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Located in Central Europe and bounded by the choppy Baltic Sea in the north and the rugged Tatra Mountains in the south, Poland is full of lush forests, beautiful lakes, and national parks worth discovering. The country also boasts more than a thousand years of rich and varied history. The culture and history of this eastern European gem is recognized by as many as 16 UNESCO-listed sites. You can learn more about Poland's most impressive UNESCO Sites by clicking here.
Lower Silesia (Dolny Slask) is the southwesternmost voivodeship in Poland, and is a popular tourist destination. It is sandwiched between the Sudeten mountain range to the west and the Silesian Lowlands to the east. In the Lowlands, which is the warmest region of Poland according to temperature averages, you will find the region`s largest city, Wroclaw, which is home to the University of Wroclaw, one of the country`s most prestigious universities, as well as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Centennial Hall.
The Silesian Voivodeship, in south-central Poland, is one of the richest areas of the country and the most densely-populated, fitting nearly five million people in an area roughly 80% of the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The capital of Silesia (Slask in Polish) is Katowice, one of the most industrialized cities in the country, and definitely one of the wealthiest. Other important cities in the region include Bielsko-Biala and Czestochowa.
Lesser Poland (Malopolska) is a region that roughly corresponds to southeastern Poland, between Silesia to the west and Red Ruthenia in the east. Much of the region lies in the Vistula River basin, north of the Tatra Mountains. The `winter capital of Poland`, Zakopane, is the largest town in the Tatra Mountains and is known for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. The hilly and mountainous terrain in the south blends into valleys in the north, as traditional wooden stave churches, castles, and other important landmarks dot the landscape.
Lublin Voivodeship is located in southeastern Poland, close to the border with both Belarus and Ukraine. The capital of this region is Lublin, a city that is over 800 years old. It is known for Lublin Castle, one of the oldest castles in Poland open to the public, and the Crown Tribunal building, where the final say in judicial matters were heard when Lublin was part of the Crown Kingdom of Poland. The town of Zamosc is located 55 miles to the southeast of Lublin. It is one of the best-preserved examples of a Renaissance town in Europe, and one of the few outside modern-day Italy to survive to the present day.
West Pomerania (Zachodniopomorskie in Polish) is the northwesternmost voivoideship in Poland, and sits roughly in the west-central portion of the historical region of Pomerania, which stretches as far west as eastern Germany. It is one of the most popular tourist regions in Poland due to its position on the Baltic Sea coast and due to other attractions like the Wkrzanska Forest, Drawa National Park, and Wolin National Park. The capital of the region is Szczecin, located on the Oder River. Settled in the ninth century, it is one of Poland`s oldest cities. Other historic cities in the region, well-known for their Gothic architecture, include Koszalin and Stargard.
Polish Pomerania (Pomorze) covers much of the northwestern portion of the country, including a large portion of the country`s Baltic Sea coastline. Pomerania has a few large cities, but for the most part it is a very rural place, characterized by lakes, farms, valleys, fields, forests, and small villages and towns. Many of Poland`s oldest cities and towns, such as Gdansk, Szczecin, and Torun, are located here.
The Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (Kujawsko-Pomorskie in Polish) consists of two traditional regions of Poland, that of Kuyavia to the west, with the royal city of Bydgoszcz as its capital; and that of Royal Prussia, a portion of East Pomerania, with Torun as its capital. Today, the two cities make up a joint metropolitan area and are co-capitals of the Voivodeship. Bydgoszcz is situated on the Brda and Vistula rivers and is well-known for its eclectic collection of neo-Gothic, neo-Baroque and neo-Classical buildings, earning it the nickname of `Little Berlin`. Torun is one of the oldest cities in Poland, having been settled for nearly 1,200 years.
Italy boasts the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country in the world. With 51 designated cultural and natural landmarks, it makes up over 5% of UNESCO’s global list. From Dolomites and historic centers of Florence and Rome to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, the Italian sites are ideal travel destinations for anyone seeking out history, art, and culture.
With over 2,000 years of history, France boasts more than 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and has the fourth largest number of historical sites in the world after Italy, China, and Spain. The UNESCO-listed sites take a variety of forms including historic towns, palaces, castles, religious buildings, forts, canals, and landscapes. These sites can be found spread all across France, so wherever you go, you won’t be far away from one of them.
Western civilization was born in Greece over 4,000 years ago. It therefore comes as no surprise that this ancient land is home to 18 amazingly unique UNESCO Sites to visit. From Bronze Age citadels and the sacred Acropolis of Athens (on which stands the Parthenon, chosen by UNESCO as its official emblem), to Byzantine monasteries and Venetian fortresses, Greece’s ongoing efforts to protect and curate its sites and monuments is testament to the tireless work of archaeologists, conservators and heritage managers across the country.
Spain has the third most UNESCO World Heritage Sites of any country in the world. From Iberian Peninsula’s most antique villages and old towns to cobblestoned Romanesque streets and breathtaking architecture, there are 48 impressive UNESCO sites to visit in Spain. Countless cultures have passed through this country leaving their incredible influences and making Spain a cultural paradise.
With a rich history that started around 400,000 years ago, Portugal is culturally and historically abundant with numerous monuments and landmarks to explore, along with 17 alluring UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From monuments to natural heritage, Portugal is a unique place to visit and one of the top destinations in Europe for a culture-filled trip.
Known for having some of the best skiing in Europe, many visitors come to Austria for its fantastic ski resorts. The country is home to the magnificent Alps with the highest peak reaching 12,461 ft above sea level, great for so many activities when it comes to outdoor adventures. In spite of this, there are a lot of other fantastic sites and cultural opportunities in Austria, many of which you can discover by visiting the UNESCO Sites of Austria. These sites are a perfect introduction to the country’s diverse history, magnificent landscapes, and wonderful cities.
Switzerland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites are a beautiful combination of cultural and natural sites highlighting the best of the country. The country boasts an impressive 11 UNESCO Sites, three of them are natural phenomena, such as the Alps, while eight are areas of cultural significance. Each of them stands for authenticity and diversity for many generations to come.
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