poland village

Quaint Little Poland Villages You Must Visit

Have you ever visited a Poland village? Poland was very punished during the Second World War. However, the country still offers an exciting medieval legacy, amazing historic squares, good gastronomy and a review of the recent history of the European continent that we should never forget. You have probably heard about the history and beauty of Krakow and Warsaw, but you should know that much of Poland’s magic lies in its small towns. Here is a list of Poland villages that you must visit.

  1. Zalipie

Zalipie Poland, with less than 1,000 inhabitants and an hour and a half drive from Krakow, is listed in some guides as the most beautiful of Poland villages because of the tradition of decorating their wooden plank farms with brightly coloured flowers.

The custom started in the early 19th century when a neighbour drew the first flower to cover soot stains, and has become more sophisticated and spread to houses, fences, doghouses, barnes and even trees. Once a year, after Corpus Christi, they organize a competition to choose the best-decorated facade.

  1. Rydzyna

Small, picturesque, often described as “the pearl of Polish baroque”, Rydzyna boasts a castle. Built in the early 15th century and then transformed in the late 17th century into a baroque palace surrounded by an extensive park. The Town Hall, the parish church and the houses around the market square were also built in the eighteenth century.

In the market square, there is a figure of the Holy Trinity commemorating the plague that decimated the city in 1709. Made in rococo style by the artist Andrzej Schmidt. 

  1. Sandomierz

This charming village is equidistant on the Vistula route between Krakow and Warsaw (it is approximately 200 kilometres from each). Sandomierz is one of the oldest and most historically important of Poland villages.

Its old town (with its castle, its cathedral, its Town Hall on the Market Square) surrounded by nature makes it one of the country’s major tourist attractions.

Evening scene of a Polish Village
  1. Pacskow

With 7,631 inhabitants, Paczkow is one of the few towns in Europe that have kept their medieval fortifications preserved almost completely and is known as the Polish Carcassonne. Of course, while the beautiful city of southern France is a reconstruction of the nineteenth century, all the historic buildings of Paczkow are authentic.

Its double ring of defensive walls, the Renaissance, Baroque and neoclassical houses that flank its Main Square, its City Hall (with a tower 48 meters high) or the impressive fortified church of St. John the Evangelist, from the fourteenth century.

  1. Kazimierz Dolny

Known as the pearl of the Polish Renaissance, Kazimierz Dolny accumulates in its scarce 30 square kilometres a good number of monuments. The church of John the Baptist and Bartholomew the Apostle, the remains of the castle, and the Mannerist-style houses are in the main square. So many and so remarkable that since the 19th century this Poland village in the province of Lublin, on the banks of the Vistula, has been a focus of attraction for tourists and artists.

Museums, galleries and a cultural and alternative atmosphere that is accentuated in summer. With proposals such as the Folk Music Festival or the Film and Art Festival Summer of Cinema. Immaculate and so Renaissance, Kazimierz Dolny seems to put a little art on the banks of the Vistula River.

  1. Zamosc

Zamosc was consolidated in the 16th century as an exceptional place of passage for the routes that linked the Black Sea with the rest of Western Europe. With all the money collected and the international influences received, they followed the Italian model of the new cities (the one inspired by the unforgettable Ferrara) hiring an architect from Padua for that purpose.

Bernardo Morando fused the Italian plan with local influences, making it a rarity in the Central European plain. The Great Market Square is the crown jewel where you can relax and enjoy the atmosphere of this Italian-style city.

  1. Malbork

One of the biggest and well-known medieval castles in Europe, the Gothic fortress of Malbork, is a must-see when visiting Poland. Originally built by the Teutonic Order as a military fortress, it was also known to be one of the homes of the rulers of Poland.

It has now been restored to its greatest splendour since 2013 after a major renovation and rebuilding effort to repair the unfortunate damage caused owing to the Second World War.

  1. Dębki

Dębki is one of those jewels that every country hides. Close to other tourist centres and overshadowed by them. It has it all: pine forests, dunes, a wide beach and a charming Poland village. As a curiosity, in August on the beach, they held the biggest Frisbee tournament in Poland.

  1. Zakopane

A classic of the lists of the most beautiful Poland villages is Zakopane, at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, nature, Tyrolean atmosphere, and the best ski slopes in the country. Houses, churches and wooden chapels adorn the countryside, Zakopane style.

This can be seen especially in the church of Jaszczurowa or in the Museum of Style, by Stanislaw Witkiewicz. The highlights are a good nightlife and an appointment with the mountain tradition: the International Mountain Folklore Festival in August.

  1. Szwecja

Another of the small villages in Poland that you should visit is Szwecja, and no, it is not Sweden. Szwecja is a small village located in Gmina Wałcz district, in north-western Poland. It is only 12 km apart from Wałcz. You will find that Polish villages offer more than history and culture. Although it is a small town with few inhabitants, Szwecja is ideally located for kayaking routes and you will find many activities and camping areas.

One of the best ways to tour these Polish villages is by bus. The bus network in the country has great coverage and will give you access to those magical places that would otherwise be off-limits to you. Two of the most recognized and popular operators are the Sindbad bus and Euroclub.

Sindbad bus will allow you to travel locally. You can visit Sandomierz, Malbork, Zamosc and other small villages in Poland with no problem. If you are visiting Poland from another country like Germany, Ukraine or Austria, Euroclub is your option. Once you start your trip, you will realize that not only the country is charming but also its people will contribute to making your trip unforgettable.

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