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In About Poland

Is Poland an Eastern European country?

4 Mins Read

If there was only one statement that could get every Polish person really worked up, it would be saying that Poland is an Eastern European country. The understanding of the concept of Central and Eastern Europe is an ongoing source for debate, varying considerably from nation to nation, and also from time to time. To fully answer whether Poland is an Eastern European country, we need to think broader about the meaning of ‘Eastern Europe’ and look at the geography, history and culture as defining factors. And once the roots of Eastern Europe are understood, it is easier to understand the apprehensive sentiment towards this categorisation so embedded in Polish people.

Where is Eastern Europe?

There are several different definitions of Eastern Europe but they all lack precision and can be interpreted in many ways. The geographical border of the eastern edge of Europe is defined by the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, however, the west side of ‘Eastern Europe’ is a subject to overlap and historical changes.

European regions according to EuroVoc: green – Western Europe, red – Eastern Europe, blue – Northern Europe, yellow – Southern Europe. According to this split Poland is part of the Eastern Europe (source: wikipedia.org)

If the geographical center of Europe is taken into consideration, Poland very often happens to be exactly in the middle, although everything depends on where the furthest points of the continent are defined. In the most accepted theory one line is drawn from the north coast of Norway to the south coast of Italy and the second one from the south-west coast of Portugal to Ural Mountains in the north-west of Russia. The two lines cross in Polish town Bialystok making Poland the geographical center of Europe.

European regions according to the World Facebook: green – Southern Europe, yellow – Western Europe, light blue – Central Europe, blue – Northern Europe, orange – Eastern Europe. According to this split Poland is a part of Central Europe (source: wikipedia.org)

The most common and accepted geographical division of Europe places Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Switzerland in Central Europe and Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia in Eastern Europe.

Historical approach

We see that the current geographical theories place Poland outside Eastern Europe. How come than that Poland is still often considered an Eastern European country? Of course, because of history. The cold war has created a division that influenced generations of Europeans and has an impact to this day. Historically, all countries that have been under the influence of the former Soviet Union were considered an eastern bloc (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Moldova, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia). This cold war legacy influences the perception of Western Europeans and despite big historical shifts (most of the countries from the former eastern bloc joined the European Union in early 2000’s) associations between these countries and the former Soviet Union are still being made.

Why Polish people don’t like being considered Eastern European?

The historical reasons behind the split between Western and Eastern Europe are the same reasons why Polish people can be offended when Poland is being categorised as an Eastern European country. Polish people want to cut off from the past and they see themselves much more Western than Eastern. Times of the cold war are left far behind and Poland in the last 30 years did everything to move away from Russian influences.

Poland has developed itself rapidly over the last 30 years and is one of the fastest growing economies in central Europe. Businesses and Tourism are flourishing and people are positive about the future. Countries such as Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova have economies that are up to -70% GDP per capita compared to Poland. A combination of poverty, lack of respect towards democratic values by sitting governments and lack of general freedom are usually the first connotations that come to mind if a Polish person is asked about the East.

Politically, Poland made all possible steps to move even further away from the former Soviet sphere. In 1997 the country joined NATO and a few years later, in 2004 became a proud member of the European Union. Polish economy is tightly connected with Germany and the rest of Western Europe (rather than Russia).

It makes sense that Polish people don’t like being called Eastern Europeans if they do everything to move away from the negative view associated with that part of Europe. It may take another few generation though to forget about the cold war and historical divisions.

If you are interested in Poland you should also check out Facts about Poland.

In Travelling

5 not so obvious places to discover in Poland

5 Mins Read

What is the first place that comes to your mind when you think of Poland? Krakow? Warsaw? Perhaps Gdansk or Tatry? Most of the tourists go to the same places and don’t explore Poland further. But there is so much more to see and visit. Not only you can experience something different, but you can do it without the crowds, rush and for less money.

Here is the list of 5 not so obvious places in Poland that should be on your bucket list.

