cities - ESN Poland
Transcription
cities - ESN Poland
Guidebook for Erasmus Students in Poland re? e h d n n I fi a c t a Wh INFORMATIONS ABOUT POLISH CITIES And MOST USEF U POLIS L PHRA H SES W else? t a h W re? o m t wha PLACES & EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD UT O B A W O KN ESNcard Discounts! wor y l e init D ef th ck che ing! Erasmus Student Network Poland No matter where you will spend your time as an Erasmus student in Poland, you should visit our cities! We have prepared some information, about our biggest Polish cities participating in Erasmus programme. Content index: • • • • • out Poland Basic information ab ties with A few words about ci Erasmus students Useful polish phrases ESNcard Credits page 3 – 4 Polish cities index: • • • • • • • • • • • • • Warsaw Cracow Łódź Katowice Białystok Szczecin Poznań Gliwice Lublin Toruń Olsztyn Wrocław Gdańsk p.5-6 p.7-9 p.10-11 p.12-13 p.14-15 p.16-18 p.19-20 p.21-22 p.23-24 p.25-27 p.28-29 p.30-32 p.33-35 page 5 - 35 page 36 page 37 page 38 KEEP CALM AND ENJOY POLAND E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 2 Erasmus Student Network Poland Poland – all that you nee d to know Poland is a country located in Central Europe. It borders with Germany in the west, Slovakia and Czech Republic in the south, Belarus and Ukraine in the east, Russia and Lithuania in the north-east. The capital of Poland is Warsaw, which is situated in the central part of the country. Polish is the official language and it belongs to the group of Slavic languages. The population of the country is estimated at 39 million, 90 % of which is Catholic. Since 1st May 2004 Poland has become a member of the European Union, however the currency has not changed. In Poland one can only pay with złoty. Poland is a parliamentary democracy, which means that all citizens participate in ruling the state. Bronisław Komorowski is the current president. As far as administrative division is concerned, there are 16 voivodeships, however it is easy to observe how ethnically and culturally various zones they create. That is why in some regions there are dialects and the cuisine slightly differs from one another e.g. people called “górale” from the southern part of Poland. Thanks to its landform, Poland can offer basically every type of “natural attractions” starting from the Baltic Sea in the north, through Masurian Lakes to the mountains in the south namely High Tatra (the highest peak Rysy 2,499 metres), Beskid, Karkonosze, Góry Stolowe and Bieszczady. Moreover, for those who are fascinated by the wild nature there are 23 National Parks spread all over the country. One can find ideal place for mountaineering, sailing or sunbathing on the beach. City tours enthusiasts can find plenty monuments in cities like Warszawa, Wrocław, Kraków, Gdańsk, Toruń. Those cities are extremely important in terms of polish history and Oświęcim - the place where the largest Nazi extermination camp was during the World War II. l range of internationa de wi a rs fe of try un The co r ones nes. The most popula rli ai p ea ch th wi ts or airp ań, Łódź, Cracow, Gdańsk, Pozn are: Warsaw Modlin, in the When travelling with w. cła ro W d an ce wi Kato ys, most two alternative wa borders there are most ses or trains. The bu e ar s ce oi ch on comm cities is the blic transport in the popular means of pu s are e concerned, student ar es ic pr e th as r fa bus. As s and the % discount for train kets provided with the 50 in some cities the tic gh ou Th rt. po ns tra public expensive can be little bit more bought in the buses ket machines. than the ones from tic Coat of arms of Poland E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 3 Erasmus Student Network Poland g for and it h students are waitin lis po l al ch hi w d of ar time in a ye ne just before the en Ju d an ay M There is a particular y er Ev ia”. lish and fest called “juwenal ns are inviting Po w to d an s is a annual student tie ci ts for ic to be open air even ester all academ m nd se te ts er er m nc m co su e e th th l of ts offering stars to perform. Al enty of music even pl a is e er th International music e tim róda ese in the summer stival, through Ost th Fe n om ci fr ro t Ja ar Ap nk . pu ee fr ck and festival ic starting from ro Gdynia to SLOTart in al iv st fe wide range of mus er n’ try pe d international O best thing to do is to e an Th al . iv rs st he fe ot y ae an gg m Re and monastery in Lubiąż organised in the old n. d decide on your ow each one of them an Map of Poland with main cities E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 4 Erasmus Student Network Poland W W A W A RS A RS A A R W S A A R W A RS A SA W W W W W WARSZAWA Capital of Poland, entertainment and culture center for every student. Here you can find some tips how to make your student life more exciting and easier. Taste life in Warsaw the way you like it a most! Where to eat tasty and cheap: If you want to try traditional polish cuisine for a very small price you have to check polish “milky bars”! They’re very unique places where you can meet businessmans, tourists and a students sitting at the same table, and try delicious tomato soup for only 3 PLN. One of the most popular is at the Nowy Świat street and is called “Bar Familijny”. Where to go for a drink with friends: Pawilony – the hub of the universe for all warsaw students. Several small pubs set up in unique retro style all held in one place. Shisha smokers also will find something for themselves. Every evening Pawilony is full of students, once a year they celebrate Pawilony Day – do not miss it! E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 5 Erasmus Student Network Poland Another must visit place are the vodka shot bars – many of them are situated around Nowy Świat and the Old Town’. Warsaw Erasmus Week – the way Warsaw Welcomes Erasmus Students At the beginning of each semester, all 11 sections of ESN group in Warsaw unite their efforts and prepare a huge welcome for all Erasmus Students from the Capital: Warsaw Erasmus Week. The organizers of this event aim to show the students from abroad the charm of the capital city and wish to create an unique opportunity to assimilate Erasmus students from all universities across Warsaw. The permanent elements of Warsaw Erasmus Week are events such as: the city game during which you will need to perform rather unusual tasks or you need to obtain a valuable information. We also have a „lazy version’’ that is tram and bus parties; a ride on specially hired and decorated buses and trams. The amateurs of some of the most distant flavours in Europe will definitely enjoy the Eurodinner. Furthermore, uniquehaving in mind improving the quality of the event, the organizers will invite soman uniquee international stars from the music industry. The last cycle of parties in the biggest clubs in Warsaw culminated in the legendary club 1500m2, where DJ RANDOMER from Great Britain, NEO VIOLENCE SHOW CASE DJ team from Czech Republic and perfectly known to all Erasmus public Spanish