Grand Tour of Poland - from the Baltic Sea to the Tatra by Motorhomefrom the Baltic Sea to the Tatra by Motorhome

Poznań is the city where Poland truly began its rich history. On the historic island of Ostrów Tumski, you will find the country's oldest cathedral, a significant landmark that tells tales of the nation's origins. In the heart of the city, on the charming Stary Rynek (Old Market Square), a delightful spectacle unfolds precisely at noon: two mechanical goats playfully butt heads on the town hall, a tradition that captivates visitors daily. This magnificent Renaissance market square, a vibrant hub of activity, has recently been fully reopened to the public following an extensive and meticulous restoration, showcasing its architectural splendor once more. For those traveling by motorhome, the conveniently located campsites are situated by the picturesque Lake Malta, offering easy access to the city center via a direct tram connection. Poznań presents itself as a wonderfully relaxed and welcoming city, providing an ideal introduction to the captivating culture and beauty of Poland.

Toruń is the best-preserved Gothic city in Poland, on the Vistula, birthplace of Copernicus and famous for gingerbread: the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and almost literally smelled of gingerbread. Climb the town hall tower, walk past the Leaning Tower and visit the Living Gingerbread Museum, where you bake your own. The motorhome site is on the other side of the river, with the most beautiful view of the city wall.

Gdańsk is the city of the Hanseatic League and Solidarność: the Long Market with the Neptune Fountain, the crane on the Motława, St. Mary's Church which can accommodate 25,000 people, and the European Solidarity Centre on the old shipyard. Everything was rebuilt brick by brick after 1945. The beach and wooden pier of Sopot are nearby. The campsites are located on the coast near Brzeźno and in Sopot, with tram or train connections to the city centre; parking a motorhome in the city itself is almost impossible.

Malbork is home to the largest brick castle in the world, an imposing structure on the Nogat River. Zamek w Malborku, once the seat of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, consists of three castles that you can explore with an audio guide. Inside, you'll discover the Malbork Castle Museum with its rich collections and the history of the Order. When evening falls, the castle is atmospherically lit, offering an enchanting view from across the Nogat.

Mikołajki is the village on Lake Śniardwy, the largest lake in Poland, with a quay full of sailboats and a bridge where everyone gathers in the evening. It is the place to see the Masurian Lakes from the water: a boat trip to Ruciane-Nida through the locks and lakes, a canoe on the Krutynia, or just a small boat for an afternoon. The Wolfsschanze near Gierłoż is an hour's drive away. The campsites are located on the lake, within walking distance of the village.

Wigry National Park is a lake with fjord-like inlets, ice-cold and clear, with a Baroque Camaldolese monastery on a peninsula. Stary Folwark is the village on the bank with the visitor center, a motorhome site by the water and canoe rental; the Czarna Hańcza river that leaves the lake is a classic day canoe trip.

Biebrza NP is Central Europe's largest marshland, where moose emerge from the reeds at dusk. In the charming village of Goniądz, you'll find the visitor center and a riverside campsite. The historic Carska Droga winds through the marsh, offering observation towers for peaceful viewing. A canoe trip on the Biebrza is a serene way to experience the vast nature, far from the hustle and bustle. Spring floods draw large numbers of migrating waders to the valley.

Białowieża is Europe's last lowland primeval forest, on the border with Belarus, where about eight hundred European bison live freely. The strict reserve can only be entered with a guide; in the bison reserve, you are guaranteed to see the animals, and those who want to see them in the wild can go with a local guide to the meadows at sunrise. The village has a palace park, a good nature museum, and campsites on the edge of the forest.

Warsaw is a city that has reinvented itself: after its total destruction in 1944, the Old Town was rebuilt so precisely that it is on the World Heritage List, and a modern skyline surrounds it. The Museum of the Warsaw Uprising and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews are the two visits that explain the city; Łazienki Park with the Chopin Monument is where Varsovians spend their Sunday afternoons. The motorhome sites are located on the outskirts of the city, with a bus or tram to the centre.

Kazimierz Dolny is Poland's artists' village: a Renaissance market square with richly decorated merchant houses, a castle ruin on the hill and the Vistula River in front with a ferry to the other side. The hollow roads in the loess around the village, worn by centuries of cart traffic, are an hour's walk. On weekends, it's busy with Varsovians; on weekdays, it's one of the most beautiful villages in the country.

Zamość presents itself as an almost untouched Renaissance city, designed and built all at once. On the Rynek Wielki, the large market square, you'll see pastel-coloured Armenian merchant houses and arcades that line the square. The Ratusz w Zamościu, the town hall, boasts an elegant fan staircase. Around the city are the historic fortifications of Twierdza Zamość, which you can walk in about an hour. The atmosphere in Zamość is peaceful, and the motorhome parking is conveniently located just outside the old city walls.

Sandomierz is a charming Renaissance town that you discover on a hill above the Vistula. On the Rynek w Sandomierzu, you can admire pastel-colored facades. The cathedral displays Gothic frescoes, and you can explore an underground route through old merchant cellars. From the Brama Opatowska, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the river and the region's orchards. The town offers a peaceful overnight stay, with a campsite by the river below the town.

Kraków is the city that emerged from the war unscathed: the Rynek, Europe's largest medieval market square, with the Cloth Hall and the trumpeter in St. Mary's Church, Wawel Hill with its castle and cathedral, and the Jewish Quarter Kazimierz with its synagogues and cafes. The campsites are located on the outskirts of the city with tram connections to the center; the motorhome pitch on the Vistula below Wawel is the most convenient but often full in summer. The airport and motorhome rental companies are located on the west side of the city.

Zakopane is the winter capital of Poland and, in summer, the gateway to the Tatra Mountains: wooden villas in the Zakopane style, the Krupówki promenade with mountain cheese and sheep's wool, and cable cars to Gubałówka and Kasprowy Wierch. Morskie Oko, the most famous mountain lake, can be reached on foot from the Palenica Białczańska car park, with an online reserved parking spot. The campsites are located on the outskirts of the town.

Katowice, the capital of the Silesian Coal Basin, surprises visitors with Nikiszowiec, a complete red-brick miners' district from 1908 that serves as a film set, and with the Silesian Museum, built underground in an old mine. The adjacent NOSPR concert hall is one of the best in Europe. A city for those who appreciate industrial heritage; the motorhome parking is located near the Culture Zone park.

Wrocław is the city of a hundred bridges and three hundred gnomes: bronze dwarfs appearing everywhere in the city centre, dating back to a protest movement from the eighties. The market square with the Gothic town hall, Ostrów Tumski island with its gas lanterns, and the Centennial Hall are the classics; the Racławice Panorama is a 114-meter panoramic painting. The motorhome sites are located on the outskirts of the city, with a tram to the centre.

Poznań is the city where Poland truly began its rich history. On the historic island of Ostrów Tumski, you will find the country's oldest cathedral, a significant landmark that tells tales of the nation's origins. In the heart of the city, on the charming Stary Rynek (Old Market Square), a delightful spectacle unfolds precisely at noon: two mechanical goats playfully butt heads on the town hall, a tradition that captivates visitors daily. This magnificent Renaissance market square, a vibrant hub of activity, has recently been fully reopened to the public following an extensive and meticulous restoration, showcasing its architectural splendor once more. For those traveling by motorhome, the conveniently located campsites are situated by the picturesque Lake Malta, offering easy access to the city center via a direct tram connection. Poznań presents itself as a wonderfully relaxed and welcoming city, providing an ideal introduction to the captivating culture and beauty of Poland.