Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Hidden treasures, no more…enchanting Poland

 

“ The world is a book, & those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustin“

 

There simply is no way to tour Europe and not be awestruck by its natural beauty, epic history & dazzling artistic & culinary diversity. Central / Eastern Europe is at once natural & refined, folksy & cultured: the combination of mountain rusticity with old-world style captivates.

 

Teutonic half-timbered villages, graffiti-decorated Renaissance squares, medieval walled towns….Wander the darkly Gothic narrow alleyways of Prague, admire the baroque excess of Salzburg or take in the colourful old-Venetian influence on the Slovenian port of Piran. Check out the medieval masterpieces in Poland & Czech Republic & discover the quaint townscapes throughout the region – from Bern in Switzerland to Bardejov in Slovakia.

 

The word is out: as far as off-the-beaten-path destinations, Poland’s roots go back centuries. Trace the history & the rich Jewish heritage beyond the deeply affecting Holocaust memorials sensitively restored synagogues at former Jewish centres. More than ever, intrepid travellers are making their way to the region & there is little wonder why.  Come……experience Poland with us…….

 

Europe’s almost unmanageable wealth of attractions is its biggest single draw: the birthplace of democracy in Athens, the Renaissance art of Florence, the graceful canals of Venice, the Napoleonic splendour of Paris, and the multilayered historical & cultural canvas of London. Less obvious, but no less impressive attractions include Moorish palaces in Andalucía, the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World in Turkey, the majesty of meticulously restored Imperial palaces in Russia's former capital St Petersburg &  the ongoing project of Gaudí's La Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

 

Nourishing yourself is more fun in a great atmosphere & Central Europe's abundance of outdoor cafes, beer halls & coffee houses offer just that. On mornings when the mists lie heavy & crowds are few, you might imagine yourself in an earlier century.

 

Enjoy a plate of pasta while admiring the Slovenian coast, nosh pierogi (dumplings) on a Polish cobblestone street or dip into fondue lakeside in Switzerland. Beer gardens across the region offer an opportunity to enjoy hearty food, a convivial atmosphere and a good brew alfresco. Once the weather cools, move inside to a boisterous beer hall. Or, for something a little sweeter, try a cake at a coffee house or pastry cafe. The most famous are in Vienna & Budapest, but you will find many options - and other interesting places to eat & drink - all across the region.

 

Europe has some of the best nightlife in the world. Globally famous DJs keep the party going in London, Berlin & Paris, all of which also offer top-class entertainment, especially theatre & live music. Other key locations for high-energy nightlife include Moscow, Belgrade, Budapest & Madrid, while those hankering for something more cosy can add Dublin's pubs or Vienna's cafes to their itinerary.

 

With mountains covering so many Central European states, it is no wonder that the outdoors holds such an attraction in the region. The Alps rise to their highest in Switzerland, with jagged, Toblerone-like peaks such as the Matterhorn, and march on through southern Germany, across Austria & south into Slovenia. You can hike, bike, ski or just ride the gondolas & funiculars to enjoy the Alpine views. Surreal, exciting & constantly surprising, it is an amazing warehouse of culture, history & architecture as well as mind-blowing scenery. From soaring mountains to golden sands,

 

There are also sculptural sandstone 'rock towns' in the Czech Republic to climb, waterfall-filled gorges in Slovakia & Slovenia to hike & the bucolic Black Forest in Germany to walk. Central / Eastern Europe reveals a tapestry of quaint & contemporary cultures - always with enough rough edges to keep you intrigued.

 

However, what is impressive about Eastern Europe is how communally minded the locals can be and how this makes for such a friendly experience for the traveller. Falling into conversation with locals on a train or at a cafe is commonplace. You will likely end up sharing food & drinks with them, listening to folk songs, learning a new card game or even being invited home for dinner.

 

Then, there is Poland – with its beautiful Cities, stately Castles & of course, Auschwitz-Birkenau. Elsewhere, woods, rivers, lakes & hills beckon for some fresh-air fun.  