DJ – JAVI TORRES (from the Team Hangover DJ’S) performed especially for Erasmus students. The entirety was graced by the showcase of graphic visualizations prepared by Polish-Hungarian group MOON ELECTRO VISION. Warsaw Erasmus Week is also well known to Warsaw’s public as a week full of fun in great international climate. Thank to this event, the newcomers will discover the charm of the capital of Poland and meet lots of new friends. Event facebook fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/WarsawErasmusWeek E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 6 Erasmus Student Network Poland C C RA RA CO KR C W O A KÓ W W C RA C RA CO C W O C RA C O W W KRAKÓW Cracow is the former capital of Poland, often described as the polish cultural capital, one of the most historic and mysterious cities in Poland. During your Erasmus you will be able to investigate both the hidden and the more obvious wonders of the city. Let us be more practical now. Here you will find more practical information than dreams and reveries. This guide is to help you step by step in your daily life in Cracow. Transport In Cracow, there are two main ways of public transport – tram and bus. Thanks to them you are able to get to the most remote corners of the city. You can buy the tickets in the automatic ticket machines or at the MPK ticket points. You can also buy a season ticket (Cracow City Card) which will be even more profitable if you ride a lot although students often choose cycling. You can park your bike in one of the racks. It is a lot more pleasant than being stuck in the bus, isn’t it? Don’t forget that Kraków has an international airport- the whole Europe is at your fingertips. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 7 Erasmus Student Network Poland Where to eat? Here, without a problem you will find cuisine from all over the world. But if you are in Poland why not try typical polish food? Definitely try ‘pierogi’. This type of dumplings can be found at every polish restaurant’s menu. But among cracow students, the most popular are ‘zapiekanki’. This quite cheap snack can be found in Kazimierz quarter. If you get hungry after party, without problem you will find shed with kebab restaurants in the city center. Tourism If your are going to Cracow to study, we believe that you are going to discover Cracow not only by night but also during the day. Undoubtedly, it is worth to take advantage of this beautiful city as a tourist. While walking around Cracow, for sure you are going to admire the charms of small streets and their buildings. Here I will mention some areas that you definitely have to discover. First of all you shouldn’t come back home without seeing The Royal Castle. Wawel is a renaissance monument situated near Wisła river. The castle is a symbol of greatness and reminds us about the former Polish Kingdom. The second mandatory stop is Kazimierz – Jewish quarter. Here, among the Jewish culture, you can relax from the hustle and bustle of the city center. No more than 10km from Kazimierz – in Wieliczka – you can find the amazing Salt Mine. Its underground lakes and unique microclimate attracts thousands of tourists each year. We must also remember about history- Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp is an obligatory point when you stay in Kraków. Of course that is only a little part of our Places of Interest! E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 8 Erasmus Student Network Poland Nightlife Cracow is not only a historic city but also the cultural capital of Poland. Cracow Opera, Philharmonic, theatres, museums… and clubs of course – these and many others cultural objects will not let you be bored. Furthermore a lot of concerts and festivals are organized in Cracow. Have you ever heard about Coke Live Music Festival or Burn Selector Festival? It is here where world’s superstars are coming every year .Obviously there are also special parties for Erasmus students. Thanks to ESN in Cracow you will experience unforgettable moments. Of course there is a lot more that you can discover on your own and that cannot be listed here. So get ready for the exploration of Cracow! E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 9 Erasmus Student Network Poland ŁÓ ŁÓ ŁÓ D Ź D Ź ŁÓ ŁÓ D D Ź D Ź Ź The promised land for creative ones - Łódź Łódź is the third-largest city in Poland. It is situated in central Poland. This is the city where the history of old factories intersperses with the here and now of modern technology. It is a metropolis where the landscape of industrial architecture mixes with the silhouettes of the 20th century office buildings, production halls, buildings dedicated to culture and sports. Łódź’s history as a town has two beginnings - first when it was granted its municipal privileges by king Władysław Jagiełło in 1423 and then in 1820 when the Polish Kingdom authorities aided it in becoming an important textile centre. As such has been the city for many inhabitants, labours in particular. But for those with intellectual and financial capital it has become the promised land. The rich history of industrial Łódź has its roots in the multicultural co-existence of four nations: Poles, Jews, Germans and Russians. Nowadays to memorize this fact, there is also an Festival Lodz of Four Cultures (14.09 – 22.09.2012 en.4kultury.pl) to memorise this fact. Today the rhythm of life in Lódź is no longer determined by factories sirens and rattling of looms shuttles. After the Second World War the city developed as an important scientific center, with a vast intellectual potential. Over decades Łódź has become a strong academic education centre and the city of young people. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 10 Erasmus Student Network Poland Especially the last group will enjoy another side of Lodz’s development – creation and futher enhancement of entertainment infrastructure. In the period of last decade, three important, and interesting post-industrial places were created – Łódź Gallery, Manufaktura and Port Łódź. Gallery and Port are mainly shopping centres, in which you can spend all days running from one shop to another, but in the largest one - Manufaktura beside shops and boutiques houses is where we can find numberous restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, one scientific centre, Museum of Modern Art, theatre and the cinema. It is really a place to spend all day in and still not get bored with it. What is more, in city’s centre numerous clubs, pubs and cafes were established, aiming mainly at younger people, who prefer spending all days on the outside, just popping in for a quick meal, coffee or a snatch. This places, though targeted at the same group, offer food, drinks and atmospheres from around of all world. Last but not least, recent years, an identity of Lodz as a city of culture has been created. The city organises a wide variety of festival events attracting not only visitors, but also many artists and generally people the so-called ‘art world’. Will