Poland - The country of UNESCO sites

7/31/2019 Poland - The country of UNESCO sites

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Poland is a country of 1000-year-old history, rich traditions and

abundant cultural heritage. The legacy of bygone centuries that

includes monuments of architecture, historical mementos and

masterpieces of art is perfectly combined with the wealth of

Polish nature and its original landscapes. Millions of tourists visit

Poland every year.

All those who wish to deepen their knowledge of history and

see outstanding art pieces are invited to our country in order to

admire Polands UNESCO sites entered on the World Cultural

and Natural Heritage List. The list created by the United Nations

Educational, Scientic and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) dis-

tinguishes buildings and sites that constitute the most valuable

examples of peoples material culture, products of

human genius or unique nature reserves. The states that pos-

sess those special sites on their territory are bound to protect

them from destruction.

Currently, the UNESCO register of the World Cultural and Natural

Heritage Sites includes 788 items of which 611 represent such

outstanding monuments of culture as the Egyptian pyramids,

the Acropolis in Athens, Venice in Italy, and the American Statue

of Liberty. The list of the most valuable nature monuments (154items) comprises, among others, the Yellowstone National Park

in the USA.

All these sites of international rank and the regions where they

are located attract great numbers of tourists. Thanks to its diver-

sity and wealth, the Polish culture enjoys a great interest of the

international community and travelers.

Polish Tourist Organisation


3/10

Krakw

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Magic City

This historic city with old walls and numerous mu-seums used to be a royal residence and a centero civilization spreading culture all over Poland.Here is the Wawel the seat o Polish kings andthe place o their coronations; St Marys Churchwith its amous alter by Veit Stoss; the MainMarket Square the largest medieval town squarein Europe; Kazimierz a unique district o Krakwthat used to be a separate Jewish town; and theJagiellonian University the oldest Polands col-lege with its amous Collegium Maius.The Old Town o Krakw has preserved itsmedieval urban layout. It used to be surrounded

by deensive walls that were later replaced bythe Planty, a curiously shaped park. O the oldortifcations only a ragment with the Florian Gate,a ew towers and the Barbican have remained.The Main Market Square (10 acres) plays a role oKrakws salon. Its embellished by the Cloth Hall,St Marys Church, a tiny St Adalberts Church, theTown Hall Tower and many old houses, each withits own historical genealogy.

Almost all sites and buildings that create theunique ambience o Krakw can be ound in thestreets leading out rom the Market Square or lo-cated in its closest vicinity: churches, monasteriesand convents, palaces, old burgher houses anduniversity buildings. Many museums with valuablecollections are also located near the Main MarketSquare.Thirty-six Krakws museums house over twomillion objets dart, i.e. o all Polands museumpossessions.

The Wawel is a special place or Polands state-hood its been always a symbol o our countrysglorious past and o the power o ormer Com-monwealth. Very attractive is the Royal Castle thatacquired its Renaissance shape in the early 16thcentury. It shelters precious art collections thatinclude 138 Renaissance tapestries manuacturedby weavers o Brussels.

A ew million tourists who not only admire thecity and its historical monuments but also takepart in numerous cultural events o internationalstanding visit Krakw every year. They also availthemselves o the services oered by the multi-tude o top-class hotels, stylish restaurants, casand pubs.

