The Natural and Architectural Treasures of Northern Poland
Description
Day 1: Warszawa
Flight to Warszawa. Overnight stay in Warszawa.
Day 2: Warszawa – Mikołajki (approx. 221 km)
In the morning we will show you the Old Town, St. John’s Cathedral and the Royal Castle - once home to the royal family and seat of the old Polish parliament and now housing the Castle Museum. We will then take you to one of the most beautiful parks in Warszawa – Łazienki. Once a hunting ground, in the 18th Century it was turned into an English-style park resplendent with formal gardens and the neoclassical Łazienki Palace, which is built on a lake. One of its most important monuments is the Frederic Chopin statue, around which Chopin concerts are held. You will then move onto the Masurian Lake District, visiting en route Wojnowo, which has historically been populated by communities of Orthodox Old Believers. The Nunnery in Wojnowo was established in the mid 19th Century as a centre for promoting faith. Worth seeing here are the church and cemetery.
Overnight stay in Mikołajki.
Day 3: Mikołajki – Olsztyn – Lidzbark Warmiński - Święta Lipka - Wilczy Szaniec -Mikołajki (approx. 205 km)
Today you will visit the beautiful Masurian region. You will start with the region’s capital – Olsztyn, gorgeously located among forests and lakes. The historic part of the town is enclosed in a small area between the castle where Nicholas Copernicus worked and the Cathedral. You will then head for Lidzbark Warmiński, a small town famous for its Teutonic castle – the riverside fortress. Then onto Święta Lipka - the most famous Baroque shrine in Poland and a place of pilgrimage renowned for its curative powers. The present complex was built in the 17th Century by Jesuits, the church fresco covers the whole ceiling, and the organs are exquisitely ornamented. You will also see Wilczy Szaniec (Wolf’s Lair) - a huge underground military complex which served as Hitler’s headquarters, and another, satellite bunker complex built for the army and the Luftwaffe.
Overnight stay in Mikołajki.
Day 4: Mikołajki – a boat trip down Ostróda-Elbląg canal – Malbork – Gdańsk (approx. 220 km)
In the morning you will head for Ostróda-Elbląg canal, a remarkable system of waterways linking several lakes with the Vistula Lagoon. Its originality lies in its ability to overcome differences in water levels thanks to a system of locks and ramps. This historic canal is a world class feat of hydro-technology. After the trip you will head for Malbork the home of UNESCO-listed Malbork Castle, Poland’s finest fortress. Built by German Teutonic Knights it is a classic example of medieval fortification, with walls up to 4.5m thick. Travel to Gdańsk.
Overnight stay in Gdańsk.
Day 5: Gdańsk – Sopot - Gdynia
Today you will visit the TriCity region starting with the Old Town in Gdańsk. You will walk along the “Royal Way”, taking in such major sights as the 17th Century Golden Gate, the Neptune Fountain, which stands in front of the late-Gothic Artus Court, the City Hall and St. Mary’s Church – the largest Gothic church in Poland. Your next stop is Sopot, and here you can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a spa resort and forget about the bustle of the big city. It will help restore your energy before we continue on your journey to Gdynia. The harbour here is home to many famous ships which are open to the public. The city is also a cultural centre with the best music theatre in Poland and an excellent shopping centre.
Overnight stay in Gdańsk.
Day 6: Gdańsk – Bory Tucholskie – Toruń (approx. 240 km)
Today you will head in the direction of Toruń. On the way you will pass through the picturesque district of Bory Tucholskie forest and visit the oldest open air ethnographic museum in Poland in Wdzydze Kiszewskie where you will find 25 unique examples of regional architecture dating from the 18th - 20th Centuries. After arriving in Toruń you will take a walk around the Old Town. The historic centre survived the war and is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city’s showpiece attraction is the house in which Nicolaus Copernicus was born. Toruń is also famous for its speciality – gingerbread, which has been produced there since the 14th Century.
Overnight stay in Toruń.
Day 7: Toruń – Licheń – Warszawa (approx. 350 km)
Today we visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Licheń, the biggest church in Poland famed for its Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Licheń. Travel to Warszawa.
Overnight stay in Warszawa.
Day 8: Warszawa
Departure.
Copyright © JAN-POL 2006 | Wykonanie INVENTOR Multimedia