POMERANIA

Pomerania (Pomorze) is a historical and geographical region in northern Poland along the Baltic coast. It is divided into Western Pomerania (around Szczecin) and Eastern Pomerania (around Gdansk) . Geographically, it encompasses two different landscape zones: the coast and, more inland, the lake districts.
Under Duke Mieszko I, Poland's first historically known ruler (in the 10th century), the whole of Pomerania belonged to Poland, but over the subsequent centuries it often changed hands. It has always been a land of many cultures and influences - German, Slavonic and Scandinavian - which has left its imprint on the local art and architecture. The most impressive strongholds and castles, today  some of the region's biggest tourist attractions, were built by the Teutonic Knights. After the Second World War almost the whole of  Pomerania (except for its westernmost fringes) returned to Poland.
Eastern Pomerania, also referred to as Gdanskian or Vistulan Pomerania, stretches from the Slupia River basin to the delta of the Vistula. To the east, the Gulf of Gdansk cuts deeply into the land. The capital of Eastern Pomerania is Gdansk, one of Poland's three major seaports, a city with a thousand years of history  and full of priceless monuments of the past. Gdansk neighbours on Sopot, best known for its wide wooden pier, almost half a kilometre long, and the Opera (Opera Le�na) which plays host to the annual International Song Festival. North of Sopot lies Gdynia. The three municipalities make up a vast metropolis known as the Trójmiasto (TripleCity). More to the east stretches the Hel Peninsula, dotted with quiet and pleasant seaside resorts: Jurata, Jastarnia, Chalupy, and Hel, all with clean, wide beaches sheltered by dunes and pine groves which are a delight for those who seek peace and relaxation.

Baltic sea. Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

Western Pomerania encompasses the islands of Uznam and Wolin, plus the Szczecin and Koszalin coastlands (with Kolobrzeg marking the border between these two regions). This part of Pomerania also has its share of popular resorts, including �winouj�cie, Miedzyzdroje, Kamien Pomorski, and Kolobrzeg, each of them  a recognised spa.

The Pomeranian Lake District (Pojezierze Pomorskie) extends across the southern part of Eastern and Western Pomerania, and includes the Myslibórz, Drawa and Kashubian Lake Districts (Pojezierze Mysliborskie, Pojezierze Drawskie, Pojezierze Kaszubskie) as well as the Bory Tucholskie (the Tuchola Forest). It's a paradise for loners and nature lovers who stay away from popular resorts with their crowded beaches and noisy discos. But you don't have to be a recluse to take delight in the clean lakes and rivers with their good fishing grounds, or in the vast forests in which you can pick basketfuls of boletus mushrooms.
The sea, beaches, lakes, rivers, and forests provide all the different kinds f tourism. The area abounds in scenic ramblers' walks;  you can ride a bike to just about anywhere, and in many places it is also possible to go horse-riding. Accommodation is easy to find in the innumerable holiday homes, pensions, guest houses, campsites and agrotourist farms.

NATURE: CLIFFS, DUNES, AND LAKES

The Baltic Sea is relatively small (427,400 sq km) and shallow (52.4 m). Its length is about 1300 km. It is a land-locked sea, but connected with the Atlantic Ocean through the Danish Straits and the North Sea. Its salinity is much lower than in other seas, which results in a low diversity of flora and fauna. There are only some 200 species of plants in the Baltic, predominantly algae like black-wrack and red algae, often washed up by the sea. The southern Baltic is home to a variety of molluscs and crustaceans as well as 26 species of sea fish including the herring, sprat, cod, plaice (flatfish), and migratory fish like the eel and salmon.

Amber Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

Mammals are represented by seals and porpoises. The seals live both in the water and on the shore, where they rest and breed. The porpoises are related and similar to dolphins, but with shorter and more rounded snouts.

What makes the Polish coast so alluring is its diversified coastline. All the beaches are sandy, strewn with sea-washed shells, stones, and pieces of amber. The shore has alternating high and flat stretches: cliffs and dunes. The most impressive examples of cliffs (up to 100 metres in height) can be found on Wolin Island, where they are protected by the Wolin National Park, and also near Kolobrzeg, Ustronie Morskie, Jaroslawiec, Jastrzębia Góra and the Triple City, while the biggest and most attractive shifting dunes are in the Slowinski National Park near Łeba.

