Cultural sightseeing in Poland. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces
A huge number of monuments of history and architecture wait for tourists in Poland. You could learn about the difficult life of the Polish people. The numerous wars have changed the country's borders, its history, and identity. Pieces of evidence can be found in amazing museums located in different parts of the country. Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is one of the most beautiful cities not only in the state but in all Europe. The architecture of the city is a mixture of different styles and cultures. There are several palaces in the city. The most famous one is the Royal Palace. It is considered to be the landmark of the city. The mansion has been built in the style of classicism. During the Second World War, the palace was plundered and destroyed. Then, it was restored, and it is still the heart of the city.
Poland has the richest natural resources. The coast of the Baltic Sea is to the north. About a third of the entire territory is occupied by …
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1.Poland is a part of the European Union, but the country has its own currency - the Polish zloty. A small coin is a Polish grosz. 2. You can exchange …
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The unusual architecture is a feature of Old Town of Gdansk. Most of its buildings were constructed in 13-18 centuries. One of the most ancient buildings in this part of the city is the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, built in the 13th century. The construction features the Gothic style. National Maritime Museum can boast expositions that tell about ports of the country, peculiarities of navigation, and shipbuilding. It’s worth to pay a special attention to the collection of ancient Slavonic boats and medieval vessels. One of the most important museums of the country is the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Auschwitz. It is located on the territory of former fascist concentration camps. The place is in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Annually, more than a million people from all over the world visit this museum that forever portrayed the horror felt by the Jewish population of Poland.
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Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Poland
Reference information
Art galleries in Poland
♥ Art museum 'Academy of Fine Arts Museum inside Czapski Palace' Warsaw. On the map Photos
♥ Art museum 'Czartoryski Museum' Kraków. On the map Photos
♥ Art museum 'Lanckoroński Collection in the Royal Castle' Warsaw. On the map Photos
♥ Art museum 'MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art' Kraków. On the map Photos
♥ Art museum 'Muzeum Narodowe' Gdańsk. On the map Photos
♥ Art museum 'Academy of Fine Arts Museum inside Czapski Palace' Warsaw. On the map Photos
♥ Art museum 'Czartoryski Museum' Kraków. On the map Photos
♥ Art museum 'Lanckoroński Collection in the Royal Castle' Warsaw. On the map Photos
♥ Art museum 'MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art' Kraków. On the map Photos
♥ Art museum 'Muzeum Narodowe' Gdańsk. On the map Photos
Cathedrals and basilicas in Poland
♥ Kościół św. Michała Archanioła, Dębno. On the map Photos
♥ Cerkiew św. Paraskewy, Kwiatoń. On the map Photos
♥ Cerkiew św. Michała Archanioła, Brunary Wyżne. On the map Photos
♥ Kościół Zesłania Ducha Świętego, Sanok. On the map Photos
♥ Cerkiew Opieki Matki Bożej, Owczary. On the map Photos
♥ Bazylika Kolegiacka św. Małgorzaty, Nowy Sącz. On the map Photos
♥ Bazylika św. Katarzyny Aleksandryjskiej, Grybów. On the map Photos
♥ Kościół św. Michała Archanioła, Dębno. On the map Photos
♥ Cerkiew św. Paraskewy, Kwiatoń. On the map Photos
♥ Cerkiew św. Michała Archanioła, Brunary Wyżne. On the map Photos
♥ Kościół Zesłania Ducha Świętego, Sanok. On the map Photos
♥ Cerkiew Opieki Matki Bożej, Owczary. On the map Photos
♥ Bazylika Kolegiacka św. Małgorzaty, Nowy Sącz. On the map Photos
♥ Bazylika św. Katarzyny Aleksandryjskiej, Grybów. On the map Photos
Palaces in Poland
♥ Palace 'Abbot’s Palace' Gdańsk. On the map Photos
♥ Palace 'Belweder' . On the map Photos
♥ Palace 'Branicki Palace' Białystok. On the map Photos
♥ Palace 'Czapski Palace' Warsaw. On the map Photos
♥ Palace 'Jabłonna Palace' . On the map Photos
♥ Palace 'Abbot’s Palace' Gdańsk. On the map Photos
♥ Palace 'Belweder' . On the map Photos
♥ Palace 'Branicki Palace' Białystok. On the map Photos
♥ Palace 'Czapski Palace' Warsaw. On the map Photos
♥ Palace 'Jabłonna Palace' . On the map Photos
Extreme Guinness-type places in Poland
Curve Tower
From the series “Falling towers and buildings”
The Polish town of Ząbkowice Śląskie also has a very interesting historical symbol. This is the Curve Tower. Its construction began in the 13th century. It lasted more than a century. It was completed only in 1413. The height of the old tower is 34 meters. As modern research has shown, it began to deviate from the vertical axis at the construction stage. The deviation rate is currently 2.14 meters.
