Overview: Travellers to Poland will be enchanted by its remarkable history
of heroic resilience and tragedy, and delight in the charming
character of its cities and in the natural beauty of the
countryside. From romantic tales of medieval knights and battles,
kings and splendid castles, to the horrors and destruction of World
War II, from its determined stand against communism to today's
modern outlook and booming economy, the country abounds with
evidence both of a historically turbulent past and a bright future
to come. It was the country most devastated by World War II in Eastern
Europe, losing about a quarter of its population and almost its
entire Jewish community. The aftermath of the war greatly
influenced the character of the country. Former Jewish centres in
the cities and the stark concentration camps where the Nazis
carried out their extermination atrocities remain as the most
stirring reminders of the nation's tragedies. Cities destroyed by
the war had to be rebuilt from scratch and the many meticulously
restored buildings and historic old towns are testimony to the
pride and determination of a strong and durable nation. Warsaw, the capital, was almost totally destroyed by the war and
now presents an unusual mix of beautifully restored historic
buildings, communist-era concrete structures, and modern fashion
and consumerism. The maritime city of Gdañsk, home to the historic
garrison at Westerplatte and the legendary Lenin shipyards, was the
stage for both the beginnings of the Second World War and the
disintegration of Eastern European communism. But it is Krakow, the
ancient royal capital, that draws the crowds, rivalling the
elegance of cities like Prague and Vienna. Having largely escaped
the destruction of the war it retains its charming medieval
character: the Royal Castle, the grand Market Square, the old
Jewish quarter and the nearby Nazi death camps of Auschwitz are all
steeped in historical importance. The unspoilt Baltic coastline and the splendour of the rugged
mountain ranges o
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