Kazimierz Dolny: the most beautiful little town in Poland & centre for folk music, Jewish history, fine art and film
Stolowe Mountains: a masterpiece of nature and unique rock formations with beautiful trails and views over Poland and Czech
Ciechocinek: spa, relaxation & the longest in Europe brine towers
Biskupin: a must-see for anyone interested in history, life-size model and remains of an Iron Age fortified settlement
Beskid Niski: ideal for hiking, full of tranquillity and natural beauty region

Kazimierz Dolny

If you’re looking for a one or two day getaway in a historic town with beautiful views Kazimierz Dolny is a perfect choice. This small city has gained over the years the proud title of the most beautiful little town in Poland and attracts both tourists and people living nearby.

Perhaps its, because Kazimierz has it all, amazing landscape and views, lively, beautiful main square and enough tourists attractions to keep you busy, but not to stressed that you won’t see everything that you wanted.

The town is also considered by many an art centre of Poland as painters like to retreat there to paint and sell their work. Galleries can be found in almost every street, offering for sale sculptures, stained-glass, folk art, and fine art.

Stole Mountains

Stolowe Mountains (also knows as the Table Mountains) are built of horizontally layered sandstones shaped in unusual huge tables that can be seen from the distance. When getting closer those “tables” are in fact enormous stone labyrinths. The whole region is part of the national park.

The two most often visited places in Stolowe Mountains are rock maze called Błędne Skały (Errant Rocks) and Szczeliniec Wielki, the highest peak of the Table Mountains. Errant Rocks can be explored within 30 minutes hike during which you will walk through narrow paths created by unusually shaped sandstone rocks. It’s both, fun and exciting, especially for kids. From that point, you will be able to reach the Szczeliniec Wielki. The hike is not very challenging and thanks to natural stone steps created by the rocks is accessible to most of the people, even if they usually spend most of their days on the sofa. The view from the top is breathtaking and absolutely worth the effort. And you can always reward yourself with a cup of coffee and cake at the beautifully located cafe.

Ciechocinek

Ciechocinek is a spa town located 20 kilometres from the city of Torun. The history of Ciechocinek’s saline springs goes back to very ancient times and this lovely town has been the main Polish retreat place for decades. If you are looking to rest and rejuvenate rather than party Ciechocinek is a great choice.

One of the main touristic attractions that can be found in Ciechocinek is the longest in Europe brine towers. These wooden structures were constructed to evaporate water from salt-rich spring water. They are worth visiting not only because of the architectural qualities but mainly because of the health benefits that come with the air that surrounds the whole structure. People with lungs, asthma and sinus problems can benefit greatly from breading the air enriched by the brine towers.

Just a small warning, the average age of people visiting the town is quite high, as lots of pensioners come to Ciechocinek to rest and receive health treatments. If you don’t mind hanging out with 60-year-olds pack your bags!

Biskupin

If you are interested in history and want to get some idea how people lived in the iron age prepare yourself for a real treat as Biskupin is one of the oldest and best preserved archaeological sites in Europe.

Biskupin is a life-size model and remains of an Iron Age fortified settlement of Lusatian culture near lake Biskupin from around 3 thousand years ago. There are some reconstructions of settlements even from further back in time (even 8.000 BC) exactly at the same spots where they were originally constructed.

All the information is available in English and Polish and there are also guided tours available. It’s worth booking at least 4-5 hours to fully enjoy this unique spot.

Beskid Niski

Despite the name indicating flat land (Beskid Niski means Lower Beskid), this region of Poland offers gentle slopes and hills that extend for approximately 85 km. It may not be the most exciting place to visit for professional mountain climbers, but it is the perfect place for families with kids, older people or just someone who is looking for more relaxing hikes.

Baskid Niski is worth visiting not only for its tranquillity and natural beauty but also because of dozens of wooden Orthodox and Catholic churches that can be found while hiking. Additionally, there are a few amazing First World War cemeteries that will interest history buffs.

In Culture

11 Quirks Polish people don’t realise are super weird

6 Mins Read

Let’s face it, every country has its own quirks and weird customs but actually, this is what makes it special and fun to travel and live in another place. Poland is no different – sandwiches that never close, medieval way of drying laundry or wearing ‘guest’ slippers, just to name a few. For many expats who decided to live in Poland, the following list will be probably very familiar. But do you know them all? And do you know why Poles developed those funny behaviours?