Historic

CenterofKrak

w

Tourist

attractionsin Krakw

Wawelwww.wawel.krakow.pltel. +4812 422 51 55

National Museumwww.muzeum.krakow.pltel. +4812 295 55 00

Old Theaterwww.stary-teatr.krakow.pltel. +4 812 422 85 66

Krakw Operawww.opera.krakow.pltel. +4812 628 91 01+48 12 296 61 00

Krakw Philharmonic

www.flharmonia.krakow.pltel. +4812 619 87 21

JewishCulture Centerwww.judaica.pltel. +4812 430 64 49

Tourist

attractions

in the environs

Krakw itwww.krakow.pltel. +4812 432 01 10+4812 433 73 10

Niepoomicewww.zamekkrolewski.com.pltel. +4812 281 32 32

Ojcwwww.ojcow.pltel. +4812 389 10 39+4812 389 20 05

Pieskowa Skaawww.pieskowaskala.pltel. +4812 389 60 04

Tyniechttp://tyniec.benedyktyni.pltel. +4812 688 54 52


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Wieliczka Owicim

4 5

Wielicz

kaSaltMine

Salty Treasure

One o Europes oldest industrial enterprises in continuous operation sincethe 13th century. The countrys great resource o wealth or centuries, it is nowconsidered to be one o the best-known and most willingly visited tourist at-tractions in Poland.Seven hundred years o uninterrupted exploitation o the local rock salt depos-its resulted in the creation o a labyrinth o chambers (2000) and tunnels, about300 kilometers in length, distributed over nine levels, the deepest being 327meters underground.The tourist route is 3.5 kilometers long and leads through over twenty cham-bers and chapels. Beautiully decorated chapels, charming underground lakesand well-preserved traces o mining operations give visitorsa good idea o how the mine had unctioned throughout ages. The miners o

Wieliczka have adorned that eerie world o pits and chambers, all hewn out byhand rom solid salt, with statues, monuments and basrelies.The underground chambers o the Wieliczka Salt Mine host a number o di-erent events, including conerences, banquets, weddings, New-Years balls,sports contests, miners orchestra concerts, and shows o carving in salt.Deep in the mine, a unique, underground sanatorium has been established,where chronic allergic diseases are treated.Theres a Salt Mine Museum in the local castle near the mine, which hasexhibits on the archaeology and history o the region. Part o its permanentcollections is displayed in the underground rooms and in the castle chambers.The exhibition includes unique mining machinery and acilities used or verticaland horizontal transportation o salt. There is also a display o handiworksrelated to the mines past made by artisans.The easiest way o getting to Wieliczka rom Krakws center is by suburbantrain or minibus.

Tourist

attractions

in the environs

Genocide Commemorated

The scene o martyrdom o millions opeople during World War II. The largestNazi concentration camp in German-occupied Europe. Here the Germans werecarrying out their genocidal plan o exter-minating the whole nations, mainly Jewsand Poles. The number o victims isdifcult to establish. Most probably about1,100,000 people o 28 nationalities per-ished in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps;the majority o them were Jews broughtrom dierent countries.The concentration camp named

Auschwitz I was established in April 1940on the outskirts o Owicim. The frsttransports came in June o the same year.

Ater entering the site through the campgate with the inscription Arbeit MachtFrei (Work Makes Free), the visitors tourprison blocks in which an exhibition o the

Auschwitz- Birkenau State Museum wasarranged. The display contains evidenceo the genocide, including personal itemstaken rom the victims as well as photo-graphsand documents.The main extermination center and theworlds largest cemetery, Birkenau, wasbuilt in the suburbs o Owicim in 1942.Some barracks and ruins o thecrematoria and gas chambers can beseen there today. The International CampVictims Memorial was unveiledin 1967 to commemorate the murderedpeople.

The Auschwitz-BirkenauMuseum and Memorialis visited by great num-bers o pilgrims rom allover the world.Many heads o state onofcial visits to Polandcome here to payhomage to the victimso Nazi genocide. TheMarch o the Livingevent organized hereevery year is a symbolo international recon-ciliation.

AuschwitzConcentrationCamp

Tourist

attractions

in the environs

Wieliczkawww.kopalnia.pltel. +48 12 278 73 02

Bochniawww.kopalniasoli.pltel. +48 14 612 43 15+48 14 615 36 36

Dobczycewww.dobczyce.pltel. +48 12 372 17 00+48 12 372 17 01

Nowy Winiczwww.nw.com.pltel. +48 14 612-85-89

Rabka Zdrjhttp://rabka-zdroj.pltel. +48 267 02 10

Tarnwwww.tarnow.plwww.it.tarnow.pltel. +4814 688 90 90

Auschwitz-Birkenauwww.auschwitz.org.pltel. +4833 844 81 00

Cieszynwww.cieszyn.pltel. +4833 479 42 40

Promnicewww.promnice.com.pltel. +4832 219 46 78

Pszczynawww.zamek-pszczyna.pltel. +4832 210 30 37

Tarnowskie Grywww.kopalniasrebra.pltel. +4 832 285 49 96

Zabrzewww.muzeumgornictwa.pltel. +4832 271 88 31


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Warszawa

6

HistoricCenterofWarsaw

Like a Phoenix Rising

rom the Ashes

The historic center o Warsaw constitutes anexception on UNESCOs World Cultural HeritageList. Its the only urban complex almost entirelyreconstructed ater the WWII total destruction. Thecareul reconstruction was so accurate that theinternational community demonstrated its greatappreciation through putting the historic city centero Warsaw on the list o the unique world heritagesites.The contemporary Warsaw is a big city, Polandscapital and its cultural, scientifc, educational andtourist center. It is also the seat o many impor-tant fnancial institutions and big companies. Thesmall medieval settlement quickly developed toacquire its municipal rights in the early 14 th century.

