Gdansk, Krakow, and Warsaw

Posted by Kerry Kubilius May 24, 2008

Reading about Poland's history is one thing, but visiting Poland with a history student's perspective is quite another. It's possible to put down a book, or close a webpage, or turn off a documentary or historically accurate film. When you visit Poland, the history is inescapable. You may walk historic streets, dine in restaurants established in the 19th century, or stay in former palaces. Medieval churches beckon, castles loom large over the cities' oldest districts, and monuments memorialize those perished in uprisings or wars.

If you're intent on finding Poland's history, Warsaw, Krakow, or Gdansk are good places to begin. These cities' respective Old Towns hold the most significant landmarks and reveal Poland through the centuries. While Gdansk and Warsaw are largely rebuilt, Krakow remains largely unscathed from WWII.