Here is the list of the funniest and odd Polish customs and habits.

#1 Almost all films are dubbed by one male voice

If you ever watched foreign films when you lived at home you must be used to subtitles. What you are going to experience in Poland is next level. All films that are shown in TV have a lector who reads the translation over the original voices. The weirdest part is that the translation is read by only one person, usually a man with a deep, monotone voice. Imagine a woman pleading for her life and the lector reading all the lines in a flat, emotionless intonation. This is the Polish TV for you.

#2 Name day celebrations

One would think that celebrating someone’s birthday would be enough, but that is not the case in Poland. Actually, older people (women to be exact) prefer to celebrate their name day (imieniny) so they don’t have to mention their age publicly. This tradition has Catholic roots and originated from the custom of naming children after saints.

Imieniny often involve socialising with friends and family at the celebrant’s home, as well as eating cakes and sweets at the workplace.

If you want to join Poles and start celebrating your name day, pick up the nearest calendar, it should contain the names celebrated on any given day. And if you are not lucky, check out messages displayed in your local bus, usually it shows the time, date and the names that should be celebrated that day!

You can check the name day on a given day in any calendar

#3 Happy Birthday song is sung for just about every celebration

Talking about name days and birthdays, have you noticed that in Poland the Happy Birthday song is sung at many occasions? ‘Sto lat’ meaning literally ‘hundred years’ is the same song people in Poland sing for weddings, anniversaries and official national days. I guess it’s easier for foreigners, one song rules them all!

#4 Sandwich, or is it?

In Poland, a sandwich might not necessary be how you picture a classic sandwich (you probably imagine a delicious BLT or bacon and egg between two toasts). Sandwich (in Polish kanapka) is a piece of bread with some toppings, somehow a cousin of the traditional sandwich. Some call them open sandwiches, others call them a cheat. If you are not Scandinavian you will struggle with this concept.

#5 Do you have a change on you?

If you are planning going to the local store make sure you have some change on you. You can be sure to be asked by the cashier if you have ’32 groszy on you’ so she can give you a round number of coins back. Some think this custom is a result of not enough change going around, but it could also be down to the efficient nature of Polish people.

#6 Guests are offered slippers

When you enter a Polish household, it is customary to remove your shoes at the door. That wouldn’t be surprising as it’s a custom for many different cultures but what you may not expect is that you will be offered a pair of used slippers. Many other guests may had a pleasure of wearing those before you, but if you refuse, your host will be worried about your health (it’s unthinkable to walk barefoot in a Polish household!). Some Polish people bring a pair of their own slippers with them so they don’t have to deal with the situation.

Slippers may become your biggest nightmare in Poland

#7 Clothes dryer, say what?

This one is quite a simple one, Poles don’t use electric clothes dryers and stick to the drying racks. Perhaps it’s because washing machines are usually kept in the bathrooms rather than kitchens or separate utility room (so there is not enough space for a dryer). One could argue though that nowadays washing machines have also the drying function so it can’t be the case of space.

#8 Pizza with ketchup or garlic sauce

Any Italian person would probably get a heart attack if they were served a pizza with ketchup or garlic sauce to dip (or worse, smothered all over the top). But In Poland, this is the most obvious way of eating this very popular dish. Garlic sauce is the king!

#9 Watching ‘Home Alone’ became a Christmas tradition

‘Home Alone’ (translated in Poland as ‘Kevin alone at home’) is played on national television every year and watched by over 5 million people. It became so important to Poles that one year when the TV channel announced to broadcast a different movie, thousands of people wrote letters of protest. Since then, no one ever tried to change it and ‘Home Alone’ is part of Christmas celebrations, the same as presents and Christmas dinner.

Home Alone is a real Christmas tradition in Poland

#10 Parents’ friends are aunts and uncles

If you are a Polish kid you have tens of aunties and uncles who are not related to you at all but nevertheless you refer to them as they were. It could be because of the Polish language itself – if a person is older than you, you should refer to them as miss or mister. That would be quite awkward if they are friends of your parents so aunty seems like a good solution.

#11 Windbreak, windbreaks everywhere!