Located upon the Vistula, an important transporta-tion route, Warsaw was growing ast in importanceand size. It was soon surrounded by deensivewalls and the frst brick houses were erected in the14th century. In the early 17 th century, the Warsawcastle became the seat o King Zygmunt III Waza,who just at that time transerred the countryscapital rom Krakw to Warsaw. It was also at thattime that the Old Town was greatly reshaped andconnected with the New Town. Thus, the citysdevelopment continued outside its deensive walls.World War II brought total destruction to the oldestpart o the city. Other quarters o Polands capitalalso lay in ruins. The reconstruction o the citytook several years, and the rebuilding o the RoyalCastle started only in 1971.Due to the eort and skill o our architects andconservators as well as to the ow o time, todaytourists are not able to distinguish original rag-ments o the historic buildings rom the recon-

structed ones. The charming Old Town streetslead to the Market Square where artists displaytheir works. Here visitors can enjoy a meal or acup o coee in one o the numerous restaurantgardens or cas. The upper oors o many housesare occupied by stylish restaurants, art galleries,antique and souvenir shops. Worth a visit are richlyadorned churches and interesting museums.The Royal Castle is a real trove o national me-mentos; its interiors are beautiully decorated andcontain many works o art by the most amousEuropean and Polish artists. Very popular is thenearby Krakowskie Przedmiecie Street, theavorite meeting place and strolling area or Varso-vians and tourists.

Tourist

attractions

in the environs

Tourist

attractions

in Warsaw

Royal Castlewww.zamek-krolewski.com.pltel. +4822 355 51 70

Royalazienki Parkwww.lazienki-krolewskie.pltel. +4822 50 60 101

Wilanw Palacewww.wilanow-palac.art.pltel. +4822 842 25 09

National Museumwww.mnw.art.pltel. +4822 621 10 31

Warsaw UprisingMuseumwww.1944.pltel. +4822 539 79 05

Warsaw itwww.warsawtour.pltel. +4822 194 31

Putuskwww.dompolonii.pultusk.pltel. +4823 692 90 00

Nieborwwww.nieborow.art.pltel. +4846 838 56 35

elazowa Wolawww.chopin.pltel. +48 46 863 33 00

owiczwww.muzeum.low.pltel. +4846 837 39 28

Czerwisknad Wiswww.czerwinsk.salezjanie.pltel. +4824 231 50 35


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ZamoToru

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OldCityofZamo

The Pearl o the Renaissance

This town was built by will and brain o Jan Zamoyski, chan-cellor and commander-in-chie o the Crown, who intended to

create a perect city and a residence adequate to his position inthe state. Zamo was designed to outshine the royal residenceo Krakw that Jan Zamoyski greatly disliked.The whole project, including the construction o the town thatwas also a mighty ortress, was carried out within twenty years(1580-1600). For his great plan, Zamoyski commissioned anItalian architect rom Padua, Bernardo Morando, who becamethe author o all important buildings such as the palace, arsenal,collegiate church, town hall, and burgher houses in the marketsquare.Zamo is a unique urban and architectural complex, quiteclose to the idea o a perect city. It is oten reerred to as thePearl o the Renaissance as it eatures buildings o great beautyand historical value. The Old Town Square is dominated by aloty town hall and lined with arcaded burgher houses. Someo them are richly decorated and those belonged to Armenianmerchants. The mighty basilica contains outstanding art pieces.The Zamoyski Palace and the Academy, adapted to their cur-rent unctions, have lost a lot o their ormer splendor. Veryimpressive are the ormer ortifcations, in places seven meter

thick, that surround the Old Town complex. The Old Town oZamo is on UNESCOs World Cultural Heritage List.Tourists are attracted to Zamo by its historical monuments,peaceul ambience, cultural events, art galleries and comort-able accommodations. Its location in southeastern Poland, araway rom the main tourist routes, ensures true rest and relaxa-tion. The attractiveness o its location is much enhanced by thepicturesque Roztocze landscape, a real pearl o nature that isound in the neighborhood. Not ar rom Zamo is Lublin, a cityknown or the multitude o historical monuments.

