, which makes the pristine night skies more precious. To protect the nocturnal environment from light pollution, the second-largest Starry Sky Park in Europe was established here, which covers over 113 ha across three parks. You can see more than 7000 stars with the unaided eye at night here under favorable conditions. As night comes, the mountains turn a dark purple color, the sky is full of stars move slowly across the night sky, fully immerse yourself in the dark night to experience pristine nature.

? Paragliding experience in Bieszczady Mountains ?

Have you ever dreamed of flying? Like an eagle admires the beauty of nature from above. Come to experience paragliding in the Bieszczady Mountains, it will make your dream come true. Thanks to the local air currents, it’s easy to rise and float over the scenic Bieszczady mountains and fly long-distances. It’s suited for all levels. Do not miss the chance to experience paragliding next time you visit the Bieszczady Mountains.

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Treat yourself to royal treatment at the Wierzynek restaurant

? Wierzynek is a fantastic historic restaurant located at the Main Square of Kraków Old Town in Poland. This glorious architecture occupies four floors and has eight separate dining rooms for 200 guests.

? The exquisite interiors of original period furnishings, 19th century paintings, shiny brass wall lamps and incredible timber ceilings make you feel like you’ve stepped into a 14th century palace. From the moment you entered the Wierzynek restaurant, you will experience royal treatment.

? The tradition of Wierzynek dates back to 1364, when a wealthy merchant Mikołaj Wierzynek hosted a splendid feast served on gold and silver plates for the guests of King Casimir the Great, including Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and many other kings and princes on the opening night. Records from the Cracow cathedral chronicle, the feast lasted twenty days and It is impossible to describe how joyful, magnificent, glorious and abundant this feast was, except by saying that all were given more than they had wished for.

? Thanks to its exquisite traditional Polish cuisine, the highest standards of service, luxury interiors full of delicate ornaments, Wierzynek was a Global Winner of International World Luxury Restaurant Awards in Luxury Theme Restaurant category as well as mentioned in the American bestseller “1000 Places to See Before You Die” as a place which is well worth a visit. 

❤️ With such splendid history and first-class food and service, no wonder many world leaders and celebrities like Charles de Gaulle and Sophie Marceau visited here.

? Do not miss this place next time you visit Krakow.

? Short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU-3PBw-g3A

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Europe’s last well-preserved primeval forest

???Białowieża Forest is the last remaining fragments of Europe’s primeval forest that once stretched across the European Plain. You can visit this one of Europe’s natural treasures from the Polish side. The Białowieża National Park situated in the north-east part of Poland and covers a part of the Białowieża Forest extending over 100 square kilometres.

?? The Białowieża National Park was established in 1932, is blessed with a wide variety of flora and fauna – from 809 vascular plants species to over 3 thousand cryptogams and fungi species; from 59 mammal species to over 250 bird.

? The symbol of the park is the European Bison, the biggest European land mammal, which was almost completely eliminated In the 18th century until the first reserve was established in 1929 to save bisons from extinction. In the first half of the 20th century, the park turned out to be the most important sanctuary. Nowadays there are about 500 bisons living in the Polish part of Białowieża Forest, which is the biggest wild population of this species in the world. Besides the European bison, there are also many rare species that can be identified only in Białowieża Forest or few places worldwide. If you want to take a close look at bisons and other wildlife, the Białowieża National Park is an ideal place for you to travel.

?The Białowieża National Park is the only Polish natural property designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site and it is also recognized as the most important central zone of Białowieża Forest Biosphere Reserve.

The top things to do in Białowieża National Park.

?Come face to face with bison ?

The first place on a list of “must-see” attractions is the European bison Show Reserve, a modern and large enclosed animal park that is surrounded by natural vegetation, where visitors can see the king of the forest – the bison! Is the best chance to observe these legendary creatures In semi-natural conditions. Besides, the reserve also holds several other species including elks, deer, roe deer, wild boars, wolves and lynx that you may observe them as well. With flat roads and good facilities, the reserve is easily here accessible for families with pushchairs and wheelchairs. It’s worth remembering that the best time to visit is in the morning, when the sun is not very hot and animals do not rest out of sight to avoid the sun.

?Bird watching in the Forest ?

The Białowieża Forest lies on the border of two different woodland zones – the mixed deciduous and the boreal ones which a variety of birds are attracted to. Visitors can find many bird species such as woodpeckers (10 species of woodpeckers), owls, eagles, flycatchers and the smallest European birds: goldcrest and firecrest. Since many species of birds are increasing their range, it’s easier to watch them in various parts of the forest. Little tip. If you want to watch some special birds, an experienced guide could help you design the appropriate travel route.

?Visit Nature and Forest Museum ⛪️

Nature and Forest Museum is the oldest museum in the Polish national parks, its traditions date back to the interwar period. The museum presents exhibitions relating to the park’s flora and fauna, the history of park, and the archaeology and ethnography of the region. Visitors can see nearly all species of animals and plants that exist in the forest, take a close look at those creatures and learned about their lifestyle in the forest.

?Cycling in the Forest ?

The Białowieża Forest is an ideal place for bikers with flat gravel roads and no cars at all. There are many routes to choose from, along with different length and complexity. But I highly recommend the perfectly marked and organized Green Velo trail that goes across the whole eastern part of Poland. 

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