Facts

Amber was known and appreciated already in antiquity. The commodity was transported from the Baltic to ancient Rome along a trading route known as the "Amber Road" . Amber was believed to preserve youth, beauty, and health; it was crafted into sculptures, jewellery and amulets, and successfully applied as a treatment for fever, insomnia, headaches, and gastritis. Today we know that amber emits anions which are beneficial for the human body. Amber ointment or - even better - tincture, made from alcohol and rough pieces of amber, is a remedy for rheumatic pains. Gold, white, and green amber set in silver is used to make fine jewellery. Amber is much older than the Baltic Sea - it was formed some 40 million years ago. It is the resin of some little-known prehistoric conifers. Chemically, it consists mainly of carbon (79%), oxygen, hydrogen, and sulphur. When lightly rubbed, it attracts tiny bits of paper. The best place to find amber is on the beaches around Gdansk. The best time for amber-hunting is immediately after a storm with strong north-eastern winds, ideally at four or five in the morning. Then you have a chance of being there ahead of other collectors, and coming across a really beautiful lump shining in the light of your torch. Amber-hunting is a great adventure and if you're lucky, you may find a genuine treasure, as some pieces may be worth a fortune. The most precious are those with small insects or plants embedded.

The coast: a land of eagles and shifting sands

The Pomeranian landscape was shaped by the last glacier, which moved from north to south and then retreated to Scandinavia about 10 thousand years ago, leaving scenic moraine hills and valleys, often containing lakes. In the western part, the most interesting area is Wolin Island, protected by the Wolin National Park.
Wolin Island is a delightful patchwork of different landscapes: empty flats, rugged cliffs, sandbars, and rocks jutting out of the lagoon waters, forest wildernesses, crowded beaches, fishermen's cottages, charming pensions... It is a great place to relax both for nature lovers (particularly bird-watchers) and those who prefer to tan on the beach. In summer, the island is extremely popular with holidaymakers, but at a stone's throw from the lively resorts there are also plenty of secluded spots.

Orzel bielik (white-tailed eagle) Photo: Fot. M. Czasnojc www.poland.gov.pl

The Wolin National Park was established in 1960. Originally, its area was just 48.5 sq km, but in 1996 it was extended to 109 sq km. The Park's beauty lies in the diversity of its natural and geological composition. The cliffs here are among the highest and longest moraine elevations on the Polish coast. The most picturesque, steep cliffs, reminiscent of Friedrich's paintings, stretch east of Międzyzdroje. The unique soils support orchids, represented in the Park by as many as nine species. The cliff-tops are dominated by wind-gnarled pines and beeches. The Park is proud of its European bison, bred in a fenced reserve, and white-tailed eagles, with ten couples of these big seabirds nesting on the island. Wolin has hundreds of hotels, pensions and holiday homes, some of them just a few paces from the Park's borders. If you stay in one of them in summer, you can commune with nature and then have fun during various festivals. There's one going on almost every day in high season..

Facts

The white-tailed eagle is a bird of prey with the wing-span of about 2.5 m and weight 5.5 kg. One couple may produce 1-2 nestlings a year. The eagle is native to Iceland, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, Central Asia and the western part of Greenland. In Poland, it lives in the north - you're most likely to see it at Lake Wicko, on the Przytorski Peninsula, and in the coastal part of the Wolin NP. The white-tailed eagle is Poland's national emblem.

Leaving Wolin Island and going east, you enter a dramatically different land, sometimes referred to as the Polish Sahara. If you want to take a closer look at its beauty, you should visit the Slowinski National Park, located in the central part of the Polish coast. Established in 1967, it covers 18,200 hectares. Because of its unique landscapes, in 1977 this Park was put on the UNESCO list of World Biosphere Reserves. It encompasses 32 km of coastline and owes its beauty to the last glaciation, which carved out the hills, and the sea currents that for thousands of  years have been depositing sand and creating the dunes, bars, and coastal lakes.
Dunes cover almost the entire width of the 20 km-long Łeba Spit. The central 5 km stretch of the spit, about 1 km wide, has shifting dunes. The wind, said to blow here for 360 days a year, ripples the dune surface, creating elongated waves. As a result, the dunes take on fantastic shapes: parabolic dykes, burial mounds, hills, troughs ,and basins which look like Saharan landscapes.

Facts

The dunes in the Slowinski National Park make up the biggest area of moving sand in Central Europe and one of the biggest on the whole continent.