Tourist

attractions

in the environs

Town o Nicolaus Copernicus

Thanks to the great astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and to the avor othe amous Torunian gingerbread as well as to the charm and character oone o Europes most beautiul old towns, Toru is a city widely known inPoland and also ar beyond its borders. Torus historic core, representedby its well preserved complex o medieval architecture and the originalurban layout, was included on UNESCOs World Heritage List in 1997.

A wealthy Hanseatic port, Toru was one o the most important tradeand cultural centers in this part o Europe. It still possesses magnifcentGothic buildings that testiy to the citys past splendor: one o the mostimposing old town halls in northern Europe, today occupied by theregional museum eaturing valuable collections, the mighty Cathedral

o SS John the Baptist and John the Evangelist with original interiors,St James Church with Gothic murals and spectacular stellar vaults, StMarys Church with richly adorned interiors o great historical value.There are several eye-catching burgher houses with the superbly deco-rated House under the Star and the fne brick Gothic house where theastronomer was born, now housing the Museum o Copernicus. Themedieval old town complex o Toru includes ruins o the TeutonicKnights castle, gates and towers o the long deensive city walls onceprotecting Toru rom the Vistula side as well as many other buildingsdating back to medieval times.Modern Toru is a quickly developing large academic center with itsNicolaus Copernicus University and the city that hosts a great numbero attractive artistic events. One o the many Torus tourist attractionsis the Planetarium equipped with a high-tech auditorium and presentingdiverse shows several times daily.

MedievalTownofToru

Tourist

attractions

in the environs

Zamo itwww.zamosc.pltel. +4884 639 22 92

Chemwww.chelm.pltel. +4882 565 20 70

Lublinwww.lublin.pltel. +4881 532 44 12

Sandomierzwww.sandomierz.pltel. +4815 644 01 00

Zwierzyniecwww.roztoczanskipn.pltel. +4884 687 20 66

Toru itwww.it.torun.pltel. +4856 621 09 31

Biskupinwww.biskupin.pltel. +4852 302 50 25

Bydgoszczwww.bydgoszcz.pltel. +4852 585 87 02

Chemnowww.chelmno.pltel. +4856 686 21 04

Ciechocinekwww.ciechocinek.pltel. +4854 416 10 60

Golub-Dobrzywww.zamekgolub.pltel. +4856 683 24 55


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Malbork

Jawor

KalwariaZebrzydowska

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Castle

oftheTeutonic

OrderinMalbork

Unconquerable Fortress

The Malbork castle is the mightiest ortress o medieval Europe. The im-mense castle was started in the 13th century and built by the Teutonic Knightsin stages. During the next century, when Malbork became the capital o theorders large state, the ortress was expanded considerably through adding toit the Great Reectory and the Grand Masters Palace.Very impressive are the red brick walls o the Middle and High Castles as well

as the belt o deensive walls with their towers and gates. Visitors can admirethe ingeniousness o medieval master-builders while viewing the clever systemo central heating, very rare in the medieval times.The castles enormous size is best appraised rom the Nogat River side, butalso during the tour o the complex one cannot stop admiring the majesticbeauty o the stronghold and its remarkable power. The Castle Museum oersmany attractions to visitors, including a number o exhibitions with old weap-ons, amber, porcelain and aence, and articles o artistic handicrats.Very popular with tourists are the son et lumirespectacles staged in theevening in the castle courtyards as well as nocturne tours o the castle interi-ors. The castle chambers oten host music concerts and medieval style ban-quets. In recent years, a great historical event entitled The Siege o Malborkis organized during the last weekend o July.Malbork is the member o the Polish Gothic Castles Association that repre-sents historical buildings located in eight other cities o the region.

