Once Golden, Again Golden Poland

From a global and historic perspective is seems as				Mountains.
though Poland had reached its golden era around				Hillside, Countryside, Seaside
the 16th century during the wealthy and powerful				Poland has a unique draw due to its positioning on
Jagiellonian Dynasty and that it has been largely				the Baltic Sea and its shared borders with
downhill ever since. The Polish have taken a				Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine,
tremendous beating during the second 500 years				Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia. Poland today is finally
of their existence but have had remarkable and				the more tranquil, dynamic and cheaper cousin of
admirable success pulling their vast and stunningly				its neighbors. Visit the Great Mazury Lake District
beautiful land back together to make up				in the northeast where nearly 15% of the area is
todayï¿½s modern Third Republic. Travel to				covered by pristine lakes and canals, dotted with
Poland to experience fast-pasted cosmopolitan				picturesque villages. This is a haven for cycling,
centers like Krakow, rewind in time in the				canoeing and hiking. Donï¿½t miss the 13th
horse-and-carriage countryside or lose yourself				century Malbork Castle, the headquarters for the
completely in one of the forested national parks.				Order of the Teutonic Knights, which holds the
Poland, Pillage and Plunder				title as the largest medieval castle in Europe. Then,
Whether Poland has been synonymous with				as you find your way to some of the Baltic
bridge or battlefield to its surrounding neighbors,				seaside resorts, stop along the coast in Gdansk,
the results have not been pleasant. As early as				the historic medieval Hanseatic trading city that
the 13th century, Polish states were ravaged by				was perfectly restored in the 20th century. While
Mongolian raiders due to the lack of natural				you make your way east to visit Bialowieski
boundaries and its strategic position between east				National Park in order to see Europeï¿½s
and west, which would again become a curse				last surviving native Bison, stop in the 14th
during the World Wars and the Cold War. There				century town of Torun to pay homage to
were few cities that emerged from WWII				Nicolaus Copernicusï¿½ place of birth. For
unscathed, but the baffling restorative				skiing and hiking, the Sudeten Mountain Range
reconstruction has left even the locals duped by				winds through part of southern Poland, including
the perfectly replicated Baroque and Gothic				the popular escapes in the Tetra Mountains.
architecture. Thriving cities like Krakow and				Although the ravages of the 20th century are
Warsaw are hubs of both traditional and modern				behind Poland, they are certainly not out of mind.
Poland, showcasing contemporary art, classic jazz				The Polish have a blossoming culture that
and an unfettered youthful spirit. Auschwitz Nazi				emerged vehemently from the violence and
Concentration Camp and Holocaust Museum is				repression of the Cold War. The reactive and
located just outside Krakow, which became the				eager populace finally has found a place to shine
epicenter for the Nazi battle against				artistically, politically (as part of NATO and the EU)
Europeï¿½s Jews. Also in this area is a				and domestically with open arms to those curious
World Heritage Site known as Southern Little				about the Polish way of life. Travel to Poland and
Poland where an enchanting collection of medieval				discover a proud and established nation that is
wooden churches still stand among the Carpathian				equally as excited to finally welcome you!

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Once Golden, Again Golden Poland