Introduction
Poland has survived centuries of conflict to emerge as a proud, independent country, ready to assume her new role in modern history. Visitors to Poland are discovering what the locals have long known, that Poland is a country rich in fine culture, scenic landscapes and extraordinary historical sites.
Poland is located in Northeastern Europe, and it is bordered by the Baltic Sea and Lithuania to the north, Slovakia and the Czech Republic to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and Germany to the west. Its geography is beautiful, with coastal lowlands to the north and mountain ranges to the south. The country is bisected by an extensive river system, with the Vistula River being the longest.
When visiting Poland, there are several locations that should be visited. A wonderful location to visit is the Main Market Square in Krakow. This is a very large medieval style town square that is surrounded by buildings that are more than 1,000 years old. A more dramatic place to visit is Auschwitz-Birkenau, which was the location of a very large Nazi concentration camp during World War II. Warsaw is the capital of Poland and it is also the largest city in the country. Its greater metropolitan area has close to 2.7 million residents making it a touristic and economic hub.