The sand washed up by the sea  is dried by the sun and wind, which at the same time blows it inland. The most active dunes are moving in a south-eastern direction at a speed of up to 10 metres a year (4.7 m on average). Nothing can stop this movement. The forests buried by sand die and when the sand-wave moves on the dead tree trunks resurface. The landscape continues to transform. Łeba, the main tourist centre in this region, dating back to the 13th century, ceased to exist in the 16th century. It was destroyed by sea storms and buried in sand, so that it had to be rebuilt from scratch in a new place. Its fate has been shared by a few other villages.

Slowinski National Park Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

Facts

During the Second World War the dunes were a training ground for the Germen Africa Corps before its deployment in Africa. The Germans also tested their V1 and V2 rockets here. You can still see the ruins of their shooting range facilities and launch-pads.

Another characteristic element of the landscape of the Slowinski National Park are the vast, shallow coastal lakes, including the enormous Łebsko (about 7000 ha) and Gardno (almost 2400 ha). These were once sea bays, gradually cut off from the Baltic by sand bars. The Park is home to some 800 species of flowers, including - the most beautiful of all - orchids. The trees are mainly pines, birches and alders, but you can also come across dwarf mountain pines, introduced by man in the early 20th century to afforest the shifting dunes. Exceptionally well represented are the birds - there are nearly 260 species. As you would expect, most of them are water and mud birds like grebes, cormorants, gulls, terns, swans, cranes, and black storks; you may also spot an occasional white-tailed eagle, lesser spotted eagle, goshawk, or eagle owl. The lakes are fished for pike, pike perch, roach, salmon, and flounder.

Facts

The eagle owl (Latin name: Bubo bubo) is the biggest owl in Europe. Its length may be up to 75 cm, and the wing-span can even go up to1.65 m. It lives up to 30 years. It is native to Europe, Central Asia and North Africa, living both in mountains and lowlands. It has characteristic feather tufts on its head which look like ears, big orange eyes, and a white chin. In Poland it is under protection.

The Park is best visited on foot or by bike. The ramblers' walks, bike routes and nature trails are well-kept, allowing you access to every part of this exceptional terrain. The total length of the signposted trails is 140 km. The most popular outing is to Ł�cka Góra, one of the highest shifting dunes in Europe (42 m). In the Park you can also have a picnic, rent a boat, or ride a horse. Łeba is a good place to take a sea or lake cruise combined with a visit to a renowned open-air museum of traditional architecture - the Muzeum Wsi Slowinskiej in Kluki. Accommodation in the area is good, with a streadily increasing number of places to stay.

Inland: the Kashubian Switzerland, forests and mysterious rings

Two lakelands, the Kashubian and Drawa Lake Districts, and the huge expanses of the Tuchola Forest are some of the biggest natural and tourist treasures in Poland, easily accessible and stunningly beautiful.
Local legend has it that Kashubia was the last part of the world created by God. He still had plenty of building materials left, so He sprinkled the area liberally with them. The Kashubian Lake District is covered with huge forests, colourful fields, and undulating hills, uncommon in this part of the country. Between the hills, there are wild ravines strewn with immense boulders, bucolic villages, and rushing rivers. There are also hundreds of fabulously situated, crystal-clear lakes, their scenic shores bristling with little peninsulas.
The part of the lake district with the most diversified geology and landscapes is called the Kashubian Switzerland. The name is said to have been coined in the late 19th century. Soon its German equivalent, Die Kassubische Schweiz, also became widely used. In the 1930s Polish and German guidebooks popularised it in Europe.
The heart and chief attraction of the Kashubian Switzerland is the 40km-long series of the Radunskie Lakes - 14 lakes connected by the Radunia River. This is one of the most popular canoeing routes. The area is protected by the Kashubian Natural Landscape Park. Even the most widely-travelled globetrotters find its mountain-like landscapes stunning.  The picturesque Kashubian Road, built in the 1960s and reputed to be the most popular ramblers' walk in the lake district, runs along the Radunskie Lakes. This clean, semi-wild area is a haven for animals. Its great attraction are the huge flocks of cranes. It's Poland's biggest crane habitat. Before the autumn flight from northern Kashubia to warmer climates, up to five thousand birds can gather at one place. There are also plenty of storks around. They're so common here that you  can hardly find a Kashubian village without any storks.

