The central European country of Poland, sandwiched between Germany and the Czech Republic to the west and Ukraine and Belarus to the east, has a rich and turbulent history.

Founded in the 10th century, Poland gained power until the 16th century, but lost stability and was partitioned and annexed by Russia, Prussia, and Austria between 1772 and 1795. The country became independent again in 1918, but was invaded by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II, becoming a satellite state of the Soviet Union until the 1990s.

Poland is now a democratic republic, with the current constitution drawn up in 1997. Although it has relatively high unemployment, the nation is becoming increasingly prosperous by the year and was one of the ten European states selected for accession to the European Union in 2004.

The picturesque Polish capital Warsaw is the country's largest city and is located on the pretty Vistula River. Full of cultural delights, including excellent museums, galleries, theatres and opera houses, the city has all the vitality of a European capital city and some beautiful architecture, covering centuries of Polish history.

Krakow, the ancient Polish capital and European Capital of Culture in 2000, has a heady mix of Gothic, Medieval, Renaissance and baroque architecture crammed into its narrow streets and is home to the Rynek, the largest market square in central Europe.

Opulent Wawel castle, set on a hill above the city, is an interesting introduction to Krakow, as is the university, founded in 1364 and one of the oldest in Europe, and the Czartoryski Museum, which houses Leonardo da Vinci's famous Lady with an Ermine.

The harrowing concentration camp of Oswiecim, or Auschwitz, is just 50 miles from Krakow. More than a million people were killed at the site during World War II and few visitors to the site remain unmoved by its haunting atmosphere. Poland suffered terribly during World War II and lost more than six million Polish citizens, half of them Jews.

Poland has 491 km of coastline on the Baltic Sea and the coastal city of Gdansk is a laid back and pleasant place to stay, with busy boats and water taxis, bars and excellent seafood restaurants. It was from Gdansk that Lech Walesa led the strikes that marked the death knell for the communist regime in the 1980s.

There are also a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites across Poland, including the salt mine at Wieliczka near Krakow, Malbork Castle, Europe's largest Gothic fortress, and the Bialowieza Forest national park, the largest remaining primeval forest in Europe.

It is becoming increasingly easy to purchase reasonably priced flights to Poland and there are now several budget routes to the country on offer. The major towns and cities have excellent accommodation to suit all pockets, including numerous welcoming private guesthouses.

Polish food is rich and combines many of the same meats and vegetables as the cuisines of neighbouring Germany, Russia and the Czech Republic. Local souvenirs to return home with include beer mugs, carved toys and costumed dolls and visitors should not leave without sampling the excellent Polish beer.