Poland

Poland, formally the Republic of Poland (Polska, Rzeczpospolita Polska), is a country in Central Europe, stretching from the Carpathian and Sudeten Mountains to the Baltic Sea. It borders Russia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia, Czechia, and Germany. The country is divided into 16 voivodeships, the biggest being the Mazovian voivodeship, where Warsaw, Poland’s capital and largest city, is located. The official language of Poland is the Polish language (język polski). Polish is a West Slavic language belonging to the Indo-European language family, spoken by an estimated 45 million people worldwide. In some parts of the country, you will also hear the Kashubian language or the Silesian ethnolect. Poland is a predominantly Roman Catholic country. Christianity is an important element of Polish culture, history, and heritage, while also being a fundamental part of many Polish people’s personal values. Polish culture is also heavily influenced by Slavic folklore – some of the traditions still practiced today date back to pre-Christian times, as well as the country’s history – the knowledge of which is often crucial to understanding the classics of Polish art and literature.