Tourist

attractions

in the environs

KalwariaZebrzydowsk

a

Jerusalem Served as Example

One o Polands major pilgrimage destinations aswell as one o the most beautiul Calvary com-plexes in Europe, the little town o Kalwaria Ze-brzydowska is set amidst hills about 30 kilometerssouth-west rom Krakw. The whole complex ochapels was built over the surrounding hills in thepicturesque landscape o the Beskid Makowski.They all orm the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

Religious and Landscape Park registered onUNESCOs World Cultural Heritage List. The townowes its existence and subsequent ame to thePalatine o Krakw, Mikoaj Zebrzydowski, whoin 1600 commissioned the church and monasteryor the Bernardine Order as well as a complexo chapels similar to the Calvary in Jerusalem.He trusted the construction o the whole to theFlemish architect Paul Baudarth. The monasterywith the Marian Sanctuary was erected in the latebaroque style with some rococo decorations,adorned with cloisters and eaturing manner-ist wall paintings and precious canvases in itsinteriors. With time more chapels were erected,eventually reaching 42 buildings, all set in thenatural landscape and eaturing the amousCalvary avenues. It takes about our hours tocover the whole trail o six kilometers. The Marianchapel in the shape o a heart, Pilates Praetorium,and Our Ladys Tomb with its sarcophagus are the

most spectacular edifces.Every year thousands o pilgrims and touristsock to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. Famous churchairs combined with processions and the Passionplays attract throngs o people.The little town o Kalwaria Zebrzydowska hasother noteworthy historical monuments: the castlecomplex, old houses with church air stands andhermitages.Its a convenient starting point or hikers whowish to enjoy interesting trails crisscrossing theBeskidy Mountain Range. Another place wortha visit rom Kalwaria is Wadowice, birthplace oJohn Paul II who was oten coming to the shrineas a pilgrim.

Tourist

attractions

in the environs

Malbork itwww.zamek.malbork.pltel. +4855 647 08 00

Gdaskwww.gdansk.pltel. +4858 306 38 65

Gdyniawww.gdynia.pltel. +4858 622 37 66

Fromborkwww.rombork.art.pltel. +4855 244 00 75

Elblg Canalwww.it.ostroda.plwww.zegluga.com.pltel. +4889 646 38 71tel. +4855 232 43 07

Pelplinwww.pelplin.pltel. +4858 536 12 61

Sopotwww.sopot.pl

tel. +4858 521 37 50

KalwariaZebrzydowskawww.kalwaria.om.pltel. +4833 876 53 01

ywiec Beskid

rangewww.it.bielsko.pltel. +4 833 819 00 50

Sucha Beskidzkawww.sucha-beskidzka.pltel. +4833 874 23 41

Wadowicewww.it.wadowice.pltel. +4833 873 23 65

Zawojawww.zawoja.pltel. +4833 877 55 33


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widnica

BinarowaBlizne

Dbno PodchalaskieHaczw

Lipnica MurowanaSkowa

Jawor

12 13

ChurchesofPeacein

Jaworandwidnica

Temples with a Message

Their architectural value is much less important than the messagethat they carry.Both Protestant hal-timber churches were erected in the mid-17th century,ollowing the end o the Thirty Years War that ravaged large parts o Europe.Signing the Peace Treaty o Westphalia (1648), the emperor o Austria let theProtestants o Lower Silesia erect three churches o peace. They were to com-memorate the end o the devastating war and religious conicts.Both temples were not supposed to be reminiscent o traditional churches. Theywere to be constructed with the use o low quality materials and located within

the range o a cannonball rom the city walls. And this is how twoEuropes biggest wood-and-clay shingled constructions were built, eachseating a ew thousand people. With modestly looking outside walls, theyboth have rich baroque decorations inside.The Church o Peace in widnica is located on the old Protestant cemetery,away rom the oldest part o the city. The paintings that cover the walls andceiling depict visions o St John Evangelist described in his Apocalypse. Theyalso represent coats-o-arms o the most prominent members o the churchcommunity as well as views o the local towns and residences.The Church o Peace in Jawor (30 km rom widnica) is also richly decoratedwith 180 paintings representing scenes rom the Old and New Testaments aswell as coats-o-arms belonging to dierent amilies and guilds.Both towns boast rich historical heritage. In the Middle Ages, widnica wasthe capital o an independent principality. Tourists willingly visit historicalmonuments grouped within the oldest quarters o both towns.