Facts

Cranes are the biggest birds nesting in Poland: their height goes up to 1.5 m and wing-span up to 2.5 m. Incredibly timid, they keep to remote, unpolluted areas, and Kashubia is an ideal environment for them.

The southern part of the region is covereed by the magnificent Tuchola Forest. The vast, fragrant pinewoods (1,170 sq km) generate a unique, salubrious microclimate. Criss-crossed with dirt-tracks and paths, the forest harbours tiny lakes covered with fairy-tale water-lilies. Strolling around the forest, you'll come across big mushrooms and delicious berries. On a bike, you can breathe in the balsamic air and pedal for 30 km through the forest without seeing any human settlements (it's an extremely sparsely populated area). While kayaking or boating on the lakes, you can marvel at the picturesque sandy escarpments and small, shallow coves with crayfish on the lake bed showing how pure the water is.

Tuchola Forest Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

Another attraction in the Tuchola Forest are the two huge lakes, Wdzydze and Charzykowskie. Lake Charzykowskie is a 9.5 km long trough sheltered by woods. Ideal for water sports, it often has more sails and kayaks on it than water birds. The charming Lake Wdzydze, which the locals call the Kashubian Sea, is  a paradise for anglers, and for sailors and canoeists, who can take the popular Wda River Route. In 1996 a small patch of the forest (4789.3 hectares) was designated the Bory Tucholskie  National Park, one of the smallest national parks in Poland. Environmentalists recommend that the protected area should be at least twice as big, and the Park is likely to be extended in the future. It was created to save the unique flora (including some sixty species of lichens  on the Red List), crystal-clear lobelia lakes (named after a pretty plant with white flowers that grows on their shores) and dystrophic ponds overgrown by rare plants, as well as wildlife, notably the capercaillie, recognised as the Park's emblem. The Park authorities promote active tourism, offering visitors a good infrastructure. The region boasts an 85km network of rambling, biking and riding trails, while the lakes, except for those under strict protection, can be enjoyed in all kinds of boats and kayaks.
Kashubia is a great place for lovers of natural beauty, romantic souls, explorers, and seekers of tranquillity. This does not mean that you won't find entertainment here. Over the last few years, the region has seen the development of countless studs and horse-riding schools, marinas, bathing places and catering establishments. The delicious cuisine and lots of stylish restaurants are a big asset. The Kashubians know how to promote their culture, which tourists find so fascinating. Many villages hold folk festivals with music, dances, bread-baking, fish-frying, and other folkloric events. The whole region, even its  remotest corners, is full of holiday pensions, many of them open all year round (in winter you can ski in the area). Many of these places are purpose-built, and offer a high standard of comfort. Quite a number have their own horses and tennis courts. Some are nothing short of luxurious; others will pamper you with their cosiness and family atmosphere. Recently agrotourist farms have been mushrooming, so that now even in the tiniest hamlets the locals offer tourist accommodation.

Facts

The oldest and most mysterious structures in Kashubia are the stone rings that have survived in many places. Pomerania is the only region of Poland to have stone circles like this. The best known  are those in Węsiory, Odry, Le�no, Łupawa, and Siemirowice. Usually they are 13-33 m in diameter, with stone-covered burial mounds nearby. Some archaeologists think that the cirlces date from the first centuries AD, though others believe that they may have been built much earlier - between 4000 and 1800 BC. Who exactly constructed them - perhaps tribes of Scandinavian origin? - is still a matter of controversy. Inevitably, there are also people who see them as landing facilities for aliens. Water diviners claim that the stones accumulate energy and are a source of strong radiation.

This part of Poland has another land of lakes, rivers and forests - the Drawa Lake District (Pojezierze Drawskie) stretching south of Pojezierze Zachodnie (the Western Lake District), far from the buzz of civilisation - an area that's charming, peaceful, and still waiting to be discovered by tourists. Though uncrowded, it offers excellent accommodation and catering facilities, accompanied by a good network of signposted ramblers' walks. The lush Drawa Forest (Puszcza Drawska) harbours clean lakes and meandering rivers, among them the Drawa and the Pilawa. In 1990, the south-western corner of the region, on the border between Pomerania and Greater Poland, was designated the Drawa National Park to protect the most valuable areas along the Drawa River and its tributary, the Plociczna. A magnificent pine forest and Poland's most extensive beech forest account for over 80% of the 11,000 hectares. The best way to visit the Park is along the Drawa, one of the most popular kayaking routes in Poland.