If you have ever been to the Polish seaside you know what we are talking about. Windbreaks are everywhere! Windbreaks allow to secure the best spots on the beach and give a bit of privacy. Thanks to them you can make sure that no one will seat too close to you. We bet the windbreak was created by a Pole!

Do you want to know more about Poland?

Check out facts about Poland.

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In Cultural guide to Poland

The short history of Poland

6 Mins Read

We don’t know anything about your history teachers and the ways they used to run History classes. However, we can promise you that this lesson will be much different from the ordinary ones. Polish history has been a bit of a roller-coaster – full of ups and downs, wars, breakthrough events and inspiring people. We’ve gathered almost all of them in one place and we present it to you with a pinch of salt… We hope you enjoy it.

And if you don’t like reading you can always watch this short video.

The story of poland begins here

Let’s start from the beginning…

In 601 the first Pole crossed the Vistula river. This was one giant leap for a man, one small step for mankind. In 965 our leader Mieszko met Dobrawa, a Czech princess. She dragged him to the altar, thus in 966 Mieszko was baptized and converted to Christianity. This event is considered to be the beginning of Polish nationality.

The first King of Poland

Regarding Germany, we had some small fights with it during that time but in 1000 Otto III, German emperor, came to Gniezno and made peace with Poland, approving its full independence at the same time. But the peaceful relations didn’t last long. Soon, in 1002, Bolesław Chrobry declared war on Germany which lasted till 1018. In 1025 Chrobry crowned himself king but his reign didn’t last long since he died the same year.

Teutonic Knights rise

We, Polish people, are very hospitable (as you hopefully have experienced that as well). Thus in 1226, duke Konrad invited the Teutonic Knights to help him convert Baltic Prussian pagans to Christianity. They did it so effectively (by murdering) that soon there was no one to be converted. It resulted in a war in 1327 between Poland and Teutonic Order, which lasted 16 years.

Two become one

Then, in 1385 Polish-Lithuanian Union was established, when Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania, married Queen regent Jadwiga of Poland (apparently he couldn’t resist her beauty) and thereby became the king of Poland.

Teutonic Knights return

The Teutonic Knights didn’t back down from a fight and in 1410 one of the greatest battles in the European history (as far as Polish people think) took place, namely the Battle of Grunwald (or Battle of Tannenberg). But the newly emerged Polish-Lithuanian Union handled the battle pretty well, the Teutonic Order was defeated and in 1411 peace was made.

poland’s Golden age

16th century was for Poland the greatest times of all. To this time Polish people look back nostalgically. As well two important things happened during this happy period. First in 1573 Poland with the letter of the law became tolerant of other religions. And second, in the same year, the first free election was held so anyone could become a ruler (you still had to have connections though).

Dangerous attractions

Once Poland had grown into a place of prosperity, everyone wanted a piece. In 1600 our struggle with the Swedes emerged but 5 years later in the Battle of Kircholm, we defeated an army three times larger than ours – yes, we did – and eventually in 1629 peace was made. Between 1609 and 1619 war was waged with Russia, between 1620 and 1699 with Turkey and in 1683 with Austria and Germany. What a wide range of players!

Speechless

Apart from being brave, we are also quite imaginative and inventive. An interesting idea, for instance, was to create “Sejm niemy” (Silent Sejm), where none of the deputies of the parliament were let speak (for fear of severance of the Sejm).

Three way split

It is also obvious that Polish lands are gorgeous and worth visiting. That is why some countries became extremely jealous and in 1772 the first partition of Polish lands took place. Poland was divided into 3 parts among Russia, Austria and Prussia.

Silver medal

A really important event took place in 1791, when a Polish Constitution was introduced – the first in Europe and the second, after USA, in the world.

Three way split 2

In 1793 the three countries were not happy with the former division and decided to change the borders. That is when the second partition took place. The Poles did not like the way everyone was ruling their country and in 1794 Kosciuszko Uprising emerged. Easier said than done – we lost.

Three way split 3

In 1795 the third, and last, partition was held. As we have said before, Poles are willing to fight and in 1797, from the initiative of Jan Henryk Dąbrowski, Polish legions were formed and their aim was to fight for independence. In 1809 Poland fought bravely with Austria and won.

