UNESCO Sites. UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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1 UNESCO Sites 1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

2 Malbork Toruń Puszcza Białowieska Warszawa Park Mużakowski Jawor Wrocław Świdnica Zamość Radruż Kraków Auschwitz-Birkenau Wieliczka Binarowa Chotyniec Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Bochnia Owczary Blizne Brunary Lipnica Murowana Haczów Wyżne Sękowa Dębno Podhalańskie Kwiatoń Turzańsk Powroźnik Smolnik Baltic Coast, Warmia and Masuria Central and Eastern Poland Southern Poland Lower Silesia and Wielkopolska The wooden churches of southern Małopolska The wooden Carpathian tserkvas

3 UNESCO Sites Poland s contribution to the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the World 3 Travelling across Poland can be an exceptional journey through unique treasures of history and nature. This country impresses with as many as fourteen out of nearly a thousand sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Apart from the historical centres of Kraków and Toruń attracting with centuries-old buildings, there is also the Old Town in Warsaw. The capital city of Poland moved UNESCO experts because of its unprecedented in the history of mankind reconstruction works. A medieval castle in Malbork was also inscribed on the prestigious List. It is the largest building made of brick in the world. Poland attracts with its unusual outdoor locations, gardens, the most valuable wooden temples, churches and Tserkvas a testimony to the artistry of old craftsmen and religious sites still bustling with life. The country is proud of a crucial architectural work the Centennial Hall in Wrocław. A special place is Auschwitz Birkenau, a Nazi concentration and extermination camp ( ). Białowieża Forest is a complex of old-growth forests which is unique in the whole of Europe. liga-unesco. pl/index. php?lang=en

4 Polish reserves Sites of exceptional beauty and natural value Since the 1970s., UNESCO has been granting the biosphere reserve status to the most valuable ecological sites in the world. Ten of them are in Poland. The objects included in the international MaB (Man and the Biosphere) programme are tasked with engagement of the local communities in environmental protection, cultural and ecological education activities.

5 UNESCO Sites 5 Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve. This is the biggest site of this type in Poland. It contains an extensive water ecosystem, forests and peat bogs Słowiński Biosphere Reserve. It protects seaside lakes, bogs, meadows, peat bogs, seaside forests, but above all the unique moving dunes of Łebsko Spit. West Polesie Biosphere Reserve. It protects natural forests, bogs and peat bogs. www2.poleskipn.pl Łuknajno Lake Biosphere Reserve. It is an ecologically unpolluted habitat for 175 bird species. The largest European refuge for mute swans (Cygnus olor) and many rare or endangered species. Kampinos Forest Biosphere Reserve. It contains extensive forests, agricultural areas as well as nature and historical monuments. The family house of Fryderyk Chopin in Żelazowa Wola is situated within its boundaries.

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7 UNESCO Sites 7 Białowieża Biosphere Reserve. The most valuable fragments of the old-growth European forest are included on its area. Karkonosze Biosphere Reserve. It covers the highest range of the Sudetes: The Karkonosze. It stretches in the borderland of Poland and the Czech Republic. Babia Góra Biosphere Reserve. A mountainous area with unique natural and cultural qualities situated in the borderland of Poland and Slovakia. Tatra Biosphere Reserve. It contains the only alpine-type range of the Carpathians stretching in the borderland of Poland and Slovakia. East Carpathian International Biosphere Reserve. It contains mountainous areas. It was the first site on the UNESCO List situated in the borderland of three countries: Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia. The Białowieża Biosphere Reserve protects a unique vestige of primaeval forest which once stretched across the continent. directory/contact.asp?code=pol

8 Secrets hidden in monumental Malbork Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork is an absolute must-see. It is an unforgettable journey which will take you hundreds of years back in the company of the ghosts of knights, treacherous monastic knights and unimaginable force of architecture. The mightiest Gothic stronghold in Europe is located on the banks of the Nogat river. Moreover, it is the largest brick building in the world. It was erected to host the head of the Teutonic order who was protected by armed monks. A monastery and a war campaign command centre were founded within the monumental walls of the monastery. Great attractions include a medieval fair, which takes place every third week of July in the ramparts of the castle, and one of the largest historical staging in Poland, Siege of Malbork. From April to August, amazing night performances called LIGHT AND SOUND take place in the castle. It is impossible to ignore such powerful stronghold. Three parts impress with their size: the High Castle, made of 4.5 million bricks, with the Chapter House, the Treasury, the Refectory, the Chapter, the Blessed Virgin Mary Church and Saint The mightiest Gothic stronghold in Europe towers above the banks of the Nogat River.

