Do you want to know anything about that marvellous country? Welcome to Poland Do you want to know anything about that marvellous country?

General information Poland is situated in the centre of Europe. It is the member of European Union from 2004. This country has population of over 38 million people. Its capital city is Warsaw. The official language of Poland is Polish.The total area consists of 312,679 square kilometres. Its official name is the Republic of Poland (Rzeczpospolita Polska).

History of Poland The first Polish state was established and christianized in 966 by Mieszko I. The Piast Dynasty ruled from 966 to 1370. The next dynasties were Jagiellonowie and election kings. The last emperor of Poland was Stanislaw August Poniatowski. From 1795 to 1918 the area of Poland was divided into Russia, Austria and Prussia. The first Polish Constitution was established on 3rd May, 1791. Its principal co-author was Stanislaw August Poniatowski. The Constitution was the first in Europe and the second in the world.

History of Poland In 1914-1918 Poland took part in the First World War and 20 years later the Second World War began. Poland was under German and Soviet occupation. In 1944 inhabitants of Warsaw fought in the Warsaw Rebellion. In 1945 the war ended and Poland became independent. Polish politicians under Soviet force established socialistic system from 1945 to 1989. From 2004 Poland is a member of European Union. Sejm – the lower house of Polish parliament. It consists of 460 deputies elected every four years.

Polish literature One of the earliest Polish texts is Bogurodzica, the sacral hymn to Virgin Mary. The text is full of archaisms. Jan Kochanowski (1530-1580), the prominent poet and writer of the Polish Renaissance. He created Laments and another poetry. Wespazjan Kochowski (1633-1700) – the Polish historian and poet. He wrote many religious poems. Ignacy Krasicki (1735-1801) , the most prominent writer in the Enlightement. His most popular works are Fables, Satires and the War of the Monks.

Polish literature Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855), the most outstanding poet of the Polish Romanticism, the author of the national epos Pan Tadeusz. Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846-1915) –the writer of novels (Quo Vadis, The Teutonic Knights, With Fire and Sword). In 1905 he won the Nobel Prize. Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński (1905-1953)- a poet, he wrote many grotesque and satiric poems as well as short comedies. Zbigniew Herbert (1924-1998)-a Polish poet and essayist. He wrote a cycle of poems about Mr Cogito. His first poems were published in 1950.

Polish Music Venceslaus Samotulinus (1520-1560) the Renaissance composer of religious motets. Karol Kurpiński (1785-1857) –the Polish composer, conductor and educator. At the age of 12, he became an organist at church. He wrote operas and symphonic works. Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872) a composer, a conductor and a teacher. He wrote operas and songs (The Haunted Manor, Helen, Verbum Nobile)

Polish Music Frédéric François Chopin (1810-1849) – the most prominent composer of Romanticism.He wrote mazurkas, polonaises, sonatas and other piano pieces. His works contain Polish ethnic themes. Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) - a Polish pianist, composer, diplomat, and politician, and the third Prime Minister of Poland.

Polish Music National dances Krakowiak Polonaise Mazurka Oberek Kujawiak

Polish architecture The Wawel Cathedral is the Polish national sanctuary.It is located on the Wawel Hill in Cracow. It has a 1,000-year history and it was the traditional coronation site of Polish monarches. It is the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Cracow. The Pope John Paul II was buried there. Main Market Square in Krakow

Polish architecture The Lazienki Park (is the largest park in Warsaw and occupies 76 hectares of the city center. The Lazienki Park was established in the 17th century by Tylman van Gameren, in the baroque style. The Great Theatre and the Polish National Opera in Warsaw

Famous Poles John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła) – the Roman Catholic Pope, religious leader, writer, poet. He remains one of the most-travelled world leaders in history. He was the only Polish pope and the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI (Dutch) in the 1520s. Lech Wałęsa – the Polish politician, the President in years 1990-1995. Established the Independent Self-governing Trade Union „the Solidarity”, which was anti-communist. The winner of the Nobel Prize in 1983.

Polish landscapes The River Vistula is the longest one in Poland (1047 km). The picture shows the river in Modlin. The Vistula flows in Cracow, Warsaw and Gdańsk. The fabulous landscapes of Masuria, the area in the north-east of Poland

Warsaw – the capital city Warsaw is the capital city of Poland since 1596. It has 1 700 536 inhabitants. Modern centre of Warsaw

Polish language Polish language is the official language of Poland. It is the West Slavic language with the greatest number of speakers . Polish language is spoken by 42.7 million people.