The empire strikes back

It didn’t matter that the country didn’t exist, in 1816 the Polish Realm was created. In 1830 and 1863, November Uprising and January Uprising, respectively, took place. Both unsuccessful. But let’s say it was all just for practice.

New beginnings

From 1914 Poland fought in World War I and in 1918 we finally regained our independence. And until 1939 the Second Polish Republic was functioning. From 1919 to 1921 we fought with the Bolshevik army (and we won of course).

Easy come easy go

In 1939 Germany (III Reich) broke off the Treaty of Non-Aggression and attacked Poland on the first of September. This was the beginning of World War II. The same year, 16 days later the Soviet Union decided to join the game and attacked Poland. It turned out that both Germany and Soviet Union were part of one team – not fair! The war ended in 1945 when the third Reich capitulated and it was the time when Communists started to rule in Poland.

Communistic joy

From 1947 to 1956 Stalin wanted Poland to be just like the Soviet Union and he partly succeeded in doing so. But it is obvious that Poland is unique and does not want to be like any other country and that is why in 1980 a trade union called “Solidarity” emerged. It was the first step towards freedom. There were some attempts to destroy the union, like introducing martial law in 1981 but the Polish people can be very persistent and they made it through.

New era

In 1989 Communism was abolished and the Third Polish Republic had been established. In 1999 we joined NATO and in 2004 European Union. In 2013, Poland Unraveled was established.

In Exceptional Places

11 places in Poland you might have never heard about

7 Mins Read

#11 Piramida Łakińskiego (Łakiński Pyramid)

City: Wągrowiec
Voivodeship: Wielkopolska
Map Location: Check map

You probably never thought you could see a pyramid in Poland but this is not a mistake. In a small city called Wągrowiec you can find a tomb of Polish Rittmeister (equivalent of a captain) Franciszek Łakiński. This outstanding Polish soldier fighted in Napoleonic wars and got awarded the highest Polish and French military orders – War Order of Virtuti Militari and National Order of the Legion of Honour. To honour his bravery, after his death in 1845, the 10-meter pyramid made of carved fieldstone and with the quadrilateral base was erected.

Łakiński Pyramid (source: polskiekrajobrazy.pl )

#10. Kaplica Czaszek (Skull Chapel)

City: Czermna
Voivodeship: Dolnośląskie
Map Location: Check map

The Skull Chapel is without a doubt one of the scariest places one can imagine. It was built in 1776 by the local priest who became obsessed with human remains. The chapel itself is nothing more than a mass grave of people who died during wars (Thirty Years’ War in 1618 – 1648 and Silesian Wars in 1740 – 1763) or from various diseases such as cholera. Priest Tomaszek collected all the casualties’ remains and used them to build this unusual place. The walls and the ceiling are covered with over three thousand skulls and bones including Tomaszek’s remains. Skull Chapel is the only such monument in Poland and one of three in Europe, so you might want to see it with your own eyes (even if it’s going to be the creepiest experience in your live).

#9. Kościół Wang (Wang Church)

City: Karpacz
Voivodeship: Dolnośląskie
Map Location: Check map

Wang Church is believed to be the oldest church made of wood in Poland, although it’s not really a Polish house of prayer as it hasn’t been built in Poland. This entirely constructed of pine logs building was erected in Vang, little town in southern Norway between XII – XIII century. In 1841 the church was disassembled and transported by sea to Szczecin from where after a year it was moved to Karpacz. It’s definitely worth visiting, especially if you happen to be in Karkonosze.

#8. Gravitational Phenomenon in Karpacz

City: Karpacz
Voivodeship: Dolnośląskie
Map Location: Check map

If you want to see something amazing and at the same time irrational you should visit Strażacka street in Karpacz. Focus your attention on any object, like car, ball or a bottle lying on the ground and you will see those objects rolling up the hill instead of down the hill which is obviously a disturbance in gravity. Some people say it is a great example of an optical illusion but no scientific explanation got confirmed so far. Anyways, if you are in Karpacz you should check it out yourself.

