Page 709 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

CENTR AL AND EASTERN EUROPE  707

POLAND

Located between Russia and Germany, Poland has always been a fiercely
contested land. Released from the eastern bloc in 1989, the country is now
developing rapidly, especially in the cities of Warsaw, Krakow, Gdańsk, and
Wrocław. Monuments attest to a stormy history, but Poland is famed for its
virtues, especially the generosity of its people and the excellence of its vodka.
Although situated on the plains of central Christians. Religious denomination does
Europe, Poland has an extremely varied not necessarily coincide with ethnic
landscape. Alpine scenery predominates in identity, although Belorussians tend to
the Tatra Mountains to the south, while the be Orthodox, while Ukrainians belong
north is dominated by lakes. Mountain to the Greek Catholic (Uniate) Church.
lovers can make use of the well-developed
infrastructure of hostels and shelters, such History
as those found in the Tatras. The countless Poland’s borders have changed
lakes of Warmia and Mazuria, collectively continually with the course of history.
known as the Land of a Thousand Lakes, The origins of the Polish nation go back
are a haven for watersports enthusiasts. to the 10th century, when Slav tribes
Poland’s inhabitants, who number living in the area of Gniezno united under
almost 39 million, all but constitute a the Piast dynasty, which ruled Poland until
single ethnic group, with minorities 1370. Mieszko I converted to Christianity
accounting for less than 4 percent of the in 966, thus bringing his kingdom into
population. The largest minorities are Christian Europe, and made Poznań the
Belorussians and Ukrainians, who inhabit seat of Poland’s first bishop. The Piast
the east of the country, and Germans, dynasty ruled Poland with variable
who are concentrated mainly around the fortune and embroiled the nation in
city of Opole in Silesia. The majority of domestic quarrels for 150 years. After this
Poles are Catholic, but large regions of dynasty died out, the great Lithuanian
the country, such as Cieszyn Silesia, have prince Jagiełło took the Polish throne and
a substantial Protestant population. In founded a new dynasty. The treaty with
the east, there are also many Orthodox Lithuania signed in 1385 initiated the long

Statue of the great 19th-century poet and patriot Adam Mickiewicz in Market Square, Krakow
Altarpiece depicting the Assumption in St. Mary’s Church, Krakow, carved by Veit Stoss (1447–1533)

706-709_EW_Europe.indd 707 14/07/16 10:11 am