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Lesser Poland Voivodeship

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Lesser Poland is a large region in southern Poland.

Nuremberg chronicles - CRACOVIA
Nuremberg chronicles - CRACOVIA

It has a population of over 3.4 million people. The capital city is Kraków, which is also its largest city.

Church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven, view from SW, 5 Mariacki square, Old Town, Kraków, Poland
Church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven, view from SW, 5 Mariacki square, Old Town, Kraków, Poland

This province sits near the mountains and many rivers. Most of the land is part of the Vistula River area. The region is bordered by Slovakia to the south. To the north, you will find the Świętokrzyskie Mountains.

Olkusz 02
Olkusz 02

Nature and weather make this place very special. Lesser Poland is the warmest part of Poland.

Ratusz w Tarnowie 1
Ratusz w Tarnowie 1

In the summer, temperatures can reach 30°C. The city of Tarnów is the warmest place all year. In the south, the land rises into high mountains. These are the Tatra, Pieniny, and Beskidy Mountains.

CzarnyStawZakopane
CzarnyStawZakopane

You can even find the Błędów Desert here. It is the only desert in Poland. The area also has four national parks to protect nature.

The history of this land goes back a long time. An old tribe called the Vistulans lived here first. In 1038, Kraków became the capital of Poland.

DJI 0332 Wawel
DJI 0332 Wawel

A famous king named Casimir III the Great started the Jagiellonian University. This is one of the oldest universities in the world. The region also saw many difficult times. During World War II, Germany occupied the area. They used places like the Auschwitz concentration camp in Oświęcim.

02021 0870 Market Square in Oświęcim
02021 0870 Market Square in Oświęcim

Many people visit Lesser Poland to see amazing things. It has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can explore the old Wawel Royal Castle.

DJI 0332 Wawel
DJI 0332 Wawel

You can also go deep into the Wieliczka salt mines.

Wieliczka salt mine
Wieliczka salt mine

Many towns have beautiful old squares and market halls. Some people visit the spa towns to relax. Zakopane is a very popular place for winter sports. The region is also full of many different castles.

Today, the region is a busy place for work and study. Kraków is a major center for many industries. These include high technology, banking, and making food. The largest company is a steelworks in Nowa Huta.

Many students live here too. About 130,000 students attend schools in Kraków alone. The Jagiellonian University is the biggest of these. Many famous people, like Pope John Paul II, studied here. It is a place where history and modern life meet.

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🖼️ Images & Media (18)
File:A4-PL.svg
A4-PL.svg
File:S7-PL.svg
S7-PL.svg
File:Jagiellonian University 12.jpg
Jagiellonian University 12.jpg
File:Nuremberg chronicles - CRACOVIA.png
Nuremberg chronicles - CRACOVIA.png
File:Wieliczka salt mine.jpg
Wieliczka salt mine.jpg
File:DJI 0332 Wawel.jpg
DJI 0332 Wawel.jpg
File:Church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven, view from SW, 5 Mariacki square, Old Town, Kraków, Poland.jpg
Church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven,...
File:Ratusz w Tarnowie 1.jpg
Ratusz w Tarnowie 1.jpg
File:N. Sącz św Ducha.jpg
N. Sącz św Ducha.jpg
File:02021 0870 Market Square in Oświęcim.jpg
02021 0870 Market Square in Oświęcim.jpg
File:Chrzanow rynek.jpg
Chrzanow rynek.jpg
File:Olkusz 