POLAND

Poland is the largest of the East European countries which joined the EU in May 2004. Poland is comparable in size to

Italy or Germany (in USA larger than New Mexico) and with a population of approximately 39 million (e.g. more than

California) it ranks among the most influential and remarkable countries in central and Eastern Europe. Poland is

a stable democracy with a truly fascinating history, great cultural heritage and several areas of outstanding natural

beauty.

Many Polish tourist sights have already gained a worldwide reputation and are an absolute must to see if you consider a

journey to this area: Kraków, Warszawa, Gdańsk, Częstochowa, Auschwitz, the Tatra mountains.

Our neighbours are: Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia,Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia. The population of Poland is about 38 million people. On the west of Poland there is GERMANY. Germany’s capital is Berlin.On the south-west there is CZECH REPUBLIC. Its capital is Prague SLOVAKIA is in the south of Poland. Its capital is Bratislava. LITHUANIA is in the north-east. It’s capital is Wilno.Some of the Poland’s neighbours belong to the EUROPEA UNION.UKRAINE isn’t member of the EUROPEA UNION. It is situated on the south-east of Poland. Its capital is Kijów. BELARUS is on the north-east of Poland. Its capital is Minsk.On the north of Poland there is a small piece on land which belongs to Russia. Russia’s capital is Moscow.

OUR NEIGHBOURS

województwo dolnośląskie - the Lower Silesia provincekujawsko-pomorskie - the Kujawy-Pomerania provincelubelskie - the Lublin provincelubuskie - the Lubuskie provincełódzkie - the Łódź provincemałopolskie - the Małopolska provincemazowieckie - the Mazovia provinceopolskie - the Opole provincepodkarpackie - the Podkarpacie provincepodlaskie - the Podlasie provincepomorskie - the Pomerania provinceśląskie - the Silesia provinceświętokrzyskie - the Świętokrzyskie provincewarmińsko-mazurskie - the Warmia-Masuria provincewielkopolskie - the Wielkopolska provincezachodniopomorskie - the West Pomerania province

POLISH PROVINCES - 16

The highest peak is Rysy, 2499 m above the sea level

IN TATRA MOUNTAINS THERE ARE MANY GLACIAL LAKES. THE MOST POPULAR LAKE IS MORSKIE OKO.

In lower parts of the Tatra mountains there are beautiful valleys. The most popular peaks are

Kasprowy Wierch and Giewont

THE SECOND LONGEST RIVER IS ODER. It begins in Czech and goes, also through Germany, into the Baltic Sea.

Poland has got plenty of lakes

Warsaw

Warsaw is capital of Poland. City location is in middle of Mazovia Region. Warsaw is very modern city and there are many very high buildings. In a heart of Warsaw you can see

Culture Palace (Pałac Kultury), which is history building from communism time. During World War II Warsaw was occupated and all ruined. Now this is center of politics and economy.

Cracow Probably the most beautiful and fascinating

city in Poland. The attraction is not just the splendid architecture and the treasures of art – reminders of the times when Krakow was a

royal capital city – but also the unique ambience of the former Jewish district and the masterpieces of Polish Art Nouveau. However old and beautiful it is, Krakow is not limited to its monuments and museums. Thanks to an amazing density and variety of bars, pubs,

clubs and restaurants, Krakow sparkles with life. Anyway, there is no point in merely

talking about its attractions – everyone should see Krakow with their own eyes.

Wawel Hill in Cracow is the most important monument of Polish culture and history.Already in the late tenth century was the center of power here for the prince, and at the beginning of the eleventh century, the residence of the bishops. In the fourteenth century there were built the castle and cathedral in the Gothic style. In the sixteenth century Sigismund rebuilt residence and was a wonderful renaissance castle, in the mortuary chapel of the cathedral of that ruler and his son Sigismund Augustus.

Poznań

Poznań is a city with a history that goes back more than a thousand years. It was here that the first Polish rulers have settled. Modern

Poznań is a vibrant metropolis, a perfect place for business, culture and entertainment. Today Poznań is a capital of the Wielkopolska

region. Poznanians are good hosts and organisers. Every year thousands of events, some of them international, are held in the city.

Gdansk- city of Pomeranian Voivodeship in the central-eastern part of the Embankment of Gdansk Gdansk Bay. It is situated at the mouth of the Vistula Motława, together with Gdynia and Sopot they make Tricity.

.

Gdańsk in known from its the thousand-year history of the beautiful port on the Baltic. You can walk in the footsteps of

the main character of Gunter Grass "The Tin Drum" or look at the stars of

Hevelius. Get a taste of authentic revolution by learning about the origins

of the birth of Solidarność. Gdańsk is capital of Amber and harbour

for sailor.

Wroclaw- one of the largest cities in Poland is beautiful and full of history. It is the capital of Lower Silesia Province and is located on the Oder River at the foot of the Sudeten Mountains.

Wroclaw is the fourth largest city in Poland. This is a city which has industrial character. Most famous is for German tourist and known as

Breslau. Wroclaw has many architecture monuments from Renaissance and Gothic. There are parks, gardens and rivers, which are crossed

by over eighty bridges.

742 387 people lives there (the 3rd biggest city in Poland)

Łódź is a city at central Poland near Warsaw.

ŁÓDŹ COAT OF ARMS

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Łódź

Basilica Cathedral St. Stanisław Kostka in Łódź

Karol Scheibler's Chapel in Łódź

Zakopane The most popular mountain resort in Poland

continues to attract a growing number of followers of the “winter madness”, while summer visitors who come to explore the

magnificent Tatra Mountains, to drink in the beautiful scenery and the relaxed holiday

atmosphere. Zakopane is, in fact, a small town noted for its charming highland architecture,

colourful folk culture, remarkable sights and its vibrant Krupowki Street, bursting with life both

during the day and the night.

Mszana Dolna is on the south of Poland, near Crakow. 15

kilometres from Mszana there is Rabka Zdrój –

centre of health,resort and spa.

Mszana Dolna – our town

Do you know this country - with its picturesque situation, charming landscapes, emerald meadows, the sun rising and setting against the panorama of

the Beskid Wyspowy and the Gorce mountain ranges, freshness of climate, monuments, local folclore, and the traditional Polish hospitality,

admired every day by the tourists and by the local people?

In this place, everybody will find something for himself - rustling leaves, murmuring mountain

streams, singing birds, gentle hills, overgrown in their upper parts with rich forests, meadows, and

fields, 'golden with wheat, silver with rye, decorated with green ribbons of boundary strips', as a poet

describes it. It's here, in the Mszana Dolna commune, relatively easily accessible mountains

surrounding the villages (Mszana Górna, Lubomierz, Łętowe, Łostówka, Kasina Wielka, Kasinka Mała, Glisne, Raba Niżna, and Olszówka) along with a

varied earth's sculpture and rich vegetation create great conditions for development of tourism, recreation and various forms of active rest.

Our church is a historic building.

There are a lots of very pretty pictures

and a wonderful altar.

Manor farm old wine bar is one of the places in Mszana

Dolna, where people organise weddings and

concerts.

Manor Farm – Old Wine Bar

In Mszana Dolna there is a Jewish

cementary, where during The Second World War German

executed Jews.

In Mszana Dolna we have many

sections of a football club. Many

young people excersise here,

because they want to be athletic and

love football.

In Mszana Dolna we also have section of table tennis. Many young people excersise here, because they want to be fit.

Take-won-do is traditional fight art. When you are upset after lessons – come

here and fullfil yourself doing harm

to nobody.