Attractions

in the environs

Woode

nChurchesof

SouthernMaop

olska

Beauty in Timber Enclosed

This southeastern region o Poland eaturesmedium-size mountains and picturesquelandscapes. Here we fnd wooden Orthodox andRoman- Catholic churches perectly ftted into

their natural environment.Some o these churches are several hundredyears old and six were entered on UNESCOsWorld Cultural Heritage List. None o them weredesigned by amous architects. Simple carpentersconstructed them all. The oldest one is the15th-century church in Haczw, made o fr-woodand covered with shingles. Fragments o wallpaintings were uncovered in the church interiors.O great value is the shingle-rooed church inBlizne. Erected at the turn o the 15 th century, italso contains ragments o Gothic and Renais-sance wall paintings. The harmonious silhouetteo the church at Skowa has an original, spiryroo. The church at Binarowa boasts a veryprecious wall painting depicting scenes romthe New Testament and a carved in wood fgureo Madonna rom the 14 th century. Many uniquepaintings, sculptures and artistic handiworks canbe admired in the 15th-century church at Dbno.

The interior decorations o the church at LipnicaMurowana include precious wall paintings as wellas baroque paintings and sculptures.The six trails on the Route o Timber Architecturein the Maopolska region are over 1500 kilom-eters long. They eature 232 timber constructionso great value, including 123 Roman-Catholicchurches, 39 Orthodox churches, 25 rural andsmall town complexes, and 27 rural architecturemuseums that comprise 9 skansens and14 country manors.The Route o Timber Architecture in theMaopolska region is a new tourist oer thatpresents the most beautiul examples otimber architecture in Poland.

Tourist

attractions

in the environs

Jaworwww.jawor.pltel. +4876 870 33 71

widnicawww.kosciolpokoju.pltel. +4874 852 28 14

Wrocawwww.wroclaw.pltel. +4 871 344 31 11

Ksiwww.zamek-ksiaz.pltel. +4874 644 38 52

Nowy Scz ithttp://szlak.wrotamalopolski.pltel. + 4818 444 24 22

Bbrkawww.bobrka.pltel. +4813 433 34 89

Krynica Zdrjwww.krynica-zdroj.pltel. +4818 471 21 90

Niedzicawww.niedzica.pltel. +4818 262 93 83

Szczawnicawww.szczawnica.pltel. + 4818 262 23 32

Zakopanewww.zakopane.pltel. +4818 201 22 11


9/10

Biaowiea

Park Muakowski

14 15

BiaowieaForest

Miracle o Nature

The Biaowiea Forest is a symbol o Polandsnatural wealth and diversity. The internationalexperts recognized its unique value and theBiaowiea National Park was included onUNESCOs World Heritage List as well as onUNESCOs List o World Biosphere Reserves.This large expanse o natural orest is located

on the countrys eastern border and distributedroughly evenly between Poland and Belarus.The Belarusian part is also on UNESCOs WorldHeritage List. Its the last original lowland orestin Europe, and retains much o its primeval land-scape and plant and animal lie. The BiaowieaForest, in parts swampy, is covered with mixedorests untouched by man, with oak, hornbeam,spruce and pine being the predominant species.The most valuable ragments o nature areprotected and enclosed within the boundarieso the Biaowiea National Park, hal o whichconstitutes a strict nature reserve.The strict nature reserve can only be enteredwith a guide and toured on oot along signpost-ed trails or more comortably, by horse-drawncart. Other national park places o interestinclude the Palace Park, the Natural HistoryMuseum, and the Bison Reserve where theanimals o rare orest species are kept in large

enclosures. The greatest attraction o this part isthe bison herd, part o which is ree to roam theneighboring orest area.

Approximately 100,000 tourists come to theBiaowiea Forest each year. Most o themfnd accommodations in the little village oBiaowiea that is well-prepared to host visitorsas well as participants o various conerencesand incentives. The village is located in the veryheart o the Biaowiea Forest. The Biaowiearegion has many other attractions to oer.They include original borderland landscapes,multicultural heritage, little-known but ascinat-ing olklore, and timber architecture o particularbeauty.

