Poland is an exciting Central European country boasting colorful Old Town squares, hearty pierogi food and breathtaking natural splendor (mountains! lakes!).
Poland boasts excellent travel options, including international airports and buses that connect to Western Europe. Its currency is the zloty.
famous Polish citizens include writer Henryk Sienkiewicz, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, Maria Sklodowska-Curie (and Tadeusz Kosciuszko, her husband Tadeusz Kosciuszko’s) husband Tadeusz Kosciuszko), chemist Tadeusz Kosciuszko himself as well as science fiction author Stanislaw Lem and Pope John Paul II (earlier Karol Wojtyla). Additionally Poland boasts some of Europe’s cheapest beers!
Culture
History shows Poland to have been an essential cultural crossroad in Eastern Europe, its people having maintained a strong sense of identity and nationhood throughout its turbulent past. Nowadays it stands as an influential democratic power and one of the region’s major industrial and economic players.
Poles are well-educated and confident individuals, often generous, cordial, and attentive towards women. Communication among them is open and honest and they do not shy away from confrontation or argumentation. A certain stoicism can sometimes cause over-romanticization of ideas or situations or the overestimation of problems.
Polish culture is deeply influenced by Catholicism. Family values and extended families are highly esteemed; socialization takes place mainly within the home environment; an individual’s inner circle typically comprises both family members and close acquaintances known as “family friends”, with marriage being seen as the preferred form of relationship.
Polish culture places great value on humor. While their sense of wit may sometimes seem dry or sarcastic, there’s always an undercurrent of warmth and sincerity that comes through their dialogue.
Poles possess a deep sense of fair play and morality, likely as the result of Poland’s turbulent history and Catholic Church teachings on forgiveness and mercy. While this may sometimes result in more rigid views of society among some Poles, most remain practical and pragmatic and won’t hesitate to act when mistreatment or miscommunication arises.
Poland boasts an extensive musical tradition. Notable composers such as Karol Lipinski, Frederic Chopin and Witold Lutoslawski as well as regional folk musicians remain popular today. Additionally, classical as well as rock/pop are all immensely popular genres of music in Poland.
Food
Polish cuisine draws its influences from many other cultures. Due to Poland’s long history of political unions with other nations, its cuisine has adopted recipes from Jewish, Russian, German and Hungarian origin. Yet its cuisine still largely remains true to its roots – simple and honest in style.
Polish cuisine centers around meat, fish and an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits. Most meals typically feature two dishes at once: soup or salad followed by some sort of main dish like stew, casserole or fried/boiled potatoes with filling such as meat. Soups typically feature meat stock made up of different meat varieties (beef, chicken or pork) along with root vegetables as well as dairy products such as milk yogurt or sour cream for additional flavouring.
Kompott, a traditional fruit drink that is popular at parties and picnics, can be made using various fruits to produce a sweet drink with health benefits if prepared with lots of apples. Other popular drinks include tea, coffee and vodka.
Polish food is also famed for its pastry. Paczki, a delicious fried doughnut filled with various fillings, is popularly consumed at special events like Fat Thursday or Mardi Gras. Paczki forms part of Poland’s rich culinary legacy and its popularity has since spread worldwide.
Lesser Poland mountainous regions provide a traditional menu featuring sheep milk cheeses such as Bundz or creamy Bryndza, sauerkraut soup Kwasnica or Placki Ziemniaczane with goulash on top; also popular are Placki Zymniaczane with potatoes pancakes covered with goulash on top; as well as Grodziskie or Gratzer beers as well as high-quality spirits such as bison grass Zubrowka or home-brewed strong spirits like duch Puszczy.
Silesian cuisine draws upon Polish, German and Austrian influences for inspiration. Rolada is its signature dish; consisting of rolled beef patty served with silesian dumplings and red cabbage. Other popular options are zur slaski soup; meatballs karminadle; and blood sausage krupniok.
History
Poles remain one of the continent’s most influential nations despite a turbulent past and divided politics that have resulted in frequent partitioning by neighbors; their nation straddles NATO and EU membership; however, its government can often contradict democratic norms of allies; its history of partitioning has provided much material for Polish writers and scholars.
In the late 1500s Poland became a commonwealth with elected kings. At first it was an expansive power that expanded across western regions of Germany and Sweden before constant warfare undermined it and led to frequent conflict among its nobles, leading them to declare war on each other, leading them into domestic disorder disputes with neighboring states, furthering Poland’s decline.
Reforms implemented during the late 1700s aimed to quell anarchy; however, their efforts fell far short of saving the commonwealth; magnates still held power and held their ruler captive; Catherine the Great became deeply worried and, with support from some Polish-Luthenian nobility, launched an invasion to restore order in her beloved Poland-Lutheranian Commonwealth.
Reforms were carried out more firmly this time. The Constitution of 3 May was an important milestone in Polish history, yet did not prevent further wars: Prussia, Russia and Austria conquered Poland within 1815 while in 1939 Poland became the first country formally reject Germany’s territorial claims.
After World War II, Poland became engulfed by Soviet Russia and communism. But in 1980 workers began protesting under the banner of Solidarity trade union, an independent self-governing union. Authorities were then forced to renegotiate with workers, mostly agreeing to legalise Solidarity but also introducing martial law and suppressing strikes and protests; nonetheless in 1989 this movement won Lech Walesa, then chairman of Solidarity, its only Nobel Peace Prize award winner.
After the fall of communism, Poland and America have seen their relations deepen significantly. Economic and cultural links have deepened, while The Kosciuszko Foundation of New York has promoted American student visits to Poland since 1970; and more universities now provide year-long programs.
Weather
Climate in Poland varies significantly and largely depends on where a region lies geographically. For instance, weather in Silesian Lowland and Sandomierz Upland areas tends to be warmer than in northern-eastern parts of Poland. Furthermore, temperatures also depend on altitude and distance from seaside regions.
Poland is best visited during its summer months of June to August when temperatures are mild and sunny. But it’s important to keep in mind that this peak travel period attracts many tourists; therefore it is wiser to book hotel rooms and tickets well in advance.
Autumn (from October to December) is an ideal time for visitors to Poland as its climate remains mild and pleasant, providing ample opportunity to appreciate its picturesque autumn landscapes and go hiking without freezing to death in the mountains.
Winter in Poland runs from December to February and can be the coldest month. But it remains an excellent time for visitors, with plenty of activities and festivals taking place during this period. Just make sure that you bring warm clothes as temperatures may drop significantly in mountainous regions.
Poland boasts an abundance and diversity in its natural environment. Its forests feature deciduous and coniferous trees; while vegetation generally falls into the temperate category – with the Carpathian Mountains located to its south-east providing an exception. Poland is well known for its forests and lakes, making them popular spots for water sports and fishing alike. Additionally, Poland boasts an abundant array of fauna and wildlife such as 2,250 species of seed plants, 630 varieties of fungi, 200 liverworts and 1,200 mosses – one of the highest biodiverse countries in Europe! Furthermore, it hosts endangered species like grey wolves and bison; both can often be spotted roaming freely around Biaowiea National Park.