 

Riveting History| Dramatic Landscapes | Cultural Experiences |Castles to Log Cabins

 

Republic of Poland is a country in central Europe with a coastline on the Baltic Sea in north. The 15 countries comprising this sub-region are Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland & the United Kingdom

 

Poland’s roots go back to the 10^th century, leaving more than a thousand years of twists & turns and kings & castles to explore. The ancient tribes of Polans or Polanies or Polonians ('those living in the fields'), eventually managed to unite territories to establish the first Polish dynasty, the Piast, gradually evolving to the current name of Polska (meaning "Polish land" or “The Land of Fields“).

 

Poland. There are many things & places here that you did not know about. Travelling across Poland can be an exceptional journey through unique treasures of history & nature. It is here that you will find the biggest sand dunes in Central Europe. It is here that the largest complex of lakes & the world’s oldest oil well are located. It is in Poland that a re-enactment of the greatest battle of medieval Europe takes place. Finally, it is here that you can see the longest wooden pier in Europe.

 

Polish cities welcome tourists with a panoply of things to see & do, offering distinctive sights & rich cultural programmes. Whether it is a film festival, a music competition, a theatrical performance, a sporting event, or a sound & light show, every town has its own trademark event during the calendar year. State-of-the-art concert venues & stadiums stage critically acclaimed performances by the world’s biggest names in entertainment, while philharmonic halls host classically trained virtuosos who play more than just Fryderyk Chopin’s music. Museums are a must-see for visitors, offering a varied, enriching programme & interactive multimedia exhibits. Simple but finely crafted wooden churches hide amid the Carpathian hills & the ample skills of the highlanders are on display at the country's many skansens (open-air ethnographic museums). Numerous art galleries are also definitely worth visiting to see paintings, drawings, sculptures and jewellery created by top contemporary artists.

 

Every city has its own particular history, like a walk through the ages. Some of them are full of treasures from the past; others have been building their identity in more recent times. Fabulous medieval castles & evocative ruins dot hilltops around the country, and the fantastic red-brick fortresses of the Teutonic Knights stand proudly in the north along the Vistula. All the best things are usually well concealed & in Poland, you can find true gems hidden underground. In fact, there are over 200 such sites: spectacular mines, multi-storey medieval cellars & even entire mysterious cities once built by the military.

 

A walk along the Old town squares, passageways & boulevards tempt passers-by with their charming cafes & restaurants, some serving traditional Polish dishes, others skilled in different cuisines of the world. Polish food is based largely on local ingredients such as pork, duck, cabbage, mushrooms, beetroot & onion, combined simply & honed to perfection. Regional specialities & accomplished chefs keep things from getting dull. As for sweets, cream cakes, apple strudel, pancakes, fruit-filled dumplings & a special mania for lody (ice cream) may have you skipping the main course & jumping straight to desserts.     

 

Shopping centres & malls are not only places where tourists can purchase souvenirs, works of local artisans or folk handicraft, but where keen shoppers can explore a huge selection of shops & designer boutiques.

 

Away from the big cities, much of Poland feels remote and unspoiled. While large swathes of the country are flat, the southern border is lined with a chain of low-lying but lovely mountains that invite days, if not weeks, of splendid solitude with well-marked hiking paths criss-crossing the country through dense forest, along broad rivers & mountain passes. Much of the northeast is covered by interlinked lakes & waterways ideal for kayaking and canoeing - no experience necessary.

 

This country impresses with as many as 14 out of nearly a thousand sites included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Poland is the gold standard when it comes to holidays!

 

Good for the kids, good for the grown-ups, good for the whole family. A journey through the amazing kaleidoscope will allow you to enjoy Polska in more ways than one. Let’s add wine, pottery & gingerbread to the mix. Then glass, proziak & lace… Isn’t that intriguing?

 

So expect an incredible atmosphere mixed with more unique & authentic experiences powered by locals than you could ever hope to see in just one visit. Spectacular & surreal. Take the plunge now & yep… a warm welcome awaits you in Poland  & The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

 

Come…be inspired & discover the World with us

 

We are in the process of updating our Offerings of experiential journeys in Polska. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore more options & we will be happy to customise & offer suggestions based on your personal preferences……