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11 UNESCO Sites 11 Anna s Chapel where the Grand Masters were buried the Middle Castle with one of the most beautiful and greatest Medieval secular interiors the Grand Refectory the Grand Masters Palace, Saint Bartholomew Chapel and the Infirmary for elder and ill brothers, and the Low Castle with an arsenal, a bell foundry, stables, a brewery and Saint Lawrences s Church. The whole is surrounded by gaping moats and intimidating defensive walls. Official name: Zamek krzyżacki w Malborku, Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork. An important advantage of the place is also the fact that preservation works, which are carried out there, are an example of how the modern conservation doctrine was created and evolved. poland.travel/en/unesco-sites/malbork-the-largest-medieval-castle-in-europe

12 Medieval Town of Toruń The place where Nicolaus Copernicus stopped the Sun and moved the Earth The vibe of Toruń Old Town is created by nearly thousand medieval buildings all with walls made of red bricks. Historic Toruń examines its reflection in the Vistula river. The layout of squares and streets has not changed since the Middle Ages when Toruń used to be a political and economic power. It owed its wealth to the Order of Teutonic Knights which made it their headquarters, plundered, seized lands and eventually became a threat for the Crown of Poland. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the medieval urban complex encompasses the Old and the New Town as well as the ruins of the Teutonic Castle. Remains of the fortifications are fragments of walls, the gate and the towers, including the legendary Leaning Tower. The Old Town and the remaining churches, granaries and the city hall are some of the greatest wonders in Poland.

13 UNESCO Sites 13 The monuments in the Toruń Old Town create a scenery where everything is teeming with life. Curiosities attract tourists, whereas the location business representatives.

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15 UNESCO Sites 15 Copernicus House is a tenement where the great astronomer was born. A modern planetarium enables its visitors to examine space, observe phenomena occurring in the universe or steer the model of the Cassini explorer circling Saturn. It is also possible to learn about the formation of cloud oceans, flattening of planets and about the weight and time of interstellar travels. Toruń is famous for delicious gingerbread as well. After space adventures, it is worth visiting the Gingerbread Museum, where it is possible to bake a sweet souvenir according to the traditional recipe in a reconstructed bakery from the 16 th century. According to readers of the Polish edition of the National Geographic, the Old Town and City Hall in Toruń are the third most beautiful place in the world. poland.tavel/en/unesco-sites/ medieval-town-of-torun-6

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17 Historic Centre of Warsaw Like a phoenix from the ashes UNESCO Sites 17 post-war reconstruction of the Warsaw Old Town was an unprecedented undertaking. A reconstruction on such scale had never taken place in the world before. During the World War II, the Nazis razed to the ground the oldest part Warsaw. Out of 260 tenement houses only 6 remained untouched. Archaeologists and conservationists discovered the extraordinary history of the city, which dates back to Warsaw impressed the world not only with the scale of the works, but also with precision showed when reconstructing the city from the time of its crowning period, namely the 17 th and the 18 th centuries. All remaining pieces of facades, even the smallest architectonic details and elements of interior design were used in the reconstruction works. Paintings, engravings and pre-war photos were also helpful. Famous vedute by an Italian painter, Canaletto, were especially important as regards restoring the authentic appearance to the buildings. Thanks to noted archaeologists and conservationists, one can now once again see history which harks back to the 14 th century.

18 The history of Warsaw is teeming with life. A lot of restaurants and café gardens are located there. What is more, the Fountain Park holds multimedia shows. In August, the Old Town welcomes visitors of the prestigious international Jazz at the Old Town Square Festival. Sigismund s Column near the Royal Castle is the starting or final point of walks and rides down the Royal Route, which goes past the most important national public institutions including the Sejm and the University of Warsaw. A widely available network of urban bikes Veturilo makes such trips much more convenient. The Old Town can be seen from above from the bell tower of Saint Anna s Church, and from a further perspective from a basket of a captive balloon or from the gallery on the thirtieth floor of the Palace of Culture and Science.

