Polish travel facts and trivia
Schindler’s List, Chopin, Pope John Paul, Auschwitz, Warsaw, Krakow
Poland: Information and statistics on the written constitution, Second World War, Palace of Culture and Science, holocaust, Bielowreza National Park, Katowice & more.
Poland is rapidly emerging as a tourist destination since its inclusion in the European Union. Here are some things you can expect if you go on holiday or vacation in Eastern Europe’s most populous country.
- While other countries are much older and have had far more stable government, Poland was the first country in Europe to adopt a written constitution.
- Stephen Spielberg’s Oscar-winning 1993 film, Schindler’s List, was set in the ghetto of Krakow. It is possible to do tours of places highlighted by the film, which was an adaptation of Thomas Kenneally’s book, although don’t expect a happy experience. For those wanting an even more heart-breaking time, the Plaszów concentration camp, which also featured in the film, is nearby.
- In Warsaw’s Wilanow Park, you can find a museum dedicated to a slightly offbeat type of art form – it is entirely devoted to posters.
- Krakow’s town square is the biggest in Europe.
- The Bielowreza National Park is a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. You can see all manner of wildlife there, including boars, wolves and bison.
- The church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw is home to famous Polish composer and pianist Frederic Chopin’s heart. If you want a bit more Chopin, then head to the museum dedicated to him, also in Warsaw. Here you can find one of his pianos, letters he wrote and musical scores that he penned during his lifetime.
- Pope John Paul II was born in Krakow, and acted as the city’s bishop. Attractions devoted to him are littered throughout the city and he is revered here. This is understandable, given the strong Catholicism that is present throughout Poland.
- The old city centre of Warsaw is not really that old at all. Most of it was destroyed during the Second World War, and had to be rebuilt afterwards. That this has been done so quickly, and largely in the same style, is one of the world’s great construction achievements, and UNESCO have bestowed World Heritage status upon it.
- The most famous concentration camp of all – Auschwitz – is a short distance from Krakow and Katowice. The Auschwitz museum and memorial is a truly moving experience, and it doesn’t pull any punches about the horrors of the Nazi holocaust.
- Poland’s tallest building is the Communist-era Palace of Culture and Science.
MORE TRAVEL FACTS AND TRIVIA
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The copyright of the article Polish travel facts and trivia in Poland Travel is owned by David Whitley. Permission to republish Polish travel facts and trivia must be granted by the author in writing.
