About Poland

Poland is located in the very heart of Europe – between the banks of the Oder River in the west and the Bug River in the east, the Baltic Sea in the north and the Carpathians and the Sudetes in the south. It boasts an incredible diversity of landscapes, making it undoubtedly an utmost attractive country for tourists. It is particularly worthwhile to explore these areas from the perspective of a bicycle seat. You will find here routes and trails adapted to each type of cycling, also in accordance with the level of advancement. Therefore, everyone, both beginners and professional cyclists will find something for themselves. This website is designed to bring you closer to Poland as a country friendly to cyclists and bicycle escapades.

Poland has a great natural and cultural wealth to offer, which makes a visit to our country a long-lasting memory. The varied terrain, unique nature, turbulent history, the traces of which can be found upon every step, the medieval towns – still vibrant today, and the cultivated old traditions, delicious cuisine and the famous Polish hospitality – will delight everyone.

Nature
The wealth of Polish landscapes is made up of white, wide and sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea; glacial lakes, hills and Lakeland hills interspersed like on a chessboard with the unique Land of a Thousand Mazurian Lakes; the dense and unspoiled forests with the unique Bialowieża and Augustów Primeval Forests, with their impressive tree stand that provide shelter for countless animals, with the bison and elk at the forefront; the old castles and forts that lay along the Trail of the Eagle’s Nests as if on a thread; the majestic peaks and beautiful panoramas of Polish mountains concentrated in the Sudetes and Carpathians. Among them, the Tatra Mountains deserve special attention, as their unique character is emphasized by the unique highland folklore, picturesque wooden architecture and local delicacies. We can boldly recommend a visit to our country to all cycling enthusiasts. There are currently 23 national parks in Poland, which are worth visiting due to their extraordinary fauna and flora. Traveling around Poland by bicycle, the landscape will change with every kilometer. Starting from the Baltic Sea, through the numerous forests, primeval forests, lakes towards lowlands, which will turn into hills, Beskids and end up on the peaks of the extraordinary Tatra Mountains. To sum up, Poland will provide cyclists with what they are looking for in particular that is in contact with nature and the environment.

History
The history of Poland is over 1,000 years old. It is difficult to describe it in a few sentences, but it has a huge impact on the contemporary character and beauty of Poland. One can surely assert that we have an extremely turbulent history. It goes back to the beginning of the Middle Ages when Slavic tribes settled on the territory of present-day Poland. Conversion into Christianity, which took place in 966, is conventionally treated as the beginning of the Polish state. The history of Poland is full of extraordinary events, great battles, and magnificent rulers. Starting from the Middle Ages, the construction of fortresses under Casimir the Great or the famous Battle of Grunwald. The Polish-Lithuanian Union and the times when Poland stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. Several hundred years later it was, among others, the Polish troops led by John III Sobieski that stopped the Turkish army under the walls of Vienna from further invasion into Europe. Another important element of Polish history are the partitions and the disappearance of our country from world maps for 123 years. Unfortunately, it was only after the end of World War I that we regained our independence, but for a short time as World War II destroyed our country to a considerable extent. And the end of the war, alas it is hard to say that we became a free nation. We regained our true independence in 1989 when President Lech Wałęsa came into power. So we can say that we are a young, democratic country. Our history is largely linked to our geographical location. Located in the centre of Europe, our country was crossed by numerous trade routes, which are also reflected in numerous bicycle routes. Thanks to such a rich history, upon traveling and discovering Poland by bike you will be able to visit numerous places connected with such an abundant history of our country. And we strongly encourage you to do so.

Tradition
Poles are the nation that strongly cultivates old customs. This is reflected in the way of experiencing the greatest Polish holidays, as well as in traditional regional costumes and songs and dialects. In our country, holidays and rituals have a family character, and deeply rooted family ties constitute part of our tradition. The most beautifully cultivated holidays in Poland include Christmas and Easter.

Original and still cultivated customs related to religious holidays, as well as legends and stories about the old history and mysteries and fears, comprise part of Poland’s rich cultural heritage. They are also created by the magnificent regional products and the original dishes that are created on their basis. The still existing folk culture is the strongest expression of Poland’s diversity, in which each region has its own specific costumes, customs, traditions and dishes and delicacies.

Monuments
Witnesses of over 1,000 years of history of Polish lands are the remaining numerous monuments of defensive and sacral architecture from various historical periods. The most valuable ones can be admired in cities with many centuries of tradition, such as Kraków, Gdańsk, Poznań, Wrocław, which are known around the world. Many of them, due to their unique character, have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, such as the Old Town in Kraków, Warsaw or Zamość, the Teutonic Castle in Malbork or the Centennial Hall in Wrocław.

Numerous bicycle paths lead along trails of various architectural or technical monuments and natural monuments. It is difficult to describe the vastness of monuments that our country has at its disposal. Starting from medieval fortifications, going further through sacral monuments or beautiful architecture of southern Poland focused on the Wooden Architecture Route to numerous monuments known around the world and visited by millions of tourists.

Cuisine
Our cuisine has a great tradition and delights with its richness of flavors and aromas. Its present shape has been influenced by historical events and other nationalities that have inhabited the area over the centuries. Meat constitutes the basis of Polish cuisine along with our delicious bread. The main ingredients used by chefs from over the Vistula River include seasonal vegetables and fruit, sauerkraut, pickled and preserved cucumbers, mushrooms, nuts, and forest fruit, as well as various herbs and spices. When visiting Poland it is necessary to try pierogi, bigos, pork chops and red borscht with dumplings. The cuisine is a very important element of bicycle trips. After the many experiences and kilometers covered on a bicycle, it is important to be sure that you will be able to regenerate with a solid meal. Polish cuisine gives you one hundred percent certainty that this will happen. It will probably be a climatic tavern with regional food, which will be a paradise for your tongue.

Bicycle trails
The offer of Polish bicycle trails is very rich and worth discovering. There are also new routes that meet the highest standards. From the sea to the Tatra Mountains, there are interesting and well-marked trails for single-track bikes, thanks to which you can travel across and throughout Poland. This way of traveling is a very good solution to combine sporting activities with exploring new places, trying local delicacies and enjoying nature and beautiful landscapes. Come with us on a bicycle adventure in Poland!

Bicycle events
There are numerous bicycle events that take place in Poland, and all of them are worth participating in. Thus, you can plan your stay so as to take part in them. These include numerous bicycle rallies, from family rallies to mtb rallies or the cult UCI series race, which is Tour de Pologne, held annually during the holiday season. This is a real bicycle feast, often compared and ranked among the best races such as Vuelta España, Giro d’Italia or Tour de France.