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20 Unengineered rivers and wetlands create perfect living conditions for many species of plants, animals and fungi.

21 Białowieża Forest: ruled by nature UNESCO Sites 21 Impenetrable primaeval forests are made of trees of exceptional sizes, majestic wisents and unique species of fauna, flora and mycobionts. The Ecosystem of the forest was preserved in its natural state. Non-adjusted water flows and boggy areas create perfect living conditions for many species of plants, fungi and animals. Therefore, the Forest is an excellent place for natural observations and a scientific research area, mainly concerning endangered species. It is the place where restoration of bison, the largest European mammal related to North-American buffalo, took place. The species became extinct during the World War I. Only few specimens survived, scattered around the world in zoological gardens. The bisons brought to the breeding centre in Białowieża helped to carefully restore a stable population, which currently numbers approximately one thousand specimens in the Białowieża Forest on both sides of the border.

22 The extraordinary forest underwent natural changes over several thousand years. People walking down the forest paths are extremely impressed with mighty old trees. Also fallen ones, whose rotting trunks are left to natural processes. The Forest tempts also lovers of birdwatching, especially those who want to watch woodpeckers and owls. The Białowieża Forest is a perfect place to rest in direct contact with extraordinary nature. poland.travel/en/unesco-sites/ bialowieza-primeveal-forest -bialowieza-national-park-5

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24 Old City of Zamość Gem of Renaissance architecture Founded in 1580, Zamość was to be the embodiment of the concept of the ideal town. Indeed, to this day, it remains a vibrant centre of industry and culture. Commissioned by Chancellor Jan Zamoyski, the Italian architect Bernardo Morando designed the city by skillfully consolidating the concepts of the Italian Renaissance with Polish traditions, as well as with the sponsor s expectations. Thus, Zamość became a symbol of the co-existence and peaceful cooperation between the cultures of Eastern and Western Europe. Poles, Italians, Germans, Ruthenians, Armenians, Greeks and Jews lived in the town in a cultural harmony rather surprising for those days. The Town Hall and the collegiate church towered over manor houses with arcades bustling with trade. The town was surrounded by fortified strongholds. Owing to the intellectual ideas of the times, as well as to the ambition and fortune of its magnate founder, Zamość has been admired for centuries as the Renaissance pearl.

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26 The Zamość of today is a scene of momentous culture events. The Old Town in Zamość boasts 120 historical monuments and, at the same time, is a dynamic city centre. It is full of galleries, cafés and restaurants located in cosy interiors. The square easily turns into a venue for theatre performances and concerts. Festivals celebrating films, folklore or music are organized here. The city also plays an important role in the Special Economic Zone EURO-PARK MIELEC. It is proud to have the oldest symphonic orchestra in Poland, founded in When it comes to hospitality, Zamość has a great selection of hotels, which makes it a perfect starting point for trips to the nearby Roztocze Hills, a region of breathtaking natural landscapes. Owing to the intellectual ideas of the times, as well as to the ambition and fortune of its magnate founder, Zamość has been admired for centuries as the Renaissance pearl.

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28 Historic Centre of Kraków Where the trumpet marks the passing of time Kraków s Old Town is shaped like a teardrop. Its narrow end touches the Wawel Castle, the ancient seat of many Polish kings. Surrounded by rows of manor houses, Kraków s market square is one of the largest town squares in medieval Europe. It is here that the city s most famous landmarks are located, including St. Mary s Basilica. From a window in the taller tower, a trumpeter plays a broken bugle call at the top of every hour. According to legend, the two towers are of uneven height as a result of a tragic jealousy: a builder killed his brother, also a builder, for making quicker progress than he was. The construction went on for almost 200 years and has never been completed. The main altar in St. Mary s Basilica is the largest Gothic altarpiece in Europe. It is the masterpiece of the highly distinguished sculptor Veit Stoss, who worked on it with his apprentices for 21 years. In the very centre of the square, the Cloth Hall continues its centuries-long tradition of trade with its stalls a beehive of activity.

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30 The total number of historical monuments to see in the districts of the Old Town and the Kazimierz Jewish quarter, and within the Wawel Castle complex, reaches over a staggering three thousand.

