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About Poland
Click here to see a map of Poland.Mikolajki is a fine place to begin exploring the 3000 Masurian lakes, while Zakopane is the launching pad for hikes into the Tatras, Poland’s most magnificent mountain range. The primeval Bialowieza Forest on Poland's eastern border is home to the largest remaining herd of European bison and other wildlife. Each of these environments is distinct and equally worth experiencing. Of all Poland's cities, only Krakow has a fully authentic old centre, almost untouched by WWII. The damaged historic cores of Poznan, Torun and Wroclaw have been masterfully restored. The old towns in Gdansk and Warsaw were destroyed almost totally and rebuilt from scratch, with amazingly good results. All are well worth visiting. Warsaw's National Museum holds Poland's largest art collection, though national museums in Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan and Gdansk are also extensive and worth visiting.
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Culture
Sculpture and painting within Poland is typically religious, with Gothic and Renaissance representations of the Madonna and Christ evident in most churches. Ornate tomb decoration was a particular specialty of Polish stone-workers, their anonymous artistry also evident in the bas-relief facades of many Renaissance houses. Secular work has been largely documented, even until well into this century. Zdzislaw Beksinski is an exception. Born in 1929, he is a creator of a striking and mysterious world of dreams and is thought by many to be the best artist Poland has produced.On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and thus precipitated the Second World War. On September 17 Soviet troops invaded Poland from the east. The German occupation started. German authorities proceeded methodically to exterminate a large part of the population by massacres and starvation and in the extermination camps such as Oswiecim. The worst fate was reserved for the Jews. The Germans, hunting them down like animals, exterminated all but some 100,000 Jews.
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Local_Currency
Poland’s official currency is the zloty (zl). It is divided into 100 grosz (gr).Notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 zl, while coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 gr and 1, 2 and 5 zl.
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Transport
The national carrier, LOT Polish Airlines, links Warsaw with major cities around the world. LOT Polish Airlines also operates domestic flights daily to/from most major Polish cities.Inter-Rail train passes are valid in Poland. A Polrail Pass, valid for unlimited rail travel throughout Poland, can be bought abroad or in Poland. Bus travel within Poland in best used when travelling on short distances or in the mountains, otherwise trains are much faster and cheaper.
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Visa_Information
A valid passport is required to enter Poland. The expiry date should not be less than six months from the expected date of departure from Poland.A Polish visa is required for all travellers not holding a Polish passport except: citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Benelux, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenija, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.S.A., Uruguay and all states of former Soviet Union.
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