Łódź be the promised land for you too? Come and find out! E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 11 Erasmus Student Network Poland KA KA KAK TO WIC E RA W TOK IC Ó KA WW E TO IC KA W E TO I C W IC E TO E Katowice - not as ‘dark as the dungeon’ as you may think. Katowice, placed in the southern Poland, is one of the cities of the Upper Silesia Metropolis. The region is well known for its industrial character, but besides the intensive exploration of this area - spiraling down the mineshafts and falling for a miner’s daughter - it has a lot to offer when it comes to spending quality time with your friends. Starting with museums and galleries through buildings from outer space, many festivals and events ending with a nightlife, that you will never forget. Silesian Museum is for sure a place to go. Placed in a neo-Renaissance building, the threefloored museum offers a look into local archeology, ethnography and history. If you would like to see how the traditional apartments in Katowice looked like in the XIX century, you should go to the Katowice Historical Museum, where you can also find out a lot about the history of the city since XIV century. A very unique place in Katowice is The Smallest Books in the World Exhibition, devoted to works of Zygmunt Szkocny. There you can see miniature versions of the most outstanding books of Polish Literature. Not without the reason for a few years the city was promoting itself with a sentence: ‘the city of remarkable events’. Any time you get here you can come across one of many cultural events that take place in Katowice. Music festivals such as: Rawa Blues Festival, Silesian Jazz Festival, Off Festival or Tauron Nowa Muzyka, which line up is always really impressive, but also film festivals such as: International Film Festival Ars Independent, Festiwal Filmów Kultowych, on which you can see the most memorable movies from all over the world. And many other cultural events. The big part in the cultural life in the city are student’s initiatives: the most famous of which are probably “Juwenalia”. In May for a couple of days students get a symbolic ‘key to the town’, and during that time many parties, concerts and sport events are organized by and for students. Absurd Culture Festival “Absurdalia” is also worth mentioning. It is an very unusual event, addressed to underestimated and unwanted artists, whose art is just an absurd. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 12 Erasmus Student Network Poland Someone once said that there is no better time to experience the city but night. Don’t you agree? Katowice offers you an unforgettable nightlife experience. From small pubs and cafes to the loudest clubs in the region. You like beer? There is “Biała Małpa” where you can find selection of beers from almost every country in the world. If you are sucker for football tournaments and you will find yourself without a TV, then go to “City Pub”. Don’t like to sit? Feel the rhythm in one of many clubs and dance until dawn. The real finery amongst all are the people, who are always prepared to have a good time any season. While you in Katowice it’s enough to keep an open mind and the city will take care of the rest. Remember that there is something for you around every corner. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 13 Erasmus Student Network Poland BI BI BI K AŁ ŁYST ARA YS OK ŁYK TO Ó BI K S W A T Ł O Y BI A ST ŁY K O ST O K A K Białystok (literal English translation - "white slope") is a main city in north-eastern Poland which is called Podlasie region. This area has some particular ecologic values and it is said to be “The Green Lungs of Poland” because of the biggest forests concentration. Białystok – the city of many cultures The city with almost 295.000 inhabitants is the largest one in the north-eastern Poland and the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Located on the banks of the Biała River. It has historically attracted migrants from elsewhere in Poland and beyond, particularly from Central and Eastern Europe. This is facilitated by the fact that the nearby border with Belarus is also the eastern border of the European Union, as well as the Schengen Area. Białystok belongs to international Network Healthy Cities project (created by WHO) because of its unusual location in the immediate proximity nature reserves Narwiński Forest National Park and Knyszyńska Forest. There are three nature reserves in this city: Las Zwierzyniecki, Antoniuk and Bagno. All of them have many marked paths and cycling trails. Moreover, a beautiful part called Planty is just a perfect place to enjoy relaxing time. Higher education in Białystok There is one principal public university - University of Białystok (17 300 students), two other public specialist universities - Białystok Technical University (13 600 students) and Medical University of Białystok (4 600 students), and 15 other private schools. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 14 Erasmus Student Network Poland Cultural diversity Bialystok is a unique city because of its multiculturalism (Poles, Belarusians, Russians, Tatars, Ukrainians and Romani people live here) and many religions (the followers of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism). Because of all this cultural diversity Ludwig Zamenhof, a Jewish doctor and linguist from Bialystok, created an international language called Esperanto – known as the most Architecture The most famous building among tourists is the Branicki Palace. The palace is known as Versailles of the North. It was originally built in the 16th century. This splendid Baroque style façade with beautiful gardens and parks became the property of the Branicki family in the 18th century. Because of its religious diversity Białystok is rich in sacral buildings. One of them is Farna Church. The oldest part comes from Renaissance and other from Neo-Gothic. Another example is St. Roch Roman Catholic Church which was built in a modernists style. It’s unique because of a long history and specific architecture. There is also a lot of beautiful Ortodox churches kept in traditional form. Kosciusko's Market in Białystok is the main square which has an uncommon triangular form with the old city hall in the middle. There is a lot of cafes, pubs and restaurants to visit. One of the most interesting is Wedel (Polish brand) – the place where many kinds of hot chocolate are served. Białystok is a special place which has charm of small town but at the same time containing all features of a big city. It is definitely worth seeing. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 15 Erasmus Student Network Poland S Z S ZC ZE C SZK Z CIN CRAK ECIN SZ ZEÓW C C Z SZ IN EC C ZE IN C I N SZCZECIN - Mother of the Pomeranian cities! Szczecin is the biggest and the quickest developing city in north-western Poland, which is always ready for new people to come! Even though you can count on the help of polish students or turist information in discovering our city here you have a list of place and events that you cannot miss! If you didn’t know that Szczecin has the oldest cinema in the world (!) , that it is a birthplace of Empress Catherine II of Russia, or that you can have a walk here in the third biggest cementary in Europe. Read below basics about the city! Nowadays capital of the Voivodeship has not always been a city or the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic sea. However, it is Szczecin that gained the nickname of “ the mother of the Pomeranian cities”. What is more, it got appreciated as a “pearl in Prussian crown” after being taken over by Prussia from Swedes (1713-1720). The Slavic people had not always lived there but they came in in the 6th century and joined the local tribe. Among Slavs it was the Gryffin Dynasty managed to make a name for themselves being one of the longest ruling dynasties in Europe (they ruled the land for over 500 years)! E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 16 Erasmus Student Network Poland Szczecin is located on the Oder River, south of the Szczecin Lagoon and the Bay of Pomerania. The city is situated along the southwestern shore of Dąbie Lake, on both sides of the Oder and on several large islands between the western and eastern branches of the river. The city has an abundance of green areas: parks and avenues – wide streets with trees planted in the island separating opposite traffic and many roundabouts. In that manner, Szczecin's city plan resembles that of Paris. Although Szczecin is one of the biggest cities in Poland and the most convenient way to explore the city is on foot. Attractions situated outside the center are easily accessible by bike or public transport. Just to give you an example of diversity of historical monuments and places you can see in Szczecin, here’s a list of the most popular ones. § Pomeranian Dukes Castle,once a seat of the House of Griffith, a Pomeranian ducal dynasty. Now it houses opera, museum, restaurants, cafes and tourist information office. § Old Town - being jokingly named by locals as "Brand New Old Town" (it was started to be rebuilt in late 1990s, the reconstruction is still ongoing) § Chrobry Embankment - promenade with great views on Oder river and port. § S-1 blast & fallout shelter - the biggest in Poland . Two tours to choose: World War II or Cold War. § Pionier Cinema –the oldest cinema in the world still in operation (est. 1909) § Palace under the Globe - the building where two rulers of Russia (Catherine II and Maria Fiodorovna) were born. § Museum of Technology - has nice collection of vintage cars, motorcycles, buses and trams. If you like the nature and what to explore more than the city you can easily take a trip through Szczecin's waterways and port or rent a kayak and go through the city and lower Oder valley. Our region offers excellent conditions to practice various forms of active leisure. Don’t forget you can also visit other Polish or even European cities during your stay in Szczecin, for instance: towns at the coast of the Baltic Sea (65km), Berlin (130km), Copenhagen (275km), Warsaw (516km). Every good student in Szczecin takes part in at least one of the following activities: Kontrapunk - The National Festival of Chamber Theatre, Juwenalia (Students Days), Szczecin Music Fest - Jazz and Club music Festival, Dni Morza (Days of Sea), International Festival of Street Artists, International Tennis Challenge PEKAO Open. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 17 Erasmus Student Network Poland Last but not least two words about local specialities. Contemporary local cuisine of Szczecin is a compound of diverse culinary traditions brought to the city by the settlers coming from various regions of Poland after World War II. For sure you have to try pastries, which are typical to Szczecin. It is a snack made of deep-fired rolled yeast cake, stuffed with meat or vegetable filling. So come and check the taste of the city by your own! You will not regret visit in Szczecin for sure! E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 18 Erasmus Student Network Poland PO P O ZNA POK ZN Ń RA A Ń Z K PO NÓW A ZN PO Ń A ZN Ń A Ń Have you ever dreamt about visiting a city full of students, cultural events and parties? Have you ever dreamt about visiting a city in where studies are nothing but delight? It is all possible here! So why don’t you come to Poznan? Poznan is a city in Greater Poland with a population of about 550 000. Old Town – with its houses on the Old Market, is a really stunning view, especially at night. If you happen to be there at noon – raise your head and look at the City Hall Tower, You’ll see the show of two special stars: Goats, the symbol of the city. While walking among adorable lanes and back streets, you must not forget about seeing Ostrów Tumski with its cathedral . But Poznań is not only the Old Market and the Cathedral, there are also wonderfulcastles. You can enjoy for example the Royal Castle from the 13th century which you surely won’t miss while passing the Old Market Square (Góra Przemysła 1) as well as the Imperial Castle (Św. Marcin Street 80/82) the residence of the Cultural Centre ‘Zamek’ This one offers you also a wide range of cultural activities like concerts and exhibitions. In Poznań not only can you enjoy the breathtaking architecture, but also you’ll find vast parks and leisure centres. The biggest park is the Cytadela Park. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 19 Erasmus Student Network Poland Everyone will find something special there: history lovers, joggers, those who like to simply stroll. The Cytadela Park is full of surprises. You can even meet a squirrel there! The biggest leisure centre is the Malta Lake, where you can find an artificial ski slope, an ice rink, a zoo, bikes and a waterpark. There is a large variety of different clubs where everyone will find something for himself, among the most popular are: ‘Cuba Libre’, ‘SQ’ and ‘Czekolada’. There are different theme parties, with special guest DJ’s who play many kinds of music. Are you looking for something different than just a party? Poznań is famous for its festivals, for example the Malta Festival (one of the biggest theatre festivals in whole Europe), the Ice Sculpture Festival, Ethno Port or the International Film and Music Festival ‘Transatlantyk’, these are only examples of the rich cultural life of the capital of Greater Poland. After trying all these activities, one has to be starving. The local cuisine is wellknown for potato dishes, we can recommend a special place – Pyra Bar (Strzelecka street 13) where you can eat various examples of them. Of course, you can easily find places with international cuisine(Italian, Japanese, Thai..). When it comes to accommodation, you can choose from many hotels and hostels. Three definitely worth trying hostels located in the city centre are: - By The Way Hostel (Półwiejska Street 19), - Hill Hostel (Zamkowa Street 1) and - Poco-Loco (Taczaka Street 23). Let’s meet in Poznań! E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 