According to one of the assumptions, it was because of the strong deviation that the construction of the tower stretched for almost 150 years. Its shape began to be corrected during the construction process. But it still didn't help to completely fix the situation. The tower was part of the city's fortress wall once. Only a few fragments remain of the fortress wall today. The tower itself … Read all
According to one of the assumptions, it was because of the strong deviation that the construction of the tower stretched for almost 150 years. Its shape began to be corrected during the construction process. But it still didn't help to completely fix the situation. The tower was part of the city's fortress wall once. Only a few fragments remain of the fortress wall today. The tower itself … Read all
St. Martins Church
From the series “Rococo Architecture – Famous Monuments”
St. Martin's Church is located in the heart of the Old Town in Warsaw. It was founded in the 18th century. The old church is a grand building with three chapels. The very first church was founded on this site in 1353. The first large-scale reconstruction of the church began in 1744. It was held under the direction of the famous Italian architect Giovanni Spinola. It was during this period that the church acquired its unique Rococo features.
Karol Antoni Bay was directly involved in the design of the new church. It is believed that the bold idea to make the church an unusual wavy facade belonged to him. Many elements of the church's altar were also designed by Bay. Almost every element of the interior decoration of the church is a unique art exhibit today. Unfortunately, many unique … Read all
All unique sightseeing Poland
Karol Antoni Bay was directly involved in the design of the new church. It is believed that the bold idea to make the church an unusual wavy facade belonged to him. Many elements of the church's altar were also designed by Bay. Almost every element of the interior decoration of the church is a unique art exhibit today. Unfortunately, many unique … Read all
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Top cultural sites of Poland: monuments, theaters and churches
Amber Museum, Gdansk
Location on the map: Interesting facts:
» The Amber Museum was opened not so long ago, in 2006. It is located in an old fortress. It served as medieval jail once. » The first exhibition stands the visitors see displays pieces of rough amber found at different times. It is a natural material of different colors. Some exhibits include pieces of insects and plants.
» Then, the visitors enter the hall that houses old amber items made by masters of that time (crockery, caskets, and accessories).
» As for contemporary exhibits, you can see fashionable jewels, stylish accessories, and other unique items.
» The last exclusive exhibit is the inclusion of a lizard in the amber gum. It was found by a local resident in 1997 at the beach. It is named “Gierłowska Lizard” after Gabriela Gierlowska, an amber master. It is a rare specimen, the first in Poland and the second in the world.
Baths Palace, Warsaw
Location on the map: Interesting facts:
» The Baths Palace, also known as the Palace on the Water is the small residence of the last Polish king Stanislaw Poniatowski on the artificial island in Lazenkovsky Park. » The palace was built for King by Domenico Merlini in early Classical style in 1784 - 1795 years.
» Interiors of the palace along with an art gallery famous for its paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens were completely destroyed during World War II. After the war intensive restoration and reconstruction work begun; it ended only in 1964.
» Severe facade of the palace is compensated with luxurious interior decoration featuring shades, crystal chandeliers, mirrors, sculptures, Chinese and European porcelain.
» The Lazenkovsky Park (76 hectares of gardens) boasts numerous lakes, fountains, greenhouse, gazebo, mansions, statues and even a Greek amphitheater.