Tourist

attractions

in the environs

Muakw/MuskauerP

ark

Landscape Formation

Occupying more than 1700 acres, its one o the largest landscape parks inEurope. It stretches on both sides o the Nysa uycka River that constitutesthe Polish-German state border. The larger part o the park (over 1200 acres) islocated on the Polish side, while the German part occupies the neighborhoodo Bad Muskau (Muakw).Prince Hermann Pckler-Muskau, the leading expert and ather o Germanlandscape parks, ounded the park in the early 19 th century. Inspired by Englishgardens, he transormed his amily residence into unusual parkland. It wasskillully arranged in the natural valley with the residential buildings erectedon diverse slopes and high terraces, all surrounded by gardens eaturing richarchitectural and oral details. The well-known architect Karl Friedrich Schinkeldesigned some buildings. Other artists and planners also contributed to thefnal result o the project. The group included the painter August Schirmer andthe English landscape designer John Adey Repton. In order to create pictur-esque park scenery, an artifcial river branch was created.Thanks to the careul preservation o the original parkland by the subsequentowners such as or example Prince Frederick o the Netherlands, the Muskauerlandscape retained its original character. Ater WWII, the new Polish-Germanstate border divided the Muakw/Muskauer Landscape Park into twoparts. The Polish and German authorities started the renewal program in the

1980s. This project has become a unique example o ruitul bilateralcooperation in the feld o protection and conservation o cultural landscape.

Tourist

attractions

in the environs

BiaowieskiNational Parkwww.bpn.com.pltel. +4885 681 23 06

Biaystokwww.podlaskieit.pl

tel. + 4885 732 68 31

Hajnwkawww.hajnowka.pltel. +4885 682 27 85

Grabarkawww.grabarka.pltel. +4885 655 00 10

Tykocinwww.tykocin.hg.pltel. +4885 718 16 27

Kruszynianywww.podlaskieit.plwww.kruszyniany.pltel. +4885 732 68 31

knicawww.leknica.pltel. +4868 362 41 82

Brodywww.brody.pltel. +4868 371 21 55

Kliczkwwww.kliczkow.com.pltel. +4875 734 07 00

Ochlawww.muzeum-etnog.zielman.pltel. +4868 321 15 91

Zielona Grawww.zielona-gora.pltel. +4868 323 22 22

agawww.um.zagan.pltel. +4868 477 10 90


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Wrocaw

New York

Moscow

Warsaw

Stockholm

Berlin

BrusselsLondon

Paris

Madrid

Amsterdam

Vienna Budapest

Rome

Kiev

Tokyo

16

TheCe

ntenaryHall(HalaLudowa)inWrocaw

The harmony o unctionality, material and orm

For the sake o its unusual construction, the Centenary Hall in Wrocaw isrecognized as one o the mostst outstanding structures o the 20th-centuryarchitecture worldwide. Entered on UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006, theCentenary Hall combines unctional values with symbolic meanings. This pio-neering work o modern engineering and architecture was designed by the cityarchitect Max Berg, who successully combined its unctionality with materialand orm. The reinorced concrete was used as the basic construction material,in many cases shaped into spectacular and very complex orms. The Cente-

nary Hall is one o the largest reinorced concrete public buildings in the world.The construction works were completed in 1912, but the hall was inauguratedin 1913 to celebrate the centenary o the liberation o Wrocaw rom the Na-poleons army that was deeated during the amous battle o the nations nearLeipzig in 1813.The 42-meter-high and 95-meter-large hall is topped with a huge, unsupporteddome, 67 meters in diameter, regarded as a great achievement in its day.Up to the present time, the hall underwent only a ew minor adaptation worksthat did not aect much its original character. On the contrary, they consider-ably added to its present-day uncionality. Today the hall that can seat up toseven thousand spectators hosts big shows, sports events, airs and con-gresses.During the last ew years, the Centenary Hall in Wrocaw oered its hospitalityacilities to the organizers o monumental opera shows that attract music loversrom all over Europe.

