Main sights

• Warszawa – Royal Castle

  

  Once home to the royal family and seat of the Polish parliament it now houses the Castle Museum. The castle was completely destroyed by German troops in the aftermath of the Warsaw Uprising, and its econstruction was completed in 1974. The castle was once the official residence of Poland’s kings, and also housed the Parliament from the early 17th until the late 18th century. Although the building is a replica, many of its furnishing are originals worth seeing.

• Toruń

  

  Is the biggest and most important of the Polish Hanseatic trading centres along the Wisla River. The historic centre of the city, which survived the wars, is an interesting assembly of various architectural styles. Another city highlight is the house of Nicolaus Copernicus, who was born there. Torun is also famous for its speciality - gingerbread, which has been produced since the 14th century.

• Malbork Castle

  

  UNESCO-listed Malbork Castle is without doubt Poland’s finest fortress. Built by German Teutonic Knights from 1276 onwards, it was enlarged down the years and is a classic medieval example of its kind, with walls up to 4,5m thick. The majority of the castle’s rooms are open to visitors.

• Lidzbark Warmiński

  

  This small town for centuries served as the seat of Warmia’s bishops and was a cultural and learning centre. Today the only trace of its past importance is a Teutonic castle - the riverside fortress. It is considered a gem of the region with arcaded galleries, 15th c. frescos and Rococo decorations of the chapel.

• Olsztyn

  Is the capital city of the Warmia and Mazury region, and the biggest town in the area. Olsztyn is beautifully located among forests and lakes, five of which are within town borders. The historical part is enclosed in a small area between the castle where Nicholas Copernicus worked and the Cathedral.

• Święta Lipka

  

  This is the most famous Baroque shrine, even though it seems lost in the middle of nowhere. It is also a pilgrimage centre known for curative powers. The present complex was built in the 17th century by Jesuits and is an example of “eastern“ Baroque as the architects came down from Vilnius. The first thing that attracts attention while entering the church is a fresco which covers the whole ceiling, and the organs are a masterpiece of decorative art, particularly when the moving pieces are brought into action.

• Wojnowo

  The area of Ruciane-Nida has historically been populated by communities of Orthodox Old Believers, but today Wojnowo seems to be the one and only proof of their presence in the region. The Nunnery at Wojnowo was established in the mid 19th c. as a centre of promoting the faith. Today only two nuns still live there, but there is a person to show visitors the church and cemetery.

• Wolf's Lair

  

  A huge underground military complex served for Hitler’s headquarters, and another, satellite bunker complex was built for the army and Luftwaffe. Today the ruins, mostly overgrown are spread over a forty-kilometre radius. The complex included private bunkers for German generals and Hitler himself. In 1945 the retreating army fired detonators but these only cracked the reinforced bunkers.

• Gdańsk

  

  Gdansk, the biggest and most important of the three-cities which constitute theTri-city metropolis is also one of the oldest in Poland - it already celebrated its millennium. Its tempestuous history covers the periods from when Teutonic Knights reigned, followed by incorporation into Prussia, finally becoming an Independent City after World War I. It is where World War II broke out and where the “winds of change“ started blowing in one of the Gdansk shipyards and the Solidarity movement was born. Gdansk, Sopost and Gdynia together create a centre of splendid cultural and scientific achievements, as well as haveing the delightful atmosphere of sea ports and seaside resorts, comparable to Copenhagen, Lubeck or The Hague. However each one of the three is different: Gdansk means history, culture and science; Sopot is more of a sea resort and Gdynia, the youngest is an example of urbanization concepts of the early 20th century. Gdansk, at the heart of the Three-city region, makes an ideal destination for a city break, and a good base for discovering the northern part of Poland as well as Russian Kaliningrad.