Poland, not yet open by us
We are underestimated by our tourists Poland. Many for some reason are sure: prestigious to say that rested in Germany or, say, in France than in Poland. The image of the country, probably, spoiled the shuttle boom of the beginning of the 90s, when our shuttles rushed to the cheap, but quite high-quality goods. And those ours who abroad are not money to do, but to rest, while they are not in a hurry to catch up with the Polish roads of their rapid fellow citizens.
Meanwhile, the neighbors-Germans, omnipresent Japanese and Americans, are increasingly peeking to Poland. And for the past decade, the tourist infrastructure is very successfully developing here, and the pace of development of the industry even gave rise to Poland to the tourist tiger (by analogy with famous rapid developing countries of Southeast Asia). Now Poland takes the seventh place in the world by the number of foreign tourists.
Natural diversity God awarded Poland in full. There are mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, swamps and forests. Moreover, the Bebzhan swamps, for example, are considered one of the last natural swampy territories in Europe, and from the forests you can mention Belovezhskaya Pushcha to imagine how Poland has it. Believe it here: in the country, 22 national reserves, each of which is interesting for tourists. And in Poland there are the sea: a few hundred kilometers stretched a strip of sandy beaches along the Baltic coast. In winter, the Baltik, of course, is unlikely to attract someone, although the landscapes are amazing there. At this time of year, it is better not to go to the north, but to the south, where several mountain ranges stretches along the border – it is a sudden and Carpathians. To take such European mountain powers as Switzerland or Austria, Poland is difficult – the mountains above 1000 m occupy only 0.2% of its territory, and "Two thousandbile" And at all – only four. But Nature took it not by quantity, but a quality diversity. Not to confuse anything, as not to confuse and among themselves, nor the rounded tops and gentle slopes of the Silesian and living Beskida, nor rock labyrinths and wonderful stone blocks in the dining mountains, neither sharp outlines of the Tatras, nor flat, peasons covered with grass tops in the bezhad whose Polish name – "Polonins".
So where can I go skiing? In the very West, in the high part, the generally accepted centers of skiing are Karpach and Skalk-Poreb. Both in the other place there are chair elevators. If you move "in the mountains" To the east, then excellent opportunities for winter sports can be found in the Claude Basin. This place is especially needed to remember those who are usually going for a long time and postponing the trip: just here, in the Melts terrain, on the northern slopes of the Orlitsky mountains snow lies until May. But it is better, of course, until the last month of spring with skiing, but to use the right time – from January to March – to go, for example, in Ski centers Szrek, Ustron, Vistula in Silesian Beskidakh. Here the number of triggers and lifts in Poland. Skiing can be going to the beznes – this is the closest to the border with Ukraine the Karpat ridge, where the pearl of Polish spa spa is located. But still the most famous mountain array of Poland is the Tatras. And the most attractive winter recreation center (although good here at any time of the year) – Zakopane.
In the city, which is called the Winter Polish capital, live 30 thousand. man, and take resting local hotels, guest houses, private apartments can up to 50 thousand.
It would be on his side at least a little luck, now the city at the foot of the Tatram would be prepared for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, but he remained only by the applicant. But this indicates the excellent opportunities for winter sports. And holding a few world championships on the classical ski program and winter student games is also worth something.
Zakopane lies in a beautiful basin at an altitude of 800 m above sea level. Fashion holiday in Zakopane appeared at the end of the XIX century, and in 1936 the cable car with a length of 4281 m – the first in Poland. On her and now tourists rise to the top of Kasprene Top (1985 m). Those who are interested in slalomal routes are sent to the slopes of the mountain of Nasal (1206 m). The catalyst leads onto the lipper – another vertex, where there are also well-prepared skiing, sinic and bobslee routes. You can climb on it and on the funicular – the mountain tram. And not only to rush down. But also just admire the panorama of the mountains, opening from the observation deck, and underlying Zakopane. A study from grooving and duskness that so often "Rady" We are winter, it is in the mountains that you can feel all the charm of windless sunny days, when the temperature rises significantly higher than below.
And what air in these places! Coniferous forests are saturated with microelements and essential oils, which is especially useful for people with a weakened nervous system and allergy. Just to list all the delights of rest in Zakopane, it is worth mentioning about the open pool with water from geothermal sources all year round (it is saturated with hydrogen sulfide, its temperature is 37 degrees).
In the evening, resting in Zakopane is also there than to take yourself. Cafes, restaurants, bars, discos. Those who prefer more quiet forms of leisure can visit the exhibitions or go to the theater: Yes, yes, this resort city has its professional theater. Well, it is difficult, probably, deny yourself the pleasure to watch Krakow – because Zakopane is from him just 100 km (and 110 km from Krakow International Airport). By the way, here, probably, it is appropriate to remember about one considerable benefits of rest in Poland for us – proximity to this country. This allows you to save substantially: because in Poland without any problems can be reached by bus or train. The latter goes from Moscow less than a day. And the road on earth is still cheaper than in the sky.
But back to things more elevated. Vintage Krakow – just the city that will help learn the history and culture of Poland. Polyakov has a special attitude towards him. After all, this city, as the poet Adam Mitskevich wrote about him, – "The cradle of the old speech compulcious". To convey to people who inject all his charm, Polish historians were looking for the most refined comparisons. Back in the XVI century poet, translator and writer Marcin Belsky in his "Chronicle" I noticed: "Krakow on lute looks like". You will look at the city plan, – and, it turns out, the chronicler rights. "Puzzled" The old town, surrounded by the fortress walls, and now the rings of boulevards, is like a body of the tool, the Wawel Castle – the head of Lute, and connecting their royal road – like her neck. But, apparently, believing that the comparison with the musical instrument is good, but only partly, because it does not transmit all the greatness of the city where the royal residence was located, the writer added: "And he is like a pretty eagle, which is the head of the castle, the releament – the street of Grodskaya, and the prostrate wings – submissions".
Today Krakow is a city with a million population, modern quarters, but nothing has changed his soul. Also the famous his famous market is the main square, which Poles proudly say that it is more St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican and even St. Mark in Venice. And just beautiful. Of course, the plot of 200 is 200 m, which was allocated under the area of medieval builders, changed his appearance over the centuries. Once he was tightly built up. Now here in the center are the monumental building Sukenitsa (cloth rows), a small church of St. Wojca and the Town Hall Tower: Do not be surprised if it seems to you that it falls from the vertical, 50 cm. Not a pisa, of course, but still. And almost always over the market hubby. A beautiful legend is told about them: as if this is the faithful warriors of Krakow Prince Gerhritis IV, which turned into birds.
In general, no other city in Poland is associated with such a number of legends as with Krakow. And this is not superfront the proof that the Poles love him very much.
It is worth getting around the whole market around – here each building has its own history. In the house number 6 in 1794 there was a headquarters of Tadeusch Kostysheko, and in 9 – married Marina Mnishek and Faldmitry. It was in 1605. At the house number 15 also has its own legend. They say that in 1364 during the Cathedral of Kings in Krakow, the owner of the house from the famous Krakow Patricziev arranged for guests of Casimir the Great Luxury Feast. Today here is one of the most famous restaurants in Poland. And he carries the name of the owner – a dense. And in the house number 36 was once a seating courtyard, and Johann Wolfgang Goethe and King Nicholas stopped there and King Nicholas II.
But the most impressive building in the market is the Gothic Mariatsky Church. And in it – a magnificent altar of Vita svosha. For the sake of it one, it is already worth come to Krakow. Master from Nuremberg 18 years old cut out the Gothic Wooden Altar, which remained the largest in Europe – 200 figures and about 2 thousand. details from linden. The highest figures reach almost 3 m in length, and weigh several hundred kilograms. The stemman himself chose for them the trunks of 500-year-old trees, which later on the Wist of the Forest, were delivered to Krakow. It was in the 70s of the XVI century. Consider, the witnesses of how many centuries were those trees.
Traditions of the most gray-haired stained by the Wovel Hill and Castle. In ancient times, the foot of the hill lived at the foot of the hill. And every week Krakovchan gave him several cows – so as not to touch people. It continued so as long as one cuty shoemaker – the scuba knocked him the scarecrow, stuffed with sulfur: ate his dragon, rushed to the current Hill Hillov, in order to slightly, yes, he got drunk. And the shoemaker received a reward from the king to Krak his daughter in his wife. Today, tourists are happy to descend into the pit of the dragon, in fact it is just a cave who are under the hill five more.
But still, the main thing on the Wawel is a more real story, to touch which you can, passing to the Cathedral (the coronations and burial of the Polish kings were held here and inspected museum expositions in the castle. Here are old furniture, and fabrics, and the largest collection of tapestries in Europe (the beginning of the collection put in 1523 King Sigismund Senior, who ordered the first party in 16 pieces in Antwerp), royal regalia, weapons, works of applied art in Antwerp.
In Krakow, it is necessary to get around the university district: Founded here in 1364, the first Polish University was second after Prague in Central Europe. He is also famous for becoming "Alma Mater" for Nicholas Copernica himself. The testimony of his student days has still been preserved in the lists for the winter semester of 1491: "Nikolay, the son of Nikolai from Toruni made a payment in full". And those astronomical instruments, which, most likely, enjoyed the Great Scientist, are stored at the University Museum. Busy look at them.
In the vicinity of Krakow, tourists usually visit the town of Village – it is practically bordered by a million city. This place is famous for 700-year-old salt powers. The most unexpected Great is a real poetry created from such a prose material like salt. In the generated part of the salt kopens, at a depth of 101 m, the miners cut the chapel. It is decorated with bas-reliefs and sculptures from salt and illuminated by chandeliers from salt crystals. It is dedicated to a blessed King. Daughter of the Hungarian king, she married Krakow Prince Boleslav’s shy. Hungary was famous for rich salt cops, and King wanted to and her new homeland gained the same wealth. Before leaving, she threw her ring at the mine, and, having arrived in Poland, ordered to build a mine in Village. In the first minor salts, Kinggi’s ring was found.
Not so far from Krakow there is a place where thousands of people from different countries come every year. This is the camp of death Auschwitz-Brzezinka. Everything is left here as it was when Soviet troops entered the camp: barracks, gas chambers, death wall, crematorium. Known brick buildings known for textbooks, you can go through the gate with the inscription "Arbeit Macht Frei" ("Labor makes free"). Here died, according to various sources, from 1.5 to 4 million people 28 nationalities. The concentration camp in Auschwitz is listed on the monuments of the international importance of UNESCO, along with 7 more facilities in Poland.
Well, of course, live in Krakow a few days.
Good to call in the modern capital – Warsaw. Old city here too, like picture. It is just created by modern masters. After all, after World War II, Warsaw lay in ruins. It would be easier to build – on the site of the destroyed – a new city. But decided to restore everything, as it was, and even more accurately recreated the appearance of medieval quarters, without repeating a later building. A clear rectangle of the market (so called the square) is surrounded by pressed to each other with multi-colored four-five-storey houses under the islander tiled roofs. On the streets of the Old Town We must wander, slowly, admiring the chips and monasteries. Go to the royal castle where the magnificent column of Sigismund III vases is on the square. And then go to the direct broad streets that form the so-called royal tract – Krakowska Poshedmesty, New Holy, Alley Uyzdovski, – To the famous Warsaw Park Lazenki. The palace and park complex was built in the XVIII century. He became the residence of the last Polish king of Stanislav Augustus of the Constable – the largest pheette. Therefore, the Palace is striking not only by magnificent interiors, but also a collection of works of art.
50 km from the capital place, which is unlikely to cost their attention to music love. In the romantic estate surrounded by a park "Zhelyazov Volia" Spent his orphanage, the most famous Polish composer Frederic Chopin: His father was engaged in learning and raising children of the estate owner. Chopin left Poland at 20, before that, I also managed to live in Warsaw. Only the heart of Chopin returned to his homeland – urn with him under the gravestone in the Warsaw Church of the Holy Cross. Chopin himself was buried in Paris, on the famous cemetery per lashine. By the way, recently the Poles gave a tribute to their outstanding compatriot, calling him the name of the capital airport.
From a large number of Polish cities, in which the monuments of culture and architecture deserve attention are located, it is worth mentioning yet the Zamosc – the Polish Pearl of Renaissance. Built it invited by the famous magnate Chancellor Jan Zamoi Italian architect Bernardo Morando. Therefore, in the appearance of the city, not at all Polish features.
Interesting one of the most ancient cities – Peremysl, in the architectural appearance of which was intertwined different styles. Many valuable monuments have been preserved in Lublin. Special charm in Gothic Torun, standing on the shore. Here born Copernicus, and the house where it happened, imagine, preserved. And in Malbork there is a castle built by crusader knights: they invited Polish Prince Konrad Mazovsky to their possessions. This castle is considered almost the biggest of all fortresses in Europe. And today it can be seen almost the same as he was in the time of the knights. This is this country – Poland. It seems to be familiar, completely close, but not yet open by our tourists.