Interesting sites

in Wrocaws

environs

Polish sites on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List

www.liga-unesco.plContens page

Historic center o Krakw _____________________________________________www.krakow.pl tel. +4812 432 01 10 ___________________________ 2Wieliczka Salt Mine ________________________________________________www.kopalnia.pl tel. +4812 278 73 02 ____________________________4

Auschwitz Concentration Camp ____________________________________www.auschwitz.org.pl tel. +4833 843 20 22 ___________________________ 5Historic center o Warsaw _________________________________________ www.warsawtour.pl tel. +4822 194 31 ______________________________6Old City o Zamo __________________________________________________www.zamosc.pl tel. +4884 639 22 92 ____________________________8Medieval Town o Toru ______________________________________________www.it.torun.pl tel. +4856 621 09 31 ____________________________9Castle o the Teutonic Order in Malbork ____________________________www.zamek.malbork.pl tel. +4855 674 08 00 ___________________________10Kalwaria Zebrzydowska baroque pilgrimage complex _________________ www.kalwaria.om.pl tel. +4833 876 53 01 ___________________________11Churches o Peace in Jawor and widnica ________________www.jawor.pl, www.kosciolpokoju.pl ____________________________________________12Wooden churches o Southern Little Poland ___________________________ www.liga-unesco.pl ____________________________________________13

Biaowiea Forest _________________________________________________www.bpn.com.pl tel. +4885 681 29 01 ___________________________14Muakowski/Muskauer Park __________________________________________www.leknica.pl tel. +4868 362 47 17 ___________________________15The Centenary Hall (Hala Ludowa) in Wrocaw ______________________ www.halaludowa.wroc.pl tel. +4871 347 51 20 ___________________________16

Branches of the Polish Tourist Organisation Abroad

AUSTRIA Vienna tel. +(43-1) 524 71 91 12 ax 524 71 91 20 www.polen.travel [email protected]

BELGIUM Brussels tel. +(32-2) 740 06 20 ax 742 37 35 www.polen.travel [email protected]

www.pologne.travel [email protected] FRANCE Paris tel. +(33-1) 42 44 29 92 ax 42 97 52 25 www.pologne.travel [email protected]

GERMANY Berlin tel. +(49-30) 21 00 920 ax 21 00 92 14 www.polen.travel [email protected]

GREAT BRITAIN London tel. +(44-0) 300 303 1812 ax 300 303 1814 www.poland.travel [email protected]

HOLLAN D Amsterdam tel. +(31-20) 625 35 70 ax 623 09 29 www.polen.travel [email protected]

HUNGARY Budapest tel. +(36-1) 269 78 09 ax 269 78 10 www.lengyelorszag.travel [email protected]

ITALY Rome tel. +(39-06) 482 70 60 ax 481 75 69 www.polonia.travel [email protected]

JAPAN Tokyo tel. +(81) 3-5908-38 08 ax 3-5908-38 09 www.poland.travel [email protected] SPAIN Madrid tel. +(34-91) 541 48 08 ax 541 34 23 www.polonia.travel [email protected]

RUSSIA Moscow tel. +(7-495) 510 62 10 ax 510 62 11 www.poland.travel [email protected]

SWEDEN Stockholm tel. +(46-8) 21 60 75 ax 21-04-65 www.polen.travel [email protected]

USA New York tel. +(1-201) 420 99 10 ax 584 91 53 www.poland.travel [email protected] UKRAINE Kiev tel. +(38-04 4) 278 67 28 ax 278 66 70 www.polscha.travel [email protected]

Publisher: Polska Organizacja Turystyczna / Polish Tourist Organisation

00-613 Warszawa, ul. Chaubiskiego 8, tel. +48-22 536 70 70, ax +48-22 536 70 04, e-mail: [email protected], www.pot.gov.pl

Editor: www.artintro.com.pl ; Text: J. Wysokiski; Translation: J. K. Milencki; Photographs: F. Grzywacz, G. Kosiski, T. Kosiski, A.

Olej / K. Kobus, W., Z. Panw, D. Zard, Z. yburtowicz, East News, Agora, POT Archives

Wrocawwww.wroclaw.plwww.halaludowa.wroc.pltel. +4871 344 31 11tel. +4871 347 50 09

Aula Leopoldinum

www.muzeum.uni.wroc.pltel. +4871 375 26 18

Racawice Panoramawww.panoramaraclawicka.pltel. +4871 34 4 16 61

Lubiwww.lubiaz.pltel. +4871 389 71 66

Milickie Pondswww.milicz.pltel. +4871 383 00 35

Ksi Castlewww.ksiaz.walbrzych.pltel. +4874 664 38 50

Mount lawww.sobotka.pl

tel. +4871 31 62 043

Documents

Poland - The country of UNESCO sites