CITIES AND SITES

The Triple City: Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot

Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot, which cover a strip of coastline along the Gulf of Gdansk, make up a conurbation known as the Triple City. Gdansk was founded on an ancient trading route called the Royal Way (Via Regia). In 1922, when Poland had access to only a short stretch of the coast, a decision was taken to build a new port, Gdynia, that would compete with Gdansk, which at the time was a Free City outside Poland. After the Second World War Gdansk and Sopot returned to Poland and the three municipalities quickly evolved into one huge metropolis. With their excellent transport connections, Gdansk, Sopot, and Gdynia are unique in Europe, being at once three seperate municipal structures and one mega-city with three large, strikingly different environments.

Gdansk

With its thousand years of history, Gdansk is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Poland. Some even claim it's the most beautiful. Nobel prizewinner G�nter Grass says that the key to its greatness is multiculturalism. Admittedly, merging and mixing cultures always yield remarkable results. Gdansk's wealth and power was  jointly built by the Poles, Germans, Dutchmen, and Frenchmen.

Although the area was colonised already five thousand years ago, the origins of the city date back to the years 967-972, when Duke Mieszko I conquered Pomerania. Archaeological excavations have revealed that a fortified settlement was established at that time here, which evolved into one of the richest and most prosperous cities on the Baltic, with a stunning architecture and works of art created by renowned European masters like Abraham van den Blocke, Willem van den Blocke, Jan (Johannes) Kramer, Anton van Obbergen, Jan Vredeman de Vries. They designed, constructed and adorned Gdansk's houses, churches and fortifications, producing an impressive array of styles.
Gdansk is an unforgettable place. Once you've seen it, you will always remeber it as a fairy-tale city with narrow-fronted, gabled houses and fancy church towers that surprise you with the chimes of their bells. You can't describe it without talking about its people, a unique mixture of descendants of those who came here after 1945 from all over Poland, Kashubia and the East, their mild variety of local patriotism allowing them to accept strangers without falling into chauvinism or provincionalism.

Facts

In 1980 Gdansk became the cradle of the Solidarity movement, led by Lech Walęsa. Solidarity made a major contribution to the fall of Communism in Poland and Europe.

Gdansk is to be discovered in stages. First, you have to stroll around the charming Glówne Miasto (Main City) containing all the major historic buildings. The 16th-century Brama Wyżynna (Upper Gate) and Zlota Brama (Golden Gate) open onto the Droga Królewska (Royal Progress Road). The fine, slender houses lining the street once belonged to the wealthiest merchants and notables who entertained the kings of Poland. This was also a place of public executions, balls, auctions and parades - the heart of Gdansk.

And it's still the heart of the city. Ulica Dluga and Dlugi Targ are the focus of Gdansk's public life, and you can spend  many hours here savouring their charm. Admire the opulent buildings with their lavish interiors: the Gothic-Renaissance town hall, the 14th-century Artus Court, the Zlota Kamienica (Golden House) with the richest fa�ade in the city. This is also the location of the famous Neptune Fountain - the most widely recognised symbol of Gdansk. Traditionally, sailors visited it to thank the  sea god for allowing them to return safely home. The first bronze figure of Neptune was put up here in 1615; a few years later a fountain was added.

Neptune fountain Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

Facts

In August Gdansk plays host to the famous Jarmark Dominikanski (Dominican Fair), with big marquees, small stalls and makeshift tables on the pavement, where amidst all kinds of bric-a-brac you can occasionally find a genuine treasure. There's everything here: objets d'art, silver-, gold-, and amberware jewellery, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, original fabrics and costumes, old books and records, fancy souvenirs, priceless antiques and modern household appliances. The fair is accompanied by concerts and street performances which contribute to the unique atmosphere of this event, well worth seeing and experiencing.

What makes old cities so charming are their evocative streets, lanes and walks. In Gdansk it's no different. Wandering along the narrow streets, sooner or later you'll reach the most famous historic building in the city - St Mary's Church, the largest brickwork Gothic church in the world. Seven streets lead to its seven gates. The cavernous interior of this 13th-century construction makes you feel simply ant-like.

Facts

St Mary's Church is 105 m high and 66 m wide; the vaulting is 33 m above the floor, while the tower measures 82 m. The total area of the roofs is about 1 hectare, and the triple-nave interior is illuminated by 37 huge windows. St. Mary's can easily accommodate 25 thousand people. Curiously, when the church was built, Gdansk's population was only half that figure. 

