Wawel, Kraków

The combination of the angle from where this picture is taken, the snowy bushes and the extraordinary light conditions makes this picture-perfect!

As you head south through the Old Town the streets begin to taper until you arrive at the foot of Wawel Hill, seat of the Royal Castle and Cathedral. Wawel lies on a small hill above the Vistula and it was here that the earliest settlements in the city began, some fifty thousand years ago.

Wawel is less a quarter than it is a rambling complex of historic buildings. Few ordinary citizens live here, and the most distinguished residents, the Kings of Poland, passed on many centuries ago. Yet the phantoms of these monarchs are ever-present, wandering about with furrowed brows, and shaking their fists at the great what-ifs of their country's history.

Architecturally, Wawel is something of a hodge-podge, with all kinds of shapes and styles jostling for attention. This might come as no surprise when you think that people have been living here since around 3000BC in the Neolithic period, and have lived and built on the hill successively ever since. However, whatever cohesion the Wawel lacks aesthetically it more than makes up for in terms of soul. For this is the spiritual home of the nation. And if one was to take England as a point of comparison, one might consider Wawel as a kind of Westminster Abbey and Camelot rolled into one. It is steeped in myth, yet with all the added poignancy of a nation that has had to endure more than its fair share of trials. And despite the apparent muddle of bits, Wawel has a charm that can exert a powerful hold. Its very lack of classical harmony becomes one of its endearing features. And besides, there are some real jewels here, among them the exquisite cathedral chapels, the renaissance courtyard and the State Rooms themselves. You can also climb up the old bell-tower or burrow down into the Dragon's Lair. All in all there is a wealth of things to do, not only for those dignified elderly folk, but for children too. [source: cracow-life.com]

Thank you very much Ewa!

Lublin

A very nice stamp showing the stadium of Wroclaw, issued in 2012 for the Euro 2012 games in Poland and Ukraine. The games I watched with much satisfaction even though the Dutch team really screwed things up.

Lublin’s centre has emerged into the new century with revived confidence, and the locals are out in droves to enjoy it. The Rynek is ringed with bars, cafés and restaurants, which have new-world attitude while still respecting their old-world location. Step through Krakowska Gate to pick up the pace on ul Krakowskie Przedmieście, with its parade of pepped-up Poles and perky holidaymakers.

After many years spent lagging behind other towns of equivalent size, Lublin has relaunched itself as the bustling leader of its region. After its painful history, Lublin’s ability to laugh again is a testament to its character as a true survivor.

Thank you very much Joanna!

Toruń

In some ways, Toruń is the city that time forgot – the low-rise centre of the former Hanseatic port has a slow-paced country-town feel, and its Old Town has avoided excesses of commercial signage and tourist tat. On the other hand, it’s not too sleepy, and the vicinity of the central square buzzes with bars, restaurants and music venues.

But Toruń’s entertainment options pale into insignificance compared with its spectacular Gothic architecture, an impressive collection of redbrick churches, residences and fortifications that justify the town’s promotional slogan ‘Gotyk na dotyk’ (Touch Gothic). Undamaged in WWII, Toruń’s Old Town was included on Unesco’s World Heritage List in 1997.

Beyond architecture, Toruń is best known as the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543). His name (Mikołaj Kopernik in Polish) is all over town, and you can even buy gingerbread shaped in his image. Which is another Toruń icon – its pierniki (gingerbread) is famous across Poland. It may not have the international profile of Gdańsk or Kraków, but Toruń should be high on any visitor’s must-see list. [source: lonelyplanet]

Thank you Kasia!

Cracow by night

The capital of Poland until the end of the sixteenth century, Cracow has been superseded by Warsaw, and is now the fourth largest city in the country, but is often still referred to as the country's cultural capital. The world-renowned Jagellonian University, Wawel Castle and one of Europe's largest market squares are all contained in one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Europe. The largely unspoilt Old Town has now been declared a World Heritage Site. [source: cracow-life.com]