Świętokrzyskie district Poland is divided into 16 districts. Świętokrzyskie district is situated in south-eastern Poland. Its capital city is Kielce. It takes its name from Góry Świętokrzyskie mountains. The population is1,281,796. In Swiętokrzyskie are situated Old-Polish Industrial Region and Świętokrzyski National Park. The location of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship in Poland

Świętokrzyskie Mountains Świętokrzyskie Mountains are treated as a mountain range in central Poland. They are one of the oldest mountain ranges in Europe. The mountains are part of the Świętokrzyski National Park. The highest summit of Świętokrzyskie Mountains is Łysica (612 m), where is possible to see a stone run. The name of the mountains comes from a monastery with Relic of Holy Cross. Landscapes of Świętokrzyskie Mountains

Kielce Kielce is the capital city of Świętokrzyskie district. It has 205 665 inhabitants. Kielce is a cultural and economical center of the region. The city is famous of Kielce Trade Fairs. It is a modern firm, which organizes international exhibitions of miscellanous products. The best known building in Kielce - The Kraków Bishop’s Palace is constructed in baroque style. The palace is arranged as a National Museum with worth paintings of prominent artists. Kielce has also an university and an Institute of Technology. The city is known in Poland for the Dance Theatre.

Centers of Kielce The Culture Centre of Kielce is a modern building. There are situated: the philharmony, the local television and many language schools. It is a place of miscellaneous performances. The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Mary in Kielce functions as a religious center of the city. The cathedral is built in the baroque style. The painting of Virgin Mary was coronated in 1993 by the Pope John Paul II.

Architecture of Kielce The photographs show the Cracow’s Bishops Palace, the Karsch’s Manor House and the building of the District Office

Zagnańsk Zagnańsk is a village situated 13 km in the north of Kielce. Zagnansk functions as a center of Zagnansk Commune. Commune (gmina) is the principal unit (the lowest uniform level) of the territorial division in Poland. The main touristic attraction of Zagnansk Commune is the oak ”Bartek”, which is about 700 years old. Other interesting places in this Commune are: an old quarry of dolomite, ”Bohema” - the center of luxurious parties and ceremonies. The Commune contains also a library, a bank, primary ,gymnasium, schools and a high school. The high school specialised in forestry. It is one of the biggest buildings of Zagnańsk.

Zagnańsk The number of population of Zagnansk Commune is 12 746. There are many cultural institutions. For example, the Commune Public Library contains 45 492 books to borrow. It also has several computers with free Internet access for all users. The next touristic attraction is an old church from XVII century. It is situated close to the Chelm Hill – the point of picturesque views. The Zagnańsk Commune possesses in its territory a Suchedniowsko-Oblęgorski park krajobrazowy. The modern architecture of Zagnańsk. The picture shows a center of health care. Library and pharmacy are situated next to that building.

Zagnańsk Zagnańsk is also a good recreation place. There are three artificial lakes in villages: Umer, Kaniow and Zachełmie. It is possible to swim in them and rest on their coasts. In the village are also organised ”The Days of Zagnańsk", these are cultural and entertainment parties with the promotion of Zagnańsk Commune. The Landscape Park is located on the area of the Commune. It is a complex of forests, enabling walks full of delight and the admiration for the nature. The artificial lake in Kaniów.

Primary school and Gymnasium in Zagnańsk Primary School and Gymnasium in Zagnańsk are situated at Turystyczna 59 Street. The main building exists since 1971. The new building of the sports centre was built in 2003. The school contains 18 classrooms with the complete equipment, the canteen, the library and cloakrooms. There are about 486 students and 50 teachers. The school organizes obligatory lessons as well as the additional ones. The headmaster in Mrs Marzanna Moćko. The main building of the school consists of three floors and a concourse used for sport and solemn events.

Primary school and Gymnasium in Zagnańsk The patron of the school is Stanisław Staszic – the leader of Polish Enlightement, a priest and political writer. The school possesses two computer rooms. The institution organizes miscellaneous journeys and trips e.g. to cinemas and theaters. Many students of the gymnasium take part in District Competitions. Students are writing a final examination in the concourse.

Primary school and Gymnasium in Zagnańsk The sports centre is a modern recreation and entertainment object. It contains the main court, two classrooms, cloakrooms, a fitness room and an auditorium. The centre is widely used, particularly on lessons on Physical Education. It is also a place of other sport events. The hall possesses two floors. It is owned by the Commune Centre of Culture, Sports and Recreation. It is possible to rent the part of centre or the whole one for a day. Interior of the sports centre. You can see there the main court and the auditorium.

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