Another magical place in Gdansk is the Motlawa River. You can feel its attraction  from every point in the Main City. Already by the Neptune Fountain you can hear the noisy gulls and smell the distinctive odour of decaying wood, sea-salt, ship-oil and seaweed. The Motlawa smells of adventure and sea voyages which link the past with the present. Walking along the waterfronts Dlugie Pobrzeże  and Rybackie Pobrzeże you'll pass by a colourful medley of  strollers, postcard vendors, and amber sellers outside picturesque caf�s and souvenir shops. Bright lights, music, stylish houses, and granaries all contribute to the climate of this place, where fairs were held already in the Middle Ages, sailors rested and merchants unloaded their ships.

Gdansk, Moltawa River. Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

Gdansk has another treasure: the suburb of Oliwa, the prettiest neighbourhood in the city and a mecca for organ music lovers. A 14th-century cathedral stands amid a green, undulating landscape. It's renowned throughout Poland for its magnificent Rococo organ with mechanised carved figures and a wonderful sound. In summer the Cathedral is the venue of the Oliwa Festival of Organ Music. The recitals here remind you of the mediaeval mystery plays and are given enthusiastic applause by enchanted listeners, many of whom are moved to tears.
Other places of interest are the old seaport (with an obligatory pleasure-boat ride), and the famous stronghold of Wislouj�cie at the mouth of the Vistula,  and Westerplatte, where the Second World War began. And of course there are the scenic beaches,  a great place for  amber-collecting.

Gdynia

It's hard to believe, but still in the early 20th century Gdynia was just a small fishing village, like many other villages along the Baltic coast. Today, the youngest part of the Triple City looks like a classic seaport. Indeed, it has become one of the most important and modern commercial, naval, fishing and yacht harbours on the Baltic. Gdynia is a place to see big ocean ships and warships at close range . Many marine educational institutions and professional yacht clubs are based here. You can sail from here to Sweden, America, or any other part of the globe.
Spacious and bright, even on cloudy days Gdynia will impress you with its white walls, streets and quays. The city stands out for its architecture and layout. Built in the 1920s and 1930s, its centre is one of the most remarkable examples of Modernism. It has no truly old buildings except for some reminders of the early days of the city and port from the 1920s. When visiting Gdynia, you should adopt a different time scale than in Gdank. Don't be puzzled by "historic building" plaques on Modernist structures, very much like those on 15th-century houses in Gdansk and Cracow - here "history" simply began a bit later.
There are two museum ships moored at the huge Gdynia pier . First the Dar Pomorza , a handsome three-mast frigate. Built in 1909 in the Hamburg shipyard, it was first a German merchant ship and then the property of a French baron who eventually sold it to the Polish state. Between 1930 and 1981, when it was a training ship for Polish cadets, the Dar Pomorza took part in five tall-ship regattas, winning twice. Today you can visit the elegant living quarters with all kinds of souvenirs from its numerous voyages. Behind the Dar Pomorza is the destroyer Blyskawica, an eye-catching warship built in England in the 1930s. Wandering over its narrow decks and steep stairs, through the cabins, holds, torpedo rooms, lookouts and gun turrets is an exciting experience. Polish Navy sailors continue to keep watch aboard the Blyskawica.
Once you've visited the ships, go to the Oceanographic Museum, certainly one of the most interesting museums in Poland and on the coast. In a huge aquarium you can admire the world of formidable morays and piranhas, dazzling tropical fish, big sea turtles and over a hundred other marine creatures. The dim aquarium rooms are illuminated only with a faint greenish light that imitates the depths of the sea . The museum section boasts an enormous model of the Baltic seabed, some stuffed marine mammals and a display of prehistoric animals including a fossilised giant turtle and an awe-inspiring 100-million-year shark jaw that would frighten even Spielberg's monster.
When in Gdynia, you must see two lovely residential neighbourhoods, Orlowo and Redlowo. They're both a delight for all lovers of nature and scenic landscapes. The wave-pounded cliff is so ravishingly beautiful that it seems almost unreal. You can savour it at will from a wooden walking pier. Nearby is the Kępa Redlowska Nature Reserve, a beauty spot popular with both locals and tourists alike.