31 UNESCO Sites 31 Every year as many as 3 million visitors from Poland and abroad come to the Old Town. The underground vaults below the square offer a fascinating journey back in time with amazing artifacts within arm s reach. Planty Park, built on the site of the town s medieval defensive walls pulled down in the 19 th century, is a green belt surrounding the Old Town. The total number of historical monuments to see in the districts of the Old Town and the Kazimierz Jewish quarter, and within the Wawel Castle complex, reaches over a staggering three thousand. The old Jewish quarter, the Kazimierz, known these days for its artsy and bohemian nightlife, is especially worth a look with its synagogues and old cemetery. Orthodox Jews from all over the globe come to pay homage to distinguished rabbis and tzadikim buried here. Towering over the area are the majestic walls of the Wawel Castle, once Poland s royal residence. Most of our kings as well as many eminent figures are interred in the vaults of the Wawel Cathedral. A brilliant 19 th century painter from Kraków, Jan Matejko, depicted many of Polish rulers in his impressive paintings. poland.travel/en/unesco-sites /historic-center-of-krakow-27 /podziemia-rynku

32 Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines Deep beneath the ground, these are truly unique cities of salt: with churches, chapels, their legendary systems for ventilation, desiccation, lighting and transportation. The salt mine in Wieliczka was one of the first sites in the world to have been placed onto the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage list. Immersed into its distinct microclimate, one can walk down tunnels adorned with amazing sculptures carved in salt or sit back in one of the many chapels, to reflect on the spirituality of the pious miners. A weary traveller can enjoy spa treatments and various innovative therapies, or even spend the night in one of the special saline chambers. If that s not enough, those seeking adventure can go for a boat ride on an underground lake. The mine in Bochnia offers a journey back in time, thanks to a multimedia exhibition documenting the development of mining technologies over the centuries. One can walk down tunnels adorned with amazing sculptures carved in salt or sit back in one of the many chapels, to reflect on the spirituality of the pious miners.

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35 UNESCO Sites 35 Today these old excavation chambers and the chapels serve as venues for various events. The most momentous event in the Wieliczka Salt Mine is World Art Underground: a music, dance and performance festival. The mine hosts all sorts of events: concerts, theatre performances, art exhibitions, balls, weddings and conferences. Film crews shoot here too. St. Kinga s Chapel, where even the chandeliers are made of salt, is the location for services performed for all major religious holidays. The Cracow Saltworks Museum exhibits the world s only collection of horse-powered, wooden mills, the predecessors of steam and electrical technologies. Another curiosity is the only collection of salt shakers in Europe. A sports field is located in the Ważyn Chamber about 250 metres below ground and a ride down a 140 metre long slide is definitely something to remember.

36 Auschwitz-Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp ( ) Preserved as a memento and a warning, the camps are a deeply moving memorial of the victims of the worst atrocity in the history of humanity. In the world, Auschwitz is the symbol of war, terror, genocide and the Holocaust. The camp was set up by the Nazis in occupied Oświęcim for Polish political prisoners but soon became the site of the annihilation of Jews from all over Europe. Day after day, the genocide continued under the tragically ironic sign over the entrance gate spelling out Arbeit macht frei, which means Work makes you free. By the use of mass murder in gas chambers, in humane living conditions and slave labour, an estimated 1.2 million men, women and children lost their lives at this camp and the neighbouring Birkenau.

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39 UNESCO Sites 39 Most of them were Jewish. Their bodies were systematically cremated. Many prisoners also perished from the horrific medical experiments they were subjected to. Personal belongings preserved in the Auschwitz camp speak volumes. Withdrawing before the arrival of the Soviets in 1945, the Nazis didn t have the time to destroy the camp s buildings or Nazi documentation. For this reason, we can now view the shocking archives featuring photographs illustrating their crime. What is particularly moving are the meticulously segregated and stored personal effects of the victims: clothes, shoes, suitcases, prosthetic limbs, glasses, hair It is impossible to stay indifferent in the face of it all. The Nazi concentration camps stand in opposition to the very idea of the legacy of Western civilisation. Why they ought to be preserved was expressed in the words of Pope John Paul II: Auschwitz is a place that must not be merely visited. Coming here, one must reflect with anxiety on where the borders of hatred lie. The day of liberation 27 January according to the resolution of the UN became the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. en.auschwitz.org/m poland.travel/en/unesco-sites/ auschwitz-concentration-camp-4

