Why Poland is Europe's next big thing
<p>With a profusion of medieval towns, mighty castles, and an unspoiled countryside, there is enough to keep even the most energetic visitor busy. So take a look through our selection of highlights, and discover why Poland is Europe's next big thing.</p>
<p>Travel is all about timing. If you have ever been tempted by the fabled wonders of Syria, for instance – the souks of Aleppo, the ancient ruins at Palmyra, the mighty walls of Krak des Chevaliers – then clearly you have missed your moment.</p>
<p>As some destinations become no-go zones, however, others move centre-stage. Take eastern Europe. Once hidden behind the Iron Curtain, dazzling destinations such as the stone streets of Dubrovnik, the canals of St Petersburg, and the imperial elegance of Prague and Budapest have cemented their place in the tourist brochures.</p>
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<p>One eastern European treasure, however, remains largely undiscovered. For some reason, Poland has remained off the radar of all but the most intrepid travellers. Unlike its neighbours, which have shed their grim Soviet-era reputations, Poland seems unable to shake the ghosts of its tragic past. There is no denying its dark history. The country that was once the largest in Europe has been invaded time and again, by Germans, Russians, Tatars, Ukrainians, Cossacks, Ottomans, and Swedes. In the 18th century, it disappeared altogether, partitioned between Austria, Russia, and Prussia.</p>
<p>During World War II, Poland was invaded by the Nazis and the Soviets, with the former establishing their network of death camps on Polish soil. The end of the war brought no relief. The Iron Curtain descended on Poland, not to lift again until the tumultuous days of 1990, when the fragmenting Communist Party of Poland took the unprecedented step of dissolving itself.</p>
<p>Throughout their turbulent history, the Poles have demonstrated remarkable resilience. Today, they are turning to the task of reinventing themselves as a tourist destination. With a profusion of medieval towns, mighty castles, and an unspoiled countryside, there is enough to keep even the most energetic visitor busy. So take a look through our selection of highlights, and discover why Poland is Europe's next big thing.</p>
<p><strong>Krakow</strong></p>
<p>With spires and turrets soaring into the sky, cobbled streets, and ornate facades, Krakow delivers old-school elegance at every turn. It's the European city that Walt Disney might have designed, right down to the castle atop the hill. Although there is no sleeping princess in residence, in the cathedral next door the kings of Poland are enjoying their eternal slumber entombed in red marble.</p>
<p><strong>Malbork</strong></p>
<p>They don't get as much press as their fellow warrior monks, the Knights Templar, but the German Teutonic Knights were one of the medieval world's most formidable fighting forces. At Malbork, south of Gdansk, they built a mighty headquarters – the largest Gothic brick castle in Europe – that still awes today. Malbork was designed to be impregnable, and for centuries repulsed every enemy attack; between the inner moat and the central courtyard alone stood seven massive gates.</p>
<p><strong>Zakopane</strong></p>
<p>In fairytales, the woods are always dark and threatening. In Poland's Tatra Mountains, however, the leafy forests are wonderfully inviting. Skiers flock here in winter to test themselves on the slopes; we prefer to visit in summer, when the quiet paths meandering through the trees tempt you to lace up your hiking boots. Allegedly there are still bears and lynx lurking in the quieter reaches of the woods, but we are assured it is rare for visitors to encounter them.</p>
<p><strong>Gdansk </strong></p>
<p>The Kardashians aren't the only ones who know a thing or two about makeovers. In the 1980s, when Lech Walesa's Solidarity movement made global headlines, Gdansk seemed a pretty grim place. These days it is one of Europe's most gorgeous cities, its rebuilt and restored buildings bearing witness to its days as one of the continent's busiest ports.</p>
<p><strong>Auschwitz</strong></p>
<p>Some places need no introduction, and the site of one of the greatest mass murders in history is one of them. Auschwitz, the Nazi extermination camp where hundreds of thousands of Jews – and others including Polish resistors, Roma, and Soviet prisoners of war – met their deaths is a place of such horror, some travellers might be tempted to give it a miss.</p>
<p>However, many thousands do choose to visit Auschwitz every year, to learn, to remember, and to realise where hatred can take you. The guided tour spares no details of the horrifying stories, from the gassings to the medical experimentation. However, what is most moving – at least, for me and some of my companions – is the belongings of the dead, on display in heartbreaking masses.</p>
<p><strong>The Masurian Lakes</strong></p>
<p>Whether you are a serious sailor or just enjoy a spot of kayaking, the forest-fringed Masurian Lakes are a delightful summer playground. At its heart lies the massive Lake Sniardwy; a series of canals and rivers links it with other canals and waterways. The areas not covered by lakes or forests are home to rolling farmland and pretty little towns.</p>
<p><strong>Wieliczka Salt Mine</strong></p>
<p>When is a salt mine not a salt mine? When it is one of the country's oldest enterprises, and one of its biggest tourist attractions. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is officially 900 years old, but the site was already being mined in ancient times. During the Renaissance, it was one of the largest businesses in Europe; by the 18th century, it was already becoming a tourist attraction.</p>
<p><strong>Wroclaw</strong></p>
<p>Still, you can't blame the locals for trying to get some attention. Provincial cities such as Wrocław and Torun get little attention from tourists, which is a shame when they are this beautiful.</p>
<p>At Wrocław's heart lies a beautiful – and vast – market square; a stroll through the surrounding streets takes you past everything from Gothic churches and Renaissance tenements to ancient fortifications and Belle Epoque department stores. In fact, Wrocław is so packed with gems that the "introductory walk" suggested by one reputable travel guide takes around five hours.</p>
<p><strong>Warsaw</strong></p>
<p>Warsaw is a survivor, and even amid the unlovely Soviet-style architecture, echoes of earlier times remain. Today, locals stroll along the lovely Nowy Swiat boulevard or enjoy Chopin concerts in Lazienki Park, just as their forebears did, or head for the al fresco bars lining the banks of the Vistula river. Warsaw even has its own burgeoning hipster scene in Praga, where former warehouses and factories are being converted into galleries, bars, and other hip hangouts.</p>
<p>Written by Ute Junker. First appeared on <a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Stuff.co.nz</strong></span></a>.</p>
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