Sopot

No one knows what makes Sopot so popular. Rather than bother to try to explain this phenomenon, let yourself be mesmerised by this remarkable resort. This is precisely what the pre-war Polish jet set did, coming here to have a good time, indulge their fantasies and shock the public with scandals that became pass� once a new season began.
Sandwiched between Gdansk and Gdynia, Sopot remains a mecca for fun-seekers, providing the Triple City with evocative Art Nouveau architecture, wild, hilly scenery and rich traditions of a resort once known as "the Riviera of the North". Today it bustles with caf�s, bars, restaurants, and casinos. There's also a popular racecourse, and you can always have a pleasant walk in the nearby hills.

Facts

In 1926 Sopot was the birthplace of Klaus Kinski (then his name was Klaus Nakszynski). The controversial German actor played in over 200 films and claimed to have had over 5,000 women. In his family house at ul. Bohaterów Monte Cassino 10 there is a photo gallery devoted to him and a pub serving Kinski beer.

Sopot's pride and joy is the pier. Dating back to 1824, the 516m-long wooden construction with an over 100m-long spur is one of the longest walking piers in Europe, doubling as a quay for sailing and pleasure boats. Without a stroll here, you can't say you've been to Sopot. The wide promenade jutting into the sea is lined with comfortable benches while at its end there is a small bar and a vantage point. Occasionally, the pier is used for music concerts, mainly during the annual international festival when rock and alternative groups play here.

Pier in Sopot Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

On both sides of the pier there stretches a magnificent beach neighbouring on a park. Other, more inland parts of the resort - with charming lanes, pre-war houses and scenic hills, also make an excellent place for a romantic walk. Sopot may be conveniently visited on your way from Gdansk to Gdynia, but if you have enough time, try to stay here for a bit longer.

Kolobrzeg: green and wholesome

Kolobrzeg is the biggest and best-known spa on the Polish coast. With its dozen or so brine springs, it is especially popular with people who suffer from respiratory, circulatory, and rheumatic diseases, metabolic disorders, and diabetes. Its innumerable  health centres receive patients all year long, the sea air having particularly curative properties during autumn and winter storms. For this reason, unlike most other sea resorts, Kolobrzeg is full of activity at any time of the year, offering its guests all kinds of entertainment.

Facts

The local springs were being used by saltmakers as early as in the 7th century. Mediaeval documents record Cholberge in monte salis - a town on a salt hill. The salt-works continued until the 19th century, when the curative properties of the brine springs became important. Kolobrzeg became a popular resort relatively late, as from the 17th century to 1872 it was a fortress in which all the decisions were made by military planners. Later it quickly grew into a fashionable spa with pensions, restaurants and health centres offering brine, vapour and peat baths. And it is still like that today.

Today's Kolobrzeg is a beautiful city, but during the Second World War it was almost razed to the ground. Its restoration started in the 1950s and hasn't finished yet, as still more time is needed to bring back the Old City's former splendour.
The most appealing part of the city is the seafront. Here you will find a commercial and passenger port that also harbours grey warships. One of them, the Fala, has been turned into a floating museum. From the port, you can also take a sea cruise, arguably the most attractive on the Polish coast. The colourful pleasure boats are modelled on Viking longships, Christopher Columbus' caravels, and pirate ships. Another attraction is a catamaran to the Danish island of Bornholm.
Next to the port there is a wide expanse of sandy beaches with a lighthouse, pier, and promenade. Nearby new houses imitating those in the Old City help to transform this area into a new centre with lively bars, small restaurants and shops. It's a lush neighbourhood with vast parks along the beach and more to the east, ancient oaks and a beechwood enveloping a big amphitheatre - a venue for various summer events and concerts. The parks are a good place to take a rest.
See also the southern part of the city, away from the sea and parks. Here you will find an impressive Gothic cathedral, a fine town hall housing a gallery of modern art, and the New Old City, the most interesting housing complex in town. Kolobrzeg plays host to many cultural events: the Kolobrzeg  Summer Music Festival, Interfolk (the International Folk Festival), the Military Song Festival, the Chamber Music Concerts (autumn). There are also good discos and dances. The casual spa atmosphere with throngs of single holidaymakers is conducive to making friends...

