POLAND

officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north. The total area of Poland is 312,679 square kilometres (120,726 sq mi), making it the 69th largest country in the world and the 9th largest in Europe. Poland has a population of over 38 million people, which makes it the 34th most populous country in the world and one of the most populous members of the European Union.

The Old Town

Warsaw's Old Town is the oldest historic district of the city. It is bounded by Wybrzeże Gdańskie, along the bank of the Vistula, and by Grodzka, Mostowa and Podwale Streets. It is one of Warsaw's most prominent tourist attractions.

The heart of the area is the Old Town Market Place, with its restaurants, cafés and shops. Surrounding streets feature medieval architecture such as the city walls, barbican and St. John's Cathedral.

Royal Baths Park

The Baths Park, or Royal Baths is the largest park in Warsaw, Poland, occupying 76 hectares of the city center. The park-and-palace complex lies in Warsaw's Downtown (Śródmieście), on Ujazdów Avenue (Aleje Ujazdowskie) on the "Royal Route" linking the Royal Castle with Wilanów palace to the south. North of the Baths Park (Park Łazienkowski), on the other side of Agrykola Street, stands Ujazdów Castle.

The National Museum

The National Museum in Warsaw, Poland, is a national institution of culture, one of the largest museums in Poland and the largest in Warsaw. It comprise a rich collection of ancient art (Egyptian, Greek, Roman), counting about 11.000 pieces, an extensive gallery of Polish painting since the 16th century and a collection of foreign painting (Italian, French, Dutch, German and Russian). The museum is also home to numismatic collections and a gallery of applied arts

Fryderyk Chopin Museum

The Frederick Chopin Museum at the Frederick Chopin Society in Warsaw was established in the 1930s, and its collections were greatly enlarged by the Frederick Chopin Institute before the Second World War. Today, the museum covers the history and works of Poland's most famous son, Frederick Chopin, including original manuscripts and documents written by the composer, photographs and sculptures of him, letters, as well as hosting piano recitals and competitions of Chopin's works. The forward-thinking museum will reopen to the public in April 2010 with a sparkling new interior, boasting modern interactive displays and shooting to the top of the cultural must-see lists of Poles and visitors alike.

The Palace of Culture and Science

The Palace of Culture and Science

The Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw is the tallest building in Poland, the eighth tallest building in the European Union. From 1955 to 1957 it was the tallest building in Europe. The building was originally known as the Joseph Stalin Palace of Culture and Science,but in the wake of destalinization the dedication was revoked;[1] Stalin's name was removed from the interior lobby and one of the building's sculptures. It is now the 187th tallest building in the world.


General information
Location Warsaw

Status Complete
Constructed 1952 - 1955

Height
Roof 231 m (757 ft), 168 m without the spire

Technical details
Floor count 42
Floor area 123 084 m² (1 324 876 ft²)