Basic Information on Lower Silesia

Lower Silesia lies in the south-western corner of Poland on the banks of the river Odra, at the point where Poland's borders with the Czech Republic and Germany meet. The oldest historical document mentioning Silesia dates from 845AD (the next from 921) and the region contains more than 100 historical towns, with parks, gardens, castles and palaces, and monumental churches. The architecture to be found here includes rare Roman examples, along with unusual Silesian gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical styles. Lower Silesia also has no fewer than 11 spa towns and health resorts offering affordable spa treatment, from a total of 29 across the country.
In order to fnd the real pearls of Lower Silesia, visitors should explore not only the beautiful regional capital of Wroclaw but also the smaller towns and villages, where many of our most extraordinary monuments are hidden and go undescribed in guidebooks. To extend your journey of discovery by crossing into the bordering territories of Germany or the Czech Republic.

Area: 19949,4 km
Capital city of the region: Wrocław (Breslau in German, Vratislav in Czech)
Main cities (with population): Wrocław (640,000), Wałbrzych (138,000), Legnica (109,000), Jelenia Góra (93,500), Lubin (83,300), Głogów (74,400), Świdnica (65,200)
Climate: modetate. In the mountains humid and highly stimulating.
The longest river: Odra
The highest mountain: Śnieżka (1602m) in the Karkonosze Mts.
Consulates: 11 countries represented
UNESCO Monuments: Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica (Kościół Pokoju), Centennial Hall in Wrocław (Hala Stulecia)
Transportation:
Lower Silesia offers the wide variety of car rental shops. Travellers also may use trains, buses, taxis and even private planes. The majority of towns and vollages has bus stations or train stations; some of them have both.

Natural environment:
Forests area: 600,000ha
Protected areas: 13% (2 national parks, 12 landscape parks, protected lanscape areas, RAMSAR wetlands near the town Milicz, woodlands and old-growth forests, strict reserves and other forms).
Health resorts adn spa medicine: 11 towns and villages, delicious mineral waters and excellent curative waters

Spa treatment in Poland

In Poland, 'spa and wellness centres' and health or spa resorts (in Polish: uzdrowisko or sanatorium) are regarded as being two completely different places. Treatment at a health or spa resort (in Polish: uzdrowisko or sanatorium) is usually sought at the recommendation of a medical doctor and for various health conditions or chronic diseases, these including asthma, upper and lower respiratory tract disorders, digestive and cardiac disorders, motor system disorders (arthritis) and rehabilitation following an accident or surgery, as well as all manner of other health problems that ought to be treated by medical professionals.
Patients take drugs and are not only supervised by medical doctors and nurses, but also undergo climate treatment (excellent for a psoriasis patient) and a full range of physiotherapies (balneo and photo therapy). Clean, allergen-free air, a stimulating climate and scenic views provide an opportunity for rest, as does a stay in a stress-free environment, and they promote too physical activity to enhance healing processes.
The main aim of a stay at a resort is to stimulate the body to promote self-healing processes. This kind of treatment is always conducted by qualified staff in well-equipped facilities with hospital or clinic status. In most cases, natural medicine is driven by academic medicine. Treatment at health resorts is refunded from the national budget, though commercial patients are also welcome. It is regarded as a supplementary and usually final element of treatment or is aimed at rehabilitation and recovery. Patients are tested by a medical doctor who prescribes both medicines and physiokinesitherapy or another treatment.
Nature grants curative properties to waters rich in unique micro elements, along with the power to heal conditions such as ulcers by reducing gastric acid production or reducing acidity to normal values; this applies too in the case of diabetes and blood sugar. Bottled curative waters are sold in shops, bars and restaurants and it is usual for them to be recommended by a medical doctor. 'Wielka Pieniawa' for instance, from the health resort of Polanica-Zdrój, is famed among patients suffering from peptic ulcers. Some curative waters have diuretic qualities and stimulate natural urine production in patients suffering from kidney diseases. The healing qualities of Lower Silesian waters have been known since medieval times and many legends exist telling of animals cured or the hopelessly sick who recovered after drinking them. This results from highly complex and unique geology of the Sudety Mountains, which are extremely rich in minerals, metals and rare earth elements.
Lower Silesian health resorts also offer standard dermocosmetology (spa and wellness centres) and employ beauticians offering a wide range of skin treatments rejuvenating or improving skin, though these have nothing in common with medical treatment and procedures, rehabilitation and care provided by medical staff. This type of treatment has been popular in Lower Silesia for centuries and played a vital role in the development of tourism, sport and recreation.