Carmelite Church, Warsaw
Location on the map: Interesting facts:
» The Carmelite Church is located in the historic center of Warsaw, in the Krakow suburb. This is one of the most famous churches in the city constructed in Baroque style with elements of Rococo and Classicism. » The church was built in shape of a Latin cross with main and two side naves.
» The main portal of the church is decorated with carvings of black and greenish marble, and the coat of arms of the Princes Radziwill is placed over the portal.
» There were two bell towers on each side of the façade; new bells were installed in 2000.
» The facade is topped with a copper sphere with the gilded hostia on it.
» Interior of the church is adorned in style of Late Baroque with Rococo elements. The walls and the main altar of the church are decorated with paintings by the famous painter of the 18th century, Shimon Chekhovich and Polish artist Franciszek Smuglevich. Gilded ceiling is decorated with gorgeous stucco.
Church at Skalka, Krakow
Location on the map: Interesting facts:
» The Church at Skalka, or the Church of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Stanislaw is the Catholic Church in Krakow located on a small hill. » The church is one of the most famous Polish sanctuaries.
» According to legend, the name of the church comes from the fact that here in 1079 the Archbishop of Krakow, Stanislaw Holy, was killed on the order of Polish King Boleslaw II.
» The crypt under the church is the national Pantheon, the burial place for some of the most prominent Poles. At the moment 13 Polish figures of culture are buried there.
» In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI conferred the small church the title of the Basilica.
Czapski Palace, Warsaw
Location on the map: Interesting facts:
» Czapski Palace is the baroque palace in Warsaw located in the historic center of the city in a suburb of Krakow. » At different times artist Zygmunt Vogel, composer Frederic Chopin, poets Zygmunt Krasinski and Cyprian Kamil Norwid have lived there.
» The palace now is housing the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts.
» The Museum of the Academy of Fine Arts has 30,000 works of art: painting, sculpture, graphics, drawings, posters, works of artistic crafts and industrial design.
» The courtyard of the palace houses a copy of the equestrian statue of the Venetian condottiere Bartolomeo Colleoni by Andrea Verrocchio.
» The southern wing of the palace houses the small Chopin family saloon furnished with antique furniture and personal belongings of the composer; it occupies a large room on the 3rd floor.
Divine Mercy Sanctuary, Krakow
Location on the map: Interesting facts:
» The Divine Mercy Sanctuary is the serving Roman Catholic Church in Krakow. » Two of the Pope visited the shrine, and millions of pilgrims from all over the world continue to come there every year.
» Currently, the sanctuary can accommodate about 5,000 people.
» Some cases of people healed after they have visited this church are known.
Field Cathedral, Warsaw
» The church has organs of the 19th century and the images by Michael Willmann, the famous German painter of Baroque style. The Mausoleum of the defenders of the fatherland is to the left and the Katyn Chapel is situated to the right.
» In 1835 - 1837 the church was rebuilt and adapted to the Orthodox liturgy. Baroque decoration was deleted and bells were hung in towers.
» After the restoration of independence in 1919, the Polish authorities have returned the church to the Catholics, and intended it for the department of the Polish Army.
» The church was badly damaged during the war, but it began to recover in 1946 - 1960 under the leadership of Leon Marek Suzin.
» During the war, the statue of the Virgin Mary Queen of Poland has miraculously survived.
Holy Cross Church, Warsaw
Location on the map: Interesting facts:
» The Basilica of the Holy Cross is the Catholic church built in 1679 - 1696 in Baroque style. » Columns of the temple house the urn with the hearts of Frederic Chopin and Wladyslaw Reymont.
» In 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising, the church was severely damaged; the facade of the building was destroyed along with arches and the altar, The Lord's Supper and The Crucifixion were damaged too.
» After the uprising the church was blown up by the Germans in January 1945.
» In the period from 1945 to 1953, the church was restored, but interior has undergone some changes, neither baroque nor frescoes have survived. The main altar was restored between 1960 and 1972.
» In 2002, Pope John Paul II has given the status of the minor basilica to the Church of the Holy Cross.