Lublin

the location of the Old Town in Lublin is second to none. So is the mediaeval urban design and the authentic ornamentation of centuries' old burgher houses, showpieces for every tourist. Surrounded by a fortified wall, the Old Town abounds in monuments of architecture from various epochs.

Genuine treasures include the Market Place lined with fine burgher houses, 14th c. Krakowska and Grodzka Gates, Church and Monastery of the Dominican Order, and the formidable edifice of the Crown Tribunal whose cellars mark the beginning of the Tourist Underground Route.

Among the most beautiful 16th c. Renaissance houses are the House of the Konopnica Family at Rynek 12, Klonowic's House No.2 or the House of the Lubomelski Family at Rynek 8.

The Old Town is a popular place for tourists and local inhabitants, and with a bit of imagination, one can hear hubbub of mediaeval merchants and artists. During the Jagiellonian Fair held every August, the Old Town is a particularly busy place with many cultural events and dozens of market stalls.

The 14th c. Roman Catholic Holy Trinity Chapel in the castle is by far a gem of international repute, which now bears the European Heritage sign. Built by King Casimir the Great, the chapel is decorated with amazing Russo-Byzantine frescoes commissioned by King Ladislas Jagiełło.

The chapel is considered one of the most fascinating places in Europe, a living proof of the coexistence of Eastern and Western cultures here in Lublin: the Roman Catholic temple decorated with images of the founding fathers of the Orthodox Church.

Next to the chapel stands a 13th c. defence tower, the oldest monument of Lublin architecture. The original castle was totally destroyed and the present building was originally built by the Russian authorities in the first half of the 19th c. as a prison. Today, the castle houses the Lublin Museum, which contains several sections including archaeology, coins, arms, ethnography, decorative art, and painting.

The rich collection of paintings includes the famous Lublin Union by Jan Matejko and many others works of art by distinguished Polish and foreign artists. Info lublin.pl

Lubelskie Region - here European Union begins

is hospitable and friendly ground, joining into harmonious way traditions, religions and culture of different nations.

Its location, on borderland of Western and Eastern Europe, makes this region exceptional  with great development possibilities. There are here the most important transcontinental road routes and railways, leading from Brussels, Berlin and Warsaw to Moscow, Vilnius, Minsk, Kiev, Lvov, Odessa.

Every year millions of travelers cross Eastern border of European Union with Ukraine and Belarus.
The economy of Lubelskie Region for ages base on agriculture and food production. Lubelskie Region is potentate of fruit-growing cultivation (over 20% orchards in Poland), especially: raspberries, currants, strawberries, cherries. Region plays leading part in production of: hop, sugar, tobacco, cereal.
Clean natural environment, favorable conditions soil-climatic and traditional model of small, family farms have decided about dynamic development of organic agriculture.

Lubelskie Region is one of national leaders in health food production.
Second way of development is agrotourism which makes possible acquaintance of natural environment, customs local, tradition as well as regional kitchen. Agrotourism offers natural and active tourism: hiking, bicycle, horse routes and numerous nature-educational paths in national parks in national and landscape parks.

Lubelskie is located in one of the most green and ecologic clean regions of Europe. Here is located the largest in country group of Forests Janowskie and Solska Forest. Also here are stretch from Kraśnik to Hrebenne (and further to Lvov) picturesque areas of afforested hills of Roztocze. Forest land, with deep valley, numerous springs and small waterfalls on rocky terrains creates superb conditions for foot and bicycle wander.

Apart from peculiarities of the nature, you will find here old country huts, antique small churches, Orthodox churches, cemeteries, and also on borderland in forests concrete bunkers from so-called Mołotow line, built hurriedly by Red Army in years 1940-41.

Roztoczański National Park protects the valuable forests of Central Roztocze, with fir-beeches forests - typical for Carpathians. Town of Zwierzyniec was formerly hunting terrain of Zamoyski family. Now it is farming of Polish pony, coming from extinct already specie of forest horse - tarpan.

Poleski National Park is also known from protection of priceless natural environment and dying species of animals. Here are located water-peat terrains of Łęczna-Włodawa Lake District. This area is a part of International Reserve of Biosphere Western Polesie. This exotic land is a den of cranes, elk, pond turtle and many others. Info: poland.gov.pl

Zamość - Pearls of the region

in 1580 the chancellor Jan Zamoyski, creator of the one of largest houses and law in Republic, established city of Zamość.

Ideal city, built by Italian architect Bernardo Morando according to best Renaissance rules. It delights the tourists today, as one of pearls on the List of World Heritage UNESCO.

Great Market in Zamość impresses by its size (100x100 m) and exceptional beauty of tenement houses, with vaulted arcades in ground floor and rich attics on tops. Chancellor Zamoyski looked after the development of the city and he settled there craftsmen of different nationality, among others Armenians, Greeks, Italians, Jews, Germans, Englishmen, Scotsmen.
City had modern system of fortification with powerful ramparts, which turn out difficult to conquest both for Cossack-Tartars armies and for Swedish armies during invasions in 17 th century.

That is why in Zamość the original town-planning arrangement and most of magnificent buildings are well preserved, eg. chancellor palace, Arsenal, collegiate church from ancestral mausoleum of Zamoyski family, Zamość Academy.

Today Zamość is a city of tourists and artists, in summer it is the most important centre of culture of region, famous because of great outdoor events and festivals, among others: Hetman's Fair, Zamojski Theatre Summer, international Folk Festival Eurofolk.
Vistula pearl of Renaissance. Info: poland.gov.pl