40 Kalwaria Zebrzydowska The Spirit of Christianity in landscapes of sheer beauty Legend has it that the magnate Mikołaj Zebrzydowski saw a burning cross from the window of his castle. He founded a monastery at the site of the miraculous sighting and surrounded it by chapels linked by paths. Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is a truly unusual place. Here, nature intertwines and blends with man-made shrines of prayer. With its forty chapels, Kalwaria belongs to one of the most splendid sites of worship in Europe. Some of the chapels stand along the Way of the Cross, others along the so-called Mary s Trails and trails devoted to the souls of the departed. Many names allude to Jerusalem, as architect Paul Baudarth found inspiration in drawings from the Holy City, while designing the area.

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43 UNESCO Sites 43 The Skawinka River became Kidron, mount Żar was called Calvary, and a hill near Lanckorona became the Mount of Olives. The chapels along the Way of the Cross are: Pilate s House and Herod s Palace or the Chapel of the Third Fall. In the mid-17 th century, the painting of the Weeping Madonna with the Infant in one of the chapels (Kaplica Matki Bożej Kalwaryjskiej) was declared miraculous. Consequently, the number of pilgrims rose sharply. Regardless of the weather, almost 100,000 pilgrims attend its mystery plays. The Passion of Christ mystery play lasts a week and culminates on Good Friday, the day Christ was judged and crucified. The procession begins at 5 AM and goes on until 2 PM. Local parishioners take on the roles of the protagonists. The man playing the role of Jesus carries a heavy oak cross, so the suffering on his face is authentic. The procession stops to pray at every station and the final Mass is celebrated at the Chapel of Crucifixion. Under the Communist rule, in their sermons, bishops would use this opportunity to address vital issues, pertaininig to the situation in Poland at that time. The Passion of Christ mystery play lasts a week and culminates on Good Friday, the day Christ was judged and crucified.

44 Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine amazing wooden treasures Their unique beauty is a feast for the eyes and soul. They were made by folk architectural carpenters who turned soaring larches into crafted temples.

45 UNESCO Sites 45 Tserkvas are mementos of the old times when the Polish borders spread far eastwards, setting the country in the European borderland of culture and religion. The oldest ones date back to the 15 th century. The creators of the Carpathian temples drew on the monumental architecture. They had Byzantine roots, thus they were more attracted to Baroque forms rather than Gothic ones. Approximately 100 wooden Tserkvas, with characteristically piled up roofs crowned with onion-shaped helmet domes, remain in the area. The World Heritage List covers wooden Tserkvas in the Polish and Ukrainian region of the Carpathians as an cross-border entry. It includes 16 Tserkvas, 8 in Poland and 8 in Ukraine each. In the region of Lower Beskids (Beskid Niski), approximately one hundred Orthodox churches have survived with their characteristically sophisticated roofs.

46 The Polish Tserkvas are : Tserkva of Saint James the Less, the Apostle in Powroźnik, three Tserkvas of Saint Michael the Archangel in Brunary Wyżne, Turzańsk and Smolnik, Tserkva of Our Lady s Protection in Owczary, Tserkva of Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chotyniec and two Tserkvas of Saint Paraskeva in Kwiatoń and Radruż. Wooden Tserkvas perfectly match the surrounding landscape of forested mountains. They usually stand on hills and are surrounded by circles of old trees and beam fences with picturesque gates. Fir was the tree used to build country houses, whereas larch was reserved for temples. The artistry of carpentry masters was manifested in beams joint on corers of the walls and in fine modelling of the tops of the roofs and bell towers. The interiors often contain polychrome frescos, but it was icons that were particularly important. They are images painted on wood depicting Christ, the Mother of God, saints and biblical scenes. Icons are always positioned in the same, traditional sequence according to the requirements of liturgical order. Before an icon is blessed, the characters included on them are signed. podkarpackie.travel/en poland.travel/en/unesco-sites/wooden-tserkvasof-the-carpathian-region-in-poland-and-ukraine