The Hel Peninsula: fishing villages and trendy resorts

The Hel Peninsula, 34 km long and, at some points, less than 200 m wide, was formed by centuries of sand deposition by the sea.. A mid 17th-century Swedish map shows a chain of six islands rather than a continuous sand-bar. The peninsula rises just 1.5-2 metres above sea level, with some dunes reaching up to 10 metres. All along the shore there are scenic beaches interspersed every few kilometres with pretty resorts.

The peninsula became fashionable in the inter-war period, when artists, politicians and wealthy professionals came here for their holidays. In 1922 a 44km railway line was built to the very tip of the Hel Peninsula. This was quickly followed by the construction of smart hotels and pensions, mainly in the area that eventually became the resort of Jurata. Spending your summer holidays in Jastarnia or Jurata is still pretty much en vogue, which inevitably means higher prices.

Hel is an ideal place for windsurfing Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

Since 1978 the peninsula has been protected by a natural landscape park whose main attractions are the dune vegetation, salt marsh halophytes and impressive pinewoods.
You can get a suntan on the Hel beaches almost as quickly as on the Mediterranean. Washed by the sea on both sides, the Hel Peninsula has two microclimates. On the Baltic side, where cool northern winds blow, the sand warms more slowly and the water is colder. The beaches along the Gulf of Puck are sheltered by a belt of dunes and forests and are  warmer, while the shallow water is great for bathing.
Wladyslawowo, both a resort and a major fishing port, lies at the base of the peninsula . This is the place where you can buy the freshest fish and get delicious smoked cod or pickled herring. Not far from here is the northernmost tip of Poland -  Cape Rozewie, with a famous lighthouse and breathtaking sunsets. Going further east, you come to another interesting place: the narrow fishing village of Chalupy with its tiny houses, a small port, fine beach and massive, pine-covered dunes. There are no big holiday homes in this area, but you can stay at one of the numerous guest houses and well-maintained campsites. This is also a good place for windsurfing.
Jastarnia is a big seaside resort with shops, bars and many cultural events. Slightly further east lies Jurata, the youngest resort on the peninsula, established in 1928. Arguably, it is also the best-known resort in Poland - already before the War it was regarded as the trendiest place to spend summer holidays. Here you could rub elbows with politicians and other celebrities. Over the last few years, Jurata has again become an exclusive resort with top-class pensions and hotels, very expensive and rather posh.
Hel, the easternmost resort on the peninsula, has been visited by throngs of holidaymakers since the 19th century. It boasts a lovely centre with fishermen's houses, a pine grove and a wide sandy beach. The very tip of the peninsula is renowned for its unique microclimate, an outcome of the strong winds that account for the tingling fresh air and some of the biggest waves along the Polish coast. On the opposite side, the quiet and windless Gulf of Puck has a lively fishing port and yacht marina; in this part ot town you can also visit an exciting fishing museum and a sealarium.
 

Malbork Castle Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

Malbork: a Teutonic fortress Malbork on the River Nogat  (an arm of the Vistula) in the eastern part of the region is a town of 40 thousand with wide streets, low buildings and substantial stretches of mediaeval defence walls. What has made it famous, though, is the awe-inspiring, monumental fortress built in the 13th century by the Teuronic Knights. It soon grew into one of the most formidable defensive structures in Europe. Today it is the largest Gothic fortress in Europe, the three wards of this castle spreading over 20 hectares of heavily fortified terrain.

The middle ward is the biggest and has three huge, finely-shaped wings, a vast courtyard, sumptuously decorated elevations and chambers, all surrounded by defensive walls, towers and a moat. Adjacent to the west wing is the Grand Master's Palace, a gem of Gothic architecture. The upper ward has four wings, splendid two-level cloisters and terrifying dungeons. Here you can also visit a Teutonic kitchen - complete with oak tables, a huge stove and a lift to transport the ready meals upstairs - dining room, dormitories, knights' halls and even a latrine. The lower ward, the outermost line of fortifications with store rooms, long walls and a wide moat, makes a perfect place for a romantic walk. Attracting few visitors and covered with thick grass and lush bushes, it is also great for an unforgettable picnic in the shade of a Gothic wall.

In 1997 Malbork Castle was entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visited every year by half a million tourists, it offers  many additional attractions like guided walks by night. Though the halls and chambers are locked at that time, wandering around the dark cloisters, courtyards and walkways is an exciting adventure. On summer nights son-et-lumière spectacles are held, with neighing horses, rattling weapons and evocatively illuminated walls.

Source: www.poland.gov.pl