Also take a look at:
The Land of Kłodzko Health Resorts Complex - www.zuk-sa.pl

Planning your trip to Lower Silesia (Poland)

Currency
The basic unit of currency in Poland is the ZŁOTY (PLN). Current exchange rates can be found by checking exchange offices (in Polish: KANTOR WYMIANY WALUT or KANTOR). For convenience, we advise visitors to carry a little more cash than they need or to have a credit card handy (Visa, Visa Electron, Maestro, Master Card and others are widely accepted). Travelers checks are cashed in banks, which are easily found in the cities and large towns, but will of course be a problem when out in the countryside and in small villages.

When to arrive in Lower Silesia?

The winter sports season runs from January until the middle of April, and in higher-up regions even until May. Temperatures range from -5 to -15C, but may drop lower, particularly in the mountains. Due to schools' winter breaks, last two weeks of January and two first weeks of February are not recommended for tourists wanting to find accommodation in the Sudety mountains. The spring and summer season runs from May until the end of August. Lower Silesia and the Sudety are also worth seeing in the autumn (fall), and then you can experience the Golden Polish Autumn. This season is usually sunny with lots of colour in the forests and is not so busy for the hotels and guest houses.

Accommodation
Lower Silesia can offer very different accommodation according to your budget. The region offers three and four star hotels, including hotels in castles, along with guest houses, youth hostels, mountain refuges, campsites and farmhouses, the latter a Polish speciality. Many of them are old buildings that have been renovated, restored and fitted out with very modern furnishings, while some are completely new.

Polish Food
Many visitors to Poland are amazed by the mouth-watering food they are served and by the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables available. Particularly delightful for the foreign palate are our tender smoked hams, the extensive selection of traditional sausage, richly-flavoured potatoes, satisfying breads and rolls, fresh-churned butter, home-made jams, speciality cheeses (cottage, blue and melted - soft and ideal for spreading on bread), our meats (poultry, game, veal, beef) and of course our beer. Poland is also known for its wonderful fish, including carp, pike, trout and perch among many, many others.

The one thing that visitors tend to avoid in Poland are mushrooms, which are common in our national cuisine and described in a vast range of handbooks and guides, with their Latin and botanical names. Many are edible, and indeed healthy, and possessed of deep mellow flavours. Poles just don't understand this wariness as Poland is extremely rich in mushrooms, with even mushroom-picking contests taking place in our forests. Unusual mushroom varieties can also be bought in shops, or you might like to try them in one of the many excellent dishes served in restaurants. You should try:

Cantharellus cibarius (in Polish: Pieprznik jadalny, common name: kurka), Boletus edulis (in Polish Borowik szlachetny),Xerocomus badius (in Polish:Podgrzybek brunatny), Leccinum scabrum (in Polish:Koźlarz babka), Agaricus campester (in Polish:Pieczarka polna), Macrolepiota procera (in Polish:Czubajka kania, common name: kania), Armillariella mellea (in Polish:Opieńka miodowa), Morchella esculenta (in Polish:Smardz jadalny) and finally Lactarius deliciosus (in Polish:Mleczaj rydz).

A typical Polish dinner might include soup (in Polish: zupa) to start, such as żurek, beetroot (barszcz), sour cucumber (ogórkowa), potato (kartoflanka) or cabbage (kapuśniak), but there are many others; for the main course, perhaps the divine bigos, but usually traditional pastry or cabbage parcels, dumplings, pasta, rice, one of many salads, meat, and potatoes; for dessert, a piece of home-made cake, compote, jelly, budyń - kind of pudding but better, and kisiel. Please be aware that if you are a vegetarian, or have special culinary needs, you should report this to your guide in advance.

Drinks
In Poland the most popular refreshments are mineral water and soda, along with coffee and a range of teas, however decaffeinated coffee is not popular and in some places it can be difficult to obtain. In many venues you will have a choice of good French, South African, Moldavian or Italian wines along with a selection of international beers. Polish beer is extremely popular, with good reason, and we recommend you try in particular Żywiec, Okocim, Lech, EB, Tyskie, Dębowe Mocne, Książ and Tatra, all of which are readily available, but there are many other kinds. The best Lower Silesian beers were produced in the town of Lwówek Śląski (brands Dobre Mocne, Książęce, Wrocławskie or alcohol free Viagra Strong), Radków and Wrocław (brand Piast). In Wrocław visit, Vratislavia and try something much more stronger - Vodka

Prices:
Prices depend on the region and place where you do your shopping. In the city centers prices may be little higher. Poland offers huge shopping centers, small shops and bazaars.

Companheiro alegre na estrada vale um carro.
Make short the miles, with talk and smiles.
Compagnon facond par chemin excuse un char, coche et roncin.
Alivia el trabajo del camino el companero elocuente.
Compagno allegro per cammino, ti serve per roncino.
PUBLILIUS SYRUS SENTENTIAE