

The historical Republics of Poland, whose boundaries were very different from those of today, were very multi-cultural, and, for a period, Poland was known as Europe's most religiously tolerant. Today's Poland has a very homogeneous society in terms of ethnicity, language and religion. Among Poland's cities you can find the perfectly preserved Gothic old town of Toruń, Hanseatic heritage in Gdańsk and evidence of the 19th-century industrial boom in Łódź. In between, lush primeval forests are home to fascinating species of animals including bisons in Białowieża beautiful lakes and rivers for various water-sports, the best known of which are in Warmińsko-Mazurskie rolling hills flat plains and deserts. Its landscape is varied, and extends from the Baltic Sea coast in the north to the Tatra Mountains in the south. Its heritage is reflected in its architecture, museums, galleries and monuments. As a result, it has a rich and eventful history, and a strong basis for its booking tourism industry. Poland ( Polish: Polska) is a Central European country that has, for the last few centuries, sat at the crossroads of three of Europe's great empires.

4.1.5 Contemporary Poland (Third Republic of Poland).4.1.4 Communism (People's Republic of Poland).4.1.2 Partitions and regaining independence.
