Poland is a hugely important country in Central Europe, and is packed full of ancient forests, castles, amazing animals and tasty food. Polish people have always played a big role in European history, and their achievements and culture are often overlooked! So help give Poland the credit it deserves and check out these 15 fascinating facts about Poland! Wahoo!

For more epic country facts, check out these Spain facts, these Ireland facts, or even these wild Australia facts! Cor!

1. Poland is big!

Poland is the 9th biggest country in Europe (including Russia). Even the name “Poland” comes from the word “Polanie,” which means “people of the fields” or “people of the plains.” So Poland is literally a land of wide open spaces!

2. Białowieża Forest

Poland is home to the largest remaining part of an ancient forest called Białowieża, one of the oldest in Europe. It’s a wild landscape full of animals and plants, and has been the inspiration for lots of fairytales! It’s the only place where European bison (the continent’s heaviest land animal) roam freely!

3. It’s great for snowball fights!

Poland’s climate has all four seasons. Summers are warm, and winters can be very cold and super snowy, with temperatures dropping below freezing. In fact, it can snow in Poland for almost a third of the year!

4. It’s the land of 10,000 lakes!

Poland has more than 10,000 lakes! The northern region, called Masuria, is especially known for its lakes and is a popular place for to visit for kayakers and peoplewho are into boating. Poland doesn’t have much of a coastline (although it does have some, as we’ll see) so this is the spot for some beach action!

5. Mountain zone

You can visit both sandy beaches and snow-covered mountains in Poland. The northern coast has the Baltic Sea, while the southern border is lined with the stunning Carpathian and Tatra Mountains, which are great for skiing and hiking. 

6. Poland gave us radiation!

Well, not quite. Did you know that the famous scientist Marie Curie, who discovered radioactivity and won two Nobel Prizes, was Polish? Her real name was Maria Skłodowska, and she was born in Warsaw. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win in two different sciences: physics and chemistry!

7. Polish codebreakers

During World War II, Polish mathematicians played a crucial role in cracking the Enigma code, which the Nazis used to send secret messages. This breakthrough helped the Allies win the war. Poland’s help codebreaking was so important that some historians believe it shortened the war by several years!

8. They have a very old constitution

Another history fact for you – Poland adopted one of the world’s first modern constitutions on May 3, 1791. A constitution is a set of rules that a country lives by, and lots of countries have them. Poland’s constitution was the first of its kind in Europe and the second in the world, right after the United States!

9. Could you learn Polish?

Polish is considered one of the hardest languages to learn. It has some tricky sounds and lots of consonants that make words look like tongue twisters. Try saying “Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz” (a famous fictional Polish name) five times fast! If you can get over the spelling though, Polish is a fun and fascinating language to learn!

10. Polish Eagles

The white-tailed eagle is Poland’s national animal, and it appears on the country’s coat of arms. This majestic bird has a wingspan of up to 8 feet and is a powerful symbol of strength and freedom. Falconry was a very important tradition for Polish people over the centuries!

11. Pierogi time

Poland is famous for its delicious pierogi, which are dumplings filled with… all sorts of stuff! You can get pierogi filled with mashed potatoes and cheese to meat, mushrooms, or even fruit like berries. Pierogi are such a big deal that some people say they’re Poland’s national dish!

12. Wieliczka Salt Mine

One of Poland’s coolest tourist spots is the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which has been in operation since the 13th century. It has underground chapels, tunnels, and sculptures made entirely of salt! There’s even a salty chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

13. The Upside Down

No, nothing to do with Stranger Things – in a small village called Szymbark, there’s a house built completely upside down! This tourist attraction is not only upside down on the outside but also on the inside, with furniture hanging from the ceiling. It’s so disorienting that visitors often feel dizzy when walking through it!

14. Christmas Eve is a big deal

Christmas Eve in Poland is a big deal, and it’s full of traditions. One of the most important is breaking a special wafer called “opłatek” and sharing it with family and friends. They also have a huge feast with 12 dishes, one for each of the apostles.

15. Dragon of Kraków

According to legend, Kraków, one of Poland’s oldest cities, was once terrorized by a fearsome dragon! But a clever shoemaker tricked the dragon into eating a sheep stuffed with sulfur. The dragon drank so much water that it exploded, and Kraków was saved! Phew!