20 Erasmus Student Network Poland G G LI W IC L I GK W E LIRA ICE WKÓ G LI ICW W G E IC LI W E IC E Gliwice is a 180.000-citizens city in Silesia, situated in southern Poland. It is easily accessible from other cities of Silesia like Zabrze, Bytom, Chorzów or Katowice (especially by train). There is the Silesian University of Technology. The Market square is the central point of the city. It is surrounded by colorful medieval buildings, including the Town Hall (15th century) standing in the middle and the fountain statue of Neptune right behind it. The majority of clubs, pubs, cafes, pizzerias or restaurants are located along the Market Square and almost all the streets will lead you there. For those who want to go out, the best destinations are: Zoom (Pszczyńska Street), Gwarek, Rock’a, Hemingway (Market), Gramofon or JazzClub (Plac Inwalidów). There are many nice pubs too: Stary Kufel, Koneser, Al Capone, Warka, Pewex, Ministerstwo or small brewery Majer. One should not have trouble finding some bars offering traditional Polish and Silesian cuisine as well. In order to feed your artistic soul, you might want to visit Gliwice Music Theatre, which organises one of the best Polish opera shows, concerts, music festivals and performances, Municipal Theatre Ruins giving its mysterious and charming space for alternative artists, the Piast Castle (15th century surrounded by a moat !)which is now the place for unique exhibitions or Caro Villa (19th century) exhibiting the history of Upper Silesia. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 21 Erasmus Student Network Poland We recommend you taking a breathtaking panoramic gaze upon the city from the tower of the most ancient church in Gliwice, the All Saints Church (15th century). It is a suitable place to start your adventure in Gliwice – look around, map a desirable route and set off! Another church worth visiting is the St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral being the most notable example of the Neo-Gothic architecture in Silesia. We have the Palm House (3rd biggest in Poland) providing shelter for hundreds of tropical plants and animals. It is hidden in the Chopin Park. Moreover, we have a couple of other parks located next to the city center. Hundreds of benches under the old trees, and lots of grass fields and playgrounds serve for the best recreation and fun. What is Gliwice the most famous for, is a radio station tower - the highest wooden structure in the world. In 1939 the German provocation took place there, which preceded the outbreak of World War II. It is located at Tarnogórska Street, available by buses from the center or one can reach it walking – 30min. Choose your favorite place for shopping among 3 big shopping centers: Arena (20 minutes by bus), Europa Centralna (30 minutes) or Forum (near the railway station). Such facilities as several swimming-pools, football fields, indoor and outdoor courts and athletics tracks are available for everyone. In the winter you can also go ice skating. It is worth to mention, that we have a football team which plays in Ekstraklasa, the top Polish football league, and one can always buy a ticket for a home match. The best way to explore Gliwice is to plunge yourself into the labyrinth of narrow streets surrounded by tenement houses and leading to old churches, museums and parks. Maybe you will find some remains of Medieval walls or of the narrow-gauge. Please do not avoid entering old gates, backyards and eateries. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 22 Erasmus Student Network Poland LU LU BLIN LUKR BLIN A B LU LKIÓW BL N LU IN B LI N Lublin is the biggest city located in the east of Poland, 161 km to the south of the capital city Warsaw and 269 km to the north of beautiful Cracow. This city is full of historic places and magical legends. The Lublin Castle and adorable Old Town with little antique streets and buildings full of nice restaurants, pubs, museums and galleries are the main point of Lublin. In this city history and modernity go hand in hand. Lublin is one of the cities called “perfect for students”. About 100 000 students live here which is about 25% of the city population. The city is very well prepared for its citizens. You can choose from plenty of pubs, bars and discos full of young people. The central point of the student life is the Maria Curie Sklodowska University campus. Young people study, live and have fun in the same place. Main buildings of the university are surrounded by residence halls , cheap restaurants and pubs. In the spring squares and lawns are full of students having barbecue and spending time outside. In Lublin, like in the most of Polish cities, Erasmus students receive special care. In this city we have two sections of Erasmus Student Network- at the University of Maria Sklodowska Curie and at Lublin University of Technology. If you like sports, in this city you won’t be bored. You can go to the gym, to sports halls, attend dancing classes, yoga or just go running along beautiful streets or special roads. The next great thing about Lublin is a huge artificial lake called Zalew Zemborzycki. You can swim there, have bicycle trips around it, go kayaking, surfing, fishing and many more. In the winter you may go skiing. It’s possible thanks to three ski slopes which are located one hour away from Lublin. You can rent equipment there. Ice skating is also very popular. You can try it in many places in Lublin. One of important issues for students in Lublin is that the prices here are very low. Renting a single room in a student flat in the city center costs around 400 zlotys (90 euro), a 30-day bus ticket is 42 zlotys (10 euro), an entrance fee to a disco- 10 zlotys (2,5 euro), a gym cardabout 90 zlotys (20 euro). E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 23 Erasmus Student Network Poland If you want to travel all over Europe during your Erasmus, now it is easier than ever. Since December 2012 Lublin has its own airport with cheap airlines like Wizzair and Ryanair. The spirit of Lublin is waiting for you. It’s the spirit of old history and a good relationship with students. The magic of this place has encouraged already a lot of them. They have found a place where a developing city doesn't forget about its old parts, trying to keep it in its fame and glory. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 24 Erasmus Student Network Poland TO TO RU Ń R TOKR UŃ A R KÓ TO U W RU Ń TO Ń R U Ń Welcome to Toruń! Toruń. A magical city. Gothic red brick monuments, an incredible panorama of the Old Town, the two market squares, Vistula river, Nicolaus Copernicus, the Teutonic Knights, gingerbread, university, culture, art, angels, beautiful legends… These are the first associations with Toruń that come to mind. It’s a small, charming student town. One of the oldest Polish cities where history mixes with the present. In Toruń you can meet artists, scientists, students and countless tourists from all over the world. Everyone admires the architecture while looking for inspiration, relaxing, enjoying the atmosphere of the city, listening to its sounds. Where to eat? Because Toruń is a student town, we have plenty of discounts in many good restaurants. Here you can enjoy many different kinds of food, of course including places with traditional Polish cuisine, but also many nice Chinese, Spanish, Italian or Indian restaurants. Like everywhere, in Toruń you will find loads of Turkish kebabs, which are open until very late, especially during weekends. Apart from that in Toruń we have one Milk-Bar (which we truly recommend!) where E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 25 Erasmus Student Network Poland you can eat a tasty dinner for a really low price. Probably the most popular place where our students eat is the restaurant serving crepes in many different ways, eg. with meat, vegetables, or sweet ingredients. Delicious! Transport In Toruń there are trams and buses. We mostly use buses, even the night ones, but Toruń is a quite small city and taking a taxi is very cheap. Taxi drivers offer a special discount card for students with 10% off. During the day travelling by bus is very convenient, especially that university buildings are in the close neighborhood of the main line buses. In Toruń there are no time tickets. There are only one-time use tickets with a normal price 2,80 PLN and 1,40 PLN with a student ID (until the age of 26 years of the student), price for night buses is double - 5,60 PLN and 2,80 PLN. You can also buy a bus pass for 10 trips for a lower price than 10 tickets separately, or a monthly season ticket which costs 48 PLN (for students) and is valid for all daily lines. Unfortunately, Toruń doesn’t have a municipal airport but it is surrounded by 3 airports in 3 different cities (Bydgoszcz – the closest airport, Gdańsk – 3 hours by train and Warsaw - also 3 hours). You can also get to Toruń with Polski Bus. Tourism Toruń is a city with a number of beautiful historic buildings. Without doubt, these are definitely worth seeing: The Old Market with Gothic Old Town Hall, neo-Renaissance Artus Court, Gothic churches, the remains of medieval urban fortifications, among which we find a Leaning Tower, tilted from the vertical by 140 cm. You also can’t forget about the bronze Monument of Nicolaus Copernicus, and the House of Copernicus, which now hosts a museum. Especially pay attention to the angels, they are everywhere! Gingerbreads are an integral symbol of the city, and that's why you must try them! To learn about our gingerbread tradition you should visit two places: the exhibition "World of Toruń gingerbread" presented in the House of Copernicus and also try to make your own gingerbread in the Museum of Gingerbread. Toruń is a city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our Old Town Hall Square achieved the third place of the Polish edition of a National Geographic contest for the 30 most beautiful places in the world. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 26 Erasmus Student Network Poland There are several cinemas and theaters operating in Toruń, including: Cinema City (multiplex), Summer Cinema (open in summer, shows films in the open air), the drama theater Wilam Horzyca, and the children's theater BAJ Pomorski. It’s also worth to visit the Toruń Planetarium and Orbitarium. Among the many festivals held in the city there are: the International Lights Festival SKYWAY, The International Film Festival TOFIFEST, International Theatre Festival CONTACT, International Festival of Christian Music SONG OF SONGS and Toruń Festival of Science and Arts. Especially, we invite you to visit Toruń during the last weekend of September, because at that time takes place the event called: Toruń for half the price - many hotels, restaurants, cafes, pizzerias, cultural and sporting institutions lower the prices of their products or services by 50%. Night life Toruń is beautiful during the day, but is also amazing at night when the illumination brightens the city walls. The Panorama of the city has a special charm, and therefore is considered one of the "Seven Wonders of Poland". But Toruń doesn’t mean only monuments and museums. When walking around the Old Town you can find a lot of clubs and pubs full of students. One of the most popular serves beer for 2 zł! Toruń is full of life, especially after dark the active academic life of the city is the reason for which there is something going on here almost 24 hours a day. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 27 Erasmus Student Network Poland O O L SZ L OK SZ TYN LRSA TY KÓ N Z O TY W LS ZT O N LS Y ZT N Y N In the heart of Warmia and Masuria, situated in the north-easter Poland lies the city of magnificent lakes and forests. Famous for its long history and beautiful landscapes invites people from all around the world. The city with almost 170.000 citizens is a capital of Warmia and Masuria. The main profits are from tourism as well as from ecology oriented economy. Through the center of Olsztyn flows the Pregolya river, which is a tributary of the Pregolya river (Russia) and has a length of 246 km. Moreover, the city is surrounded by a large area of forests. Lovers of nature can find great pleasure in strolling over the marked paths or cycling on the trails. Within the city limits, there are 10 lakes, for instance Długie Lake, Kortowskie Lake, Starodworskie Lake. People take advantage of them by practising various water sports, in particular sailing and kayaking. As far as education is concerned the city has its own university – University of Warmia and Mazury. It offers sixteen faculties which educate over 34.000 students. According to the authorities: “We provide our students with the opportunity to attain a comprehensive education in a wide range of studies: humanities, pedagogy, theology, fine arts, law, veterinary medicine, agriculture, engineering, biology, economics, mathematics and, since the academic year of 2008/2009, medicine.” 1 The university is located in the district called Kortowo, which occupies an area of 161 hectares. This is the largest and the most beautiful university campus in Poland. The place is mainly focused on students. You can find there teaching buildings, laboratories, sport fields, dormitories, shops as well as clubs and pubs. Olsztyn belongs to the Federation of Copernicus Towns which associates towns and cities where Copernicus lived and worked, such as Cracow and Toruń. The local authorities of the Federation are situated in Olsztyn’s Planetarium which conducts wide spread popularization and educational activities devoted to astronomy. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 28 Erasmus Student Network Poland The city of Olsztyn offers to its tourists different kinds of facilities. The gastronomy facilities include restaurants, fast food places and cafes. Tourist hostels, hotels, bed-and-breakfast facilities, forest lodges and camping sites offer accommodation services of different standards. Olsztyn very welcomes you. Fall in love with it! E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 29 Erasmus Student Network Poland W W W K RO CŁA RA CŁ W RO K Ó AW CW W ŁA RO W C W RO Ł A C ŁA W RO W • Information about the city: Wroclaw is the fourth largest city in Poland and the largest one in the west of the country. Its surface area is 293 km2, and it is inhabited by over 630 thousand of citizens Wrocław is a municipality with county status as well as the capital city of the Dolnośląskie Voivodship (Lower Silesia Province). Wroclaw is a unique city, consisting of 12 islands connected with 117 bridges; it is situated on the Oder river and four of its tributaries: Ślęza, Oława, Bystrzyca and Widawa. As the largest city of the Lower Silesia, it is its administrative, economic and cultural capital. The history of the city is over a thousand years old, and the heritage of the past combines with the modernity of the business centre. Wroclaw is a city of tolerance and many religions: Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodox faith and Judaism. Multicultural, open to new ideas and challenges, the city is famous for its hospitality, and its cultural and scientific life fascinates and attracts. The unusual history of Wroclaw, constantly enriched by prestigious scientific and cultural events, combined with Polish hospitality and openness of the city, guarantee that everyone who comes here will certainly see and experience something interesting, regardless of whether they spend several hours or several days here. • Tourist attractions Town Square dating back to the 13th century, measuring an impressive 208x175 meters and is the centre of Wroclaw. The Town Hall – in the middle of the Town Square is one of the most magnificent Medieval structures in Europe Tumski Island – the former island on the River Oder is now connected to the mainland. Is the oldest part of Wroclaw. Formerly a stronghold, then a castle, now St. John’s Cathedral occupies a large part of the island. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 30 Erasmus Student Network Poland The Piasek Island – accessed by the Piasek Bridge, Wroclaw’s oldest bridge. Next to the bridge stands the Baroque University Library. At the other end of the island stand mills from 17th and 18th centuries where there there is beautiful view of the Tumski Island. The Grunwaldzki Bridge - after it’s completion it was the longest suspended bridge in Europe. Today still holds the record for being the longest of it’s kind in Poland. A great vantage point overlooking the River Oder and the islands’ Gothic churches. Wroclaw University. The main building of the university is the largest Baroque structure in Wroclaw. The building dates back to the first half of the 18th century. The White Stork Synagogue is a 19th century Classicist synagogue where St. Edith Stein’s parents used to pray The Panorama of Raclawice. A monumental painting from the late 19th century commemorating the Polish victory over the Russian army at the battle of Raclawice in 1794. The panorama is one of Wroclaw’s greatest attractions. The Cennential Hall (Hala Ludowa) is the first modernist structure in the world erected using reinforced concerete. Consructed by the Germans in 1913 as part of the centenary historical exhibition commemorationg the Battle of Nations as Leipzig. The Water Tower. A fine 19th century example of hydraulic machinery Brickwork, steel and cast iron frame. ul. Na Grobli. Wroclaw Arsenal – 15th century. One of few Medieval arsenals existing in Europe. The building houses the Archaeological Museum. Botanic Garden – establishment in the early 19th century in the place of a former River Oder canal. It spans four heactares and contains a rosarium and an alpine garden. The orangery ouses the largest collections of cactuses in Poland. Wrocław Zoo - Established in the 19th century and spread over 31 heactares, it is the biggest zoological garden in Poland spread over 31 hectares. Niepold Passage features many pubs, night clubs and discos and is a popular venue. • Festivals and events Wrocław, the capital of Lower Silesia, offers plenty of amazing events such as the Guitar Festival and Brave Festival. Wrocław is the European Capital of Culture 2016. In Wroclaw are organized lots of artistic events. In February Polish Contemporary Music Festival (March/April) - "Port Wroclaw” Literary Festival. In the spring there is also Jazz Upon Oder Festival, organized since 1954. In April there is Review of Drama Song, at the turn of April and May Asymmetry Festival (event for the artists experimenting with rock, metal and electronic music) and "KAN” International Amatour And Independent Cinema Festival. A month later, at the turn of May and June, there is "Simcha” Jewish Culture Festival, then at the turn of June and July - "Non-stop” Wroclaw Cultural Festival. Wroclaw has recently been famous for Nowe Horyzonty (New Horizons) Festival and summer vacation National Review of Music (previously named Big Star Festival, currently Przestrzeń Muzyki - Music Space) which is becoming more and more popular. Wroclaw's Organ Summer takes place between July and September. Brave Festival - Against Exclusion From Culture and "Wratislavia Cantans” International Festival of Oratorio and Cantata Music take place in September. Besides, every two years in October Theatre Dialog Festival is organized and in November Wroclaw's Guitar Festival and Wroclaw's Meetings of One Actor Theatres and Little Theatre Forms. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 31 Erasmus Student Network Poland • Wrocław Nightlife - pubs, clubs, discos. The city is quickly enhancing its already solid reputation as a party town and easily has enough pubs and clubs to cater for a city twice its size. Perhaps this isn't so surprising when you consider that - this is a place revelling in its status as a boom town on the frontiers of New Europe, and that those with a share in the wealth seem as keen as any to "liquidize their assets" at the nearest watering-hole. On top of these hard-working professionals, for two thirds of the year Wroclaw is home to over 130,000 freeloaders, we mean students, the net result of so many idle youngsters living in a place with so many bars. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 32 Erasmus Student Network Poland G G D G K AŃ ŃS K DRA SK A KÓ ŃW G D SK A Ń G D A Ń SK D A SK Overview: One of Poland’s most beautiful cities, Gdańsk, on the Baltic Sea, has played major roles in history, especially in the 20th-century. It was the 1939 flash point of World War II, and then in 1980, the birthplace of the Solidarnosc labor movement, ushering the end of Communist domination in Eastern Europe. Gdańsk’s Old Town, painstakingly reconstructed to its Hanseatic League glory after being leveled in World War II, is a highlight. The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay (of the Baltic Sea), in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the Tricity (Trójmiasto), with a population near 740,000. Gdańsk itself has a population of 455,830 (June 2010), making it the largest city in the Pomerania region of Northern Poland. There are 14 higher schools including 3 universities with a total of 60,436 students which makes Gdańsk and the whole Tricity area one of the most student-friendly cities in Poland. The city of Gdańsk can be reached in various ways, through a lot of means of transportation. Plane: Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport is an international airport located 12 km northwest of Gdańsk, Poland, not far from the city centres of the Tricity metropolitan area: Gdańsk (12 km), Sopot (10 km) and Gdynia (23 km). There is an easy and cheap (0,8 EUR) bus transport from the airport to the city of Gdańsk. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 33 Erasmus Student Network Poland A lot of airlines operate to Gdańsk, e.g.: Air Berlin (Berlin-Tegel) (http://www.airberlin.com/prepage.php) Eurolot (Amsterdam, Kraków, Lublin) (http://eurolot.com/) i. LOT Polish Airlines (Frankfurt, Warsaw-Chopin) (http://www.lot.com/pl/pl/) ii. Lufthansa (Frankfurt, Munich) (http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/pl/homepage) iii. Ryanair (Bristol, Cork, Dublin, Edinburgh, London-Stansted, Manchester, Moss/Rygge) (http://ryanair.com/) iv. Wizzair (Ålesund Doncaster/Sheffield, , Barcelona, Dortmund, Beauvais, Eindhoven, Bergamo, Bergen, Glasgow-International, Cologne/Bonn, Gothenburg-City, Haugesund, Kristiansand, Liverpool, London-Luton, Lübeck, Malmö, Sandefjord, Stavanger, Stockholm-Skavsta, Trondheim, Turku) (http://wizzair.com/) as noted in the previous point, the airport operates also budget airlines, i.e. Ryanair and Wizzair Train: There is a main train station - Gdańsk Główny station. Virtually next door to Gdańsk’s Old Town, is the city’s main train station. Domestic and international trains arrive from across Poland and its neighbouring countries virtually every hour. It is close to the centre of the city, it is easily accessible thanks to the large number of transportation links nearby (trams and buses). The station is easily accessible directly from different parts of Poland, e.g. Warsaw and Szczecin and if there is a necessity, there is a possibility of an easy change in Warsaw (for example if you go from Kraków or Berlin). (http://rozklad-pkp.pl/) Bus: The most well-known and famous cheap bus transport to Gdańsk is Polski Bus which operates directly to 11 different cities in Poland and abroad (e.g. Warsaw, Prague). There are also a lot of different companies that allow you to come directly to Gdańsk from different cities throughout Europe (e.g. Eurolines, National Express, Sindbad, PKS, and many more). Regular buses from the rest of the country, E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! and from abroad, arrive at Gdańsk, 34 Erasmus Student Network Poland terminating at the Dworzec PKS, the central bus station. The station’s conveniently located, almost in the heart of the city. (http://www.polskibus.com/) Highways: Gdańsk lies on three of Poland’s major highways: the E75 from the south, the E28 from the west and the E77 from the east. By Sea: Gdańsk’s Nowy Port (New Port) is the main landing - ground for ferries to and from the city. Gdańsk has daily ferry connections to the Swedish port of Nynashamn; there’s a ferry going to and from Gdańsk every day. There is, besides Nowy Port, a small port at Gdynia, which is linked by ferry to Karlskrona. The Polish Baltic Shipping Company, PolFerries and the Stena Line are the main services which operate ferries in this region, linking Gdańsk to Sweden. Accomodation: Pubs and clubs: - Sound Hostel - Zła kobieta - Hostel przy Targu Rybnym - Pub 3 siostry - Siesta Hostel - Czarna Wołga - Hotel Monte Cassino de Luxe - Atelier - Lunatic Hostel - “Na drugą nóżkę pub” Restaurants: - Chata Smakosza - Stacja Sopot - Pepe - PRL E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 35 Erasmus Student Network Poland S E S A R H P H S I L USEFUL PO Hi/Goodbye - Czesc = Chess’ch Good morning - Dzien Dobry = Jean daw bre How are you? - Jak sie masz? = Yak shen mash Nice to meet you - Miło Cie poznac = Mee waw chay pause natch Where is the nearest bus stop? - Gdzie jest najblizszy przystanek autobusowy? = G’djeh yessed nay bleesh- shy pshy-stan-neck OW!toe-boo-sow-vee Good luck! - Powodzenia! = Paw vod zenya I need a help - Potrzebuje pomocy = Pow che boo yem pow mo tshy Excuse me - Przepraszam = Pshe prash am Thank you - Dziekuje = Gen koo yen I love you - Kocham Cie = Coh am che Good night - Dobranoc = Do bra nots Good bye - Do widzenia = Daw veed zen ya Vacuum cleaner - Odkurzacz = Od-coo-za-ch Oven - Piekarnik = Pee-car-nick I don’t speak Polish - Nie mówie po polsku = Neigh moo veeh paw polskoo E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 36 Erasmus Student Network Poland ESNcard The ESNcard is the membership card of ESN which means that you can access to all the services offered by the ESN and our partners. With the ESNcard, you will enjoy thousands of discounts (housing, sport, food, bars, etc.) all over Europe. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to participate in thousands of events (trips, cultural events, sports activities and parties) all year long. The aim of the ESNcard is to support and give opportunities to international students during and after their exchange. Who uses the ESNcard? The ESNcard is used by over 100.000 people per year in 36 countries, and the numbers are growing every year. You can get the ESNcard, if you belong to one of the following groups: You have been an international student (e.g Erasmus or any other exchange programme) or you are currently an international student on exchange You are a volunteer in ESN. The ESNcard is valid for 12 months and only valid with a photo and correct personal data. The card is strictly personal and cannot be used by somebody else than the card holder. How can you get the ESNcard? The ESNcard is sold in almost all the countries (31) where ESN is present by the ESN sections which are nonprofit student organisations. The ESNcard can be obtained exclusively from your local ESN section. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 37 Erasmus Student Network Poland ESNcard Credits Copyright © 2014 by ESN Poland. All rights reserved. • Guidebook for Erasmus Students in Poland. • Texts and photographies – local ESN Poland sections. • ESNcard informations - http://esncard.org/page/about-us . • Most useful polish phrases – credits goes to “How to Survive in Kraków, as Erasmus Student. Practical Guidebook” by ESN AGH. • This guidebook cannot be sold and it is distributed freely as electronic version by the PR Committee of ESN Poland. • Proofreading: Zuzanna Sarnowska, Marta Wiktoria Bryll, Paula Stępień. • Design: Mariusz Nowak. • www.esn.pl • https://www.facebook.com/ESNPoland • https://www.facebook.com/PR.ESNPoland • Published by: PR Committee of ESN Poland. E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 38 Erasmus Student Network Poland N U F E HAV IN D N A L PO E(x)change your life! Poland is the way to go! 39