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48 Centuries enchanted in wood (Wooden Churches of Southern Małopolska) There are few places in the world where larch and fir were used to conjure up architectural miracles the most valuable examples are Wooden Churches of Southern Małopolska. Once we leave historical Kraków with its monumental churches, it is worth following the trail of wooden temples, erected hundreds of years ago, with soaring Gothic shapes, steep pitch roofs, and sometimes high, pointed bell towers. The Wooden Architecture Route includes as many as 125 priceless historical temples among which the 6 most valuable ones were inscribed on the World Heritage List: Binarowa, Blizne, Dębno Podhalańskie, Haczów, Lipnica Murowana, Sękowa. The masters of carpentry built them usually with larch and sometimes fir. They masterfully made the walls of entire logs, which were not joint by nails, but with the use of precisely hewed scarf joints. Roofs are shingled.

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51 UNESCO Sites 51 The temples enchanting with their beauty invite from the outside to come inside for a short slip into reverie and a prayer among richly decorated polychromes. Historic temples are lasting places of religious worship. They also host cultural events. The oldest wooden churches in Małopolska date back to the 15 th century, but they house much older elements. They often found their way to the countryside when big city churches changed their decor. Hence, in rural churches one can admire priceless beautiful Madonnas and pietas masterpieces of the Medieval religious art. If a journey is well-planned, it is also possible to observe masses celebrated therein. Biblical scenes interweave here with those from saints lives, whereas folk and religious art mix with each other as in the holiday concert cycle Music in magic wood. The Wooden Architecture Route in Małopolska consists of as many as 125 invaluable wooden churches.

52 Muskauer Park fulfilled vision of paradise Endless meadows, majestic trees, lakes and rivers with winding roads in-between. Muskauer Park is one of the most outstanding garden landscaping in Europe. The author of the park was Prince Herman von Pückler who, inspired by the English landscape garden, decided to create a perfect landscape around his family manor in Bad Muskau at the beginning of the 19 th century. To do that he used the natural land arrangement in the valley of the Nysa river and in the arc of the largest terminal moraine in Europe. Natural small ponds, gorges, streams, glades were linked by a network of horse and pedestrians paths. Later, footbridges and bridges, garden houses and viewing terraces were added to this. Although this visionary project has never been completed, Muskauer Park is one of the most outstanding examples of European garden art of the 19 th century. Moreover, due to the fact that after the WWII the Polish- German border was set on its premises, it is the only cross-border park in the world. The setting encourages everybody to go for romantic walks, ride bicycles and stylish carriages or to sail in boats. This natural phenomenon also covers the area of the Muskauer Arc the only terminal moraine visible from space. unesco-sites/the-muskauer-park-4

53 UNESCO Sites 53 The park sits astride the Lusatian Neisse River, which also marks the border between Poland and Germany.

54 The Centennial Hall in Wrocław: a pearl of modernist architecture Considering its enormous size, the airiness of Wrocław s Centennial Hall (Hala Stulecia) is quite surprising. Because of the building materials and the technologies used in it, the Hall is considered a truly groundbreaking work in the history of world architecture. This engineering marvel is 42 metres high and its axis is 152 metres long. The diameter of its dome spans 65 metres. Not only was it the first public venue built of reinforced concrete, but it s also one of the largest in the world. Its designers went well ahead of their time by using raw concrete to form daring and complex construction elements. Erected in the 1910s, the Hall is surrounded by areas of exceptional charm, such as a Japanese garden. Its main attraction, the Pergola, is an intricate semi-circular colonnade winding around Europe s largest fountain. Covering an area of approximately 10,000 square metres, the fountain shoots water out of 300 nozzles and is illuminated with 800 lights.

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57 UNESCO Sites 57 Today, the Hall serves Wrocław as a multi-purpose venue hosting various large-scale events. It has hosted cultural and sporting events, exhibitions, musical concerts, conferences and congresses, both on the local and the world stage. It was here that Pope John Paul II held his ecumenical service during his 1997 pilgrimage to Poland. In 2010, the Dalai Lama spoke on this site about the need for peace and solidarity in the world. The European Culture Congress was held in the Centennial Hall in Events of such scale reverberate around the world proving this World Heritage site to be an extremely vibrant centre. The new Discovery Centre (Centrum Poznawcze) gives visitors an interactive overview of the construction and history of this magnificent engineering wonder. halastulecia.pl/en centrumpoznawcze.pl/en