Gravitational Phenomenon in Karpacz (source: elomaps.com)

#7. Krzywy Las (Crooked Forest)

City: Czarnowo
Voivodeship: Zachodnioomorskie
Map Location: Check map

This is another example of an interesting place that can also be creepy as hell (at least at night). This Crooked Forest is full of oddly-shaped trees that look like something really bad happened to them. It’s located outside the city of Nowe Czarnkowo in the West Pomerania Voivodeship (województwo zachodniopomorskie) and it consists of 400 pines planted there around 1930, when the area was German territory. There are many theories explaining the strange shape of the trees.
It is generally believed that the pines were formed this way by some tools or planting techniques, but the motive of such actions is still unknown. Another theory states that the forest looks like that because of the tanks rolling over the young trees during the World War II which forced them to grow in a less conventional way for the trees to grow. Some people also believe that the woods were grown like that on purpose, created by the Compass Timbers (which are used in ship building afterwards). Foreigners in Poland believe that all of these stories are untrue and extremely boring. It is obvious to us that the Crooked Forest looks like this because of the great amount of black magic taking place at that time in this area.
Whatever the answer is, it’s a great place to see so don’t hesitate to start planning your trip!

#6. Mosty w Stańczykach (Bridges in Stańczyki)

City: Stańczyki
Voivodeship: Warmińsko-Mazurskie
Map Location: Check map

Bridges in Stańczyki may seem like nothing more than infrastructure elements of an abandoned railway line in the middle of the forest but they have a very interesting history. They were built between 1912 and 1918 as a part of greater construction project which unfortunately was never finished. The route was built to allow trains to carry wood and stones required to build Hitler’s Wolf Liar. The line was dismantled by the Red Army troops in 1945, leaving two bridges which happened to be the highest in Poland. Nowadays Bridges in Stańczyki are used by the bungee jumpers, Hitler probably didn’t see this one coming.

Bridges in Stańczyki (source: panoramio.com)

#5. Pustynia Błędowska (Błędowska Desert)

City: Błędowo
Voivodeship: Śląskie
Map Location: Check map

It might not be Sahara but Błędowska Desert is still pretty amazing. It is Poland’s largest area of desert-like terrain (33 km²) situated on the border of Silesian Upland and Olkuska Upland . It was used as a training ground for Polish soldiers during I World War and Afrika Korps during II World War. After the war it has been mainly used as a tourist attraction and a hiking ground.

Błędowska Desert (source: 2012.skandiamarton.pl)

#4. The Oldest Salt Mine

City: Bochnia
Voivodeship: Małopolskie
Map Location: Check map

The first mentions about the mine date back to 1248 when the great deposits of salt were discovered. Soon after, the mining process began and the mine started to generate large income for the Polish state. In 2013 the mine was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage. It’s a really cool place and definitely worth visiting, especially that you can see the largest made by man underground room in Europe.

Salt mine in Bochnia (source: polskieszlaki.pl)

#3. Oil Mine

City: Bóbrka
Voivodeship: Podkarpackie
Map Location: Check map

Many people are surprised at first, but the truth is that it really exists! And what is even more interesting, it still works! The entire thing started in 1854 and believe it or not, it was the first oil mine in the world. Right next to the mine there is a museum where you can learn more about the history of the oil business in Poland.

Oil mine in Bóbrka (source: wikipedia.org)

#2. Underground Waterfall and Gold mine

City: Złoty Stok
Voivodeship: Dolnośląskie
Map Location: Check map

Another mine on our list but this time it’s all about the gold. As expected, if you go there you can hear a couple of stories about the gold rush in Poland, go underground, rinse gold and see the routes yourself, however, the best is yet to come. 23 meters below the surface, you can marvel the one and only underground waterfall in Poland – 10 meters high, illuminated by the coloured lights. And that is going to be much more exciting than gold!

Waterfall in gold mine (source: panoramio.com)

#1. Radiostation in Gliwice (Radiostacja Gliwicka)

City: Gliwice
Voivodeship: Śląskie
Map Location: Check map

Radiostacja Gliwicka is the highest wooden structure in the world. It got nicknamed the Silesian Eiffel Tower as it is 118 meter high and has exactly 365 steps that provide access to the top. You should definitely visit it if you enjoy beautiful views and want to learn something about the history of radio.

Radiostation in Gliwice (source: slaskie.pl)