Don’t overlook Poland when booking your week away

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Don’t overlook Poland when booking your week away

by: Sarah Maple | Total views: 2 | Word Count: 508 | View PDF | Print View
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Considering that a whole world war was started by the German invasion of Poland (a war that we insisted on Poland’s behalf) most people know rather little about Poland. If they know anything at all it is usually because they read the book The Silver Sword when they were at school.

The media only ever talks about Poland if it has something to do with immigration and because of this many young people assume offhand that Poland is not worth visiting. This is far from the truth as anyone who has visited Krakow can tell you. Krakow epitomises old European charm through its beautiful buildings, town squares and exquisite cafes. Property in Poland has recently been given a boost with investors keen to buy in what is increasingly seen as a desirable area to live or holiday.

Poland is in the centre of Europe and can often be overlooked for destinations like Switzerland but me, never being much of a skier decided to hop on over the mountains and check out what Poland has to offer.

I love that old school Europe architecture and café culture so I would just be happy to hang out and eat pastries all day but there is too much to do to sit and gorge in the wonderful cafes all day. You can take beautiful walks through the countryside and round the lakes and should definitely take the time to go to the famous Stary or Slowacki theatres in Krakow. You can always find productions that are not entirely performed in Polish if you do not speak the language as many performance groups favouring sound, colour and silent improvisation over talking.

Of course there are more sombre and historical sights to visit in Poland. As one of the first countries to fall in the Second World War Poland was host to many atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis with the Holocaust being the most horrific. Many scenes from Schindler’s list were filmed here and you can visit some of the streets that were extensively used in the film.

Auschwitz is also a popular tourist destination although visiting it can be a very emotionally draining experience and not for everybody. The historical value of such a visit however should not be underestimated as it gives a greater and tangible understanding of what terrible things human beings can be capable of.

Unfortunately Warsaw never recovered from the destructions that the Germans inflicted on the buildings even though through careful construction, sites such as the old castle have been recreated. Emigration after the war and the slaughtering of 6 million poles including the whole Jewish population in Warsaw (a third of the whole population) had contributed to the feeling of subtle emptiness prevalent in modern Warsaw.

Unlike Warsaw, Krakow remained mostly unblemished from the war after the Russians arrived just in time to stop the German destruction. As a result it is one of the most unspoiled cities in Poland and in fact Europe.
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