58 Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica Power in fragile setting They were supposed to be a sign of reconciliation between the Catholics and the Protestants finishing the longest war in the history of Europe. Made of wood and clay, they have survived until today. The Churches were built in the second half of the 17th century, when Ferdinand III s protestant subjects were allowed to build three temples (the church in Głogów does not exist since the 18 th century). However, the buildings could not be constructed within the city walls, look like the existing temples or have towers. The structure is supported on a wooden framework filled with straw and clay briquettes. Such technique was used in north-western Europe for centuries to built houses and outbuildings. But it had never been used to build a larger building before. Paradoxically, the restrictions which were to hinder the construction of the temples led to creation of exceptional buildings. The Churches in Jawor and Świdnica are the largest wattle and daub buildings in Europe. Both churches, built according to Albrecht von Säbisch s designs, are a proof of the centuries-old tradition of wooden and half-timbered building as well as an example of harmonious merging of baroque art forms and the Lutheran ideology. The buildings are timber-framed, filled with vertical wooden slats wrapped in straw and plastered with clay.

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61 UNESCO Sites 61 The events taking place in the Churches of Peace are always motivated by the ideas of cooperation, tolerance and international integration. Uniform interiors enhance the sense of solidarity between the assembled and strengthen human contacts. Typical of both temples is the fact that modest architectural form contrasts with their rich interior. Woodcarving and painting decorations as well as pipe organs constitute outstanding Baroque pieces of art made by local masters. By moving biblical scenes and principles of faith in a vivid form to extensive surfaces of walls and ceilings, the decorators turned the interiors into opened books. Between May and September, the interiors of the churches are filled with music and singing. They are visited by artists from around the world. Classical music, jazz as well as gospel can be heard there. poland.travel/en/unesco-sites/ churches-of-peace-in-jaworand-swidnica-4

62 Areas awaiting for UNESCO s recognition There are many beautiful places in Poland which deserve tourists attention. Three of them await for the UNESCO Heritage of Humanity status. The Dunajec River Gorge a natural and landscape phenomenon. The river meanders along the border of Poland and Slovakia among rock cliffs on an 8-kilometre long section and creates seven great loops with sudden bends. The Augustów Canal an amazing hydrotechnical monument in the Polish-Belorussian borderland. In the 19 th century it was used to connect the Biebrza (tributary of the Vistula river) and the Niemen rivers. It is 101 km long. The Polish section is 82 km long. Gdańsk a city of freedom and remembrance. Located at the Baltic Sea, Gdańsk is a city with a thousand year long tradition. Bourgeois tenement houses, temples and granaries arouse admiration. In the 20 th century, the Gdańsk shipyard was the starting place for the epic of the Solidarity movement that led to liberation of East- -Central Europe countries from communist dictatorship. pomorskie.travel/en poland.travel/en-us/technological-and -industrial-monuments/augustow-canal

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64 Publisher: Polish Tourist Organisation (POT) ul. Chałubińskiego Warszawa contact: pot@pot.gov.pl, phone: +(4822) Writer: Paweł Wroński Editors: Maja Laube, Marta Olejnik Cover photography: photograph from the POT promotional campaign Come and find your story within the project Lubię Polskę Photography: POT archives, National Heritage board of Poland (35, 53), A. and W. Bilińscy (30, 41, 44-47, 49, 50), K. Czaja (54-55), I. Dziugieł (6), Fotolia, fotopolska.pot.gov.pl, S. Klimek (55), R. and M. Kosińscy (20, 42, 63), K. Krämer (17), B. Sadowski (57), M. Statkiewicz (9, 10), Shutterstock, J. Włodarczyk (13, 19) Photo editor: Karolina Krämer DTP design: BOOKMARK Graphic Design Studio Cover design: Przemysław Gast Typesetting: Katarzyna Marcinkiewicz Production: Jadwiga Szczęsnowicz Translation and transcreation: Polish Tourist Organisation; Translationstreet; Thomas Gasiorowski Copyright by Polish Tourist Organisation (POT) Copyright by BOOKMARK SA Publishing Group Warszawa 2014 All rights reserved BOOKMARK SA Publishing Group ul. Puławska 41 lok Warszawa biuro@book-mark.pl ISBN: ISBN: