Polish Beauty

Sunsets in the Masurian Lake District

The Masurian Lake District is famous for having a large number of lakes and channels, many of which are connected. The number of boats in the area is extremely high, and it's a paradise for sailing and swimming. One of the most beautiful parts is that the sunsets are very special because it's so flat and the sun sets almost at the horizon, and the numerous lakes offer plenty of wonderful reflections. You can find a new lake for every sunset, and will never run out of new spots.

Castle in Malbork

The castle in Marbork in Northern Poland, also known as Marienburg (its German name), is one of the most impressive buildings one can visit in the country - or any country, for that matter. Built by Teutonic knights in the 13th century, it has had an interesting history. Today it can be visited by tourists, which is an event taking several hours, as the castle and its grounds are immense.  Massive on the outside, the castle boasts some very delicate artwork on the inside, including stunning chapels and cloisters. The architecture is impressive, especially considering that is has been partially destroyed and rebuilt several times. 

Morskie Oko Lake in Zakopane

The landscape in Southern Poland is very different from most parts of the country, as it is much steeper there. Close to the border of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, there are the Tatra mountains, whose highest peak is the Rysy, standing tall at 2499 metres. Below this mountain range, there is a wonderful lake called Morskie Oko (The Eye of the Sea), which is very clear and surrounded by untouched nature. (For a Swiss person, this is the closest you can get to feeling in the Alps, so it's no surprise I felt at home there.)

Holy Trinity Chapel at Lublin Castle

This was an unexpected gem for me, as we were in the area for other reasons and looked at the old town of Lublin rather in passing. The old town itself is charming but not very different from that of other towns of the same size, but the chapel in Lublin's castle is truly magnificent.  It's a Gothic chapel with frescoes from the 15th century in a style that I've never seen before. It's incredible to think of the craftsmanship that created these frescoes, and how well the restoration was carried out. Today it's a wonderful piece of art to look at, not only when looking at the details depicting religious elements, but also as a beautiful chapel architecture overall.

Waterfront in Gdansk 

The city of Gdansk is possibly my favourite to visit, so I might be a bit biased. A former Hanseatic city, it was an important trade hub, and the harbour and rivers are still very important. The old town, almost completely rebuilt after WW2, is lovely and full of historical buildings, without the usual international brands - these are only to be found outside the city gates in the more modern parts. The waterfront consists of historical buildings which are very picturesque. Besides that, however, there are also very modern buildings, in parts that were rebuilt more recently - the interesting element being that they are all build in the shape of the traditional houses, but with more modern architecture and materials. The overall effect is stunning, combining tradition with modernity. 

Contrasts in Warsaw

Like in many cities in Poland, Warsaw's old town was almost completely destroyed in WW2. It is even more astonishing in the light of this, that it is completely rebuilt, based on paintings that were made before the war, and using mainly bricks from the former buildings. Nowadays, the charming old town stands in contrast to the modern skyline of Warsaw, which is adding more skyscrapers every year. The contrasts of the different neighbourhoods are one of the main fascinations of this city, which is evolving quickly.

Moszna Castle in Upper Silesia

There are countless castles worth visiting all around Poland, but this one is special. It lies in Upper Silesia near a small village, and looks like straight out of a Disney film. It's a baroque palace with some other styles added later on during reconstructions, with wonderful interiors and 365 rooms overall. There are also extensive grounds with lovely gardens to visit. 

Jewish Quarter in Krakow

The neighbourhood Kasimierz in Krakow is an unusual district, still full of memories of Jewish life in Poland before WW2. While there is only a small Jewish population in most areas nowadays, there is still a community, which is even growing. Around the neighbourhood, there are many Jewish sites to be visited such as cemeteries and synagogues, but there is also a vibrant cultural life. The street art is beautiful and adds a different element to the historical neighbourhood. The entire old town is worth visiting, but the Jewish quarter is the one that's the most unusual.

Peninsula in Hel

The peninsula of Hel is popular for many reasons; especially for English speakers it's certainly enjoyable to say "I'm on the highway to Hel!". The place, however,  has nothing in common with any conception of hell, as it is a beauty paradise. Close to the northern cities of Sopot and Gdynia, this peninsula consists of small villages and beaches on both sides. It's popular for windsurfing and swimming, and has some very clear waters and lovely beaches for every taste. 

Rynek in Wroclaw

The market square (rynek in Polish) is the central area of most towns, and Wroclaw is no exception. In the middle of the market square, there is the city hall and several other buildings forming a quad in the middle, while the outer layer of houses is a collection of slim and colourful traditional houses. All houses contain restaurants, bars and cafés, with a few small shops thrown in. The area is overall very vibrant, and as one can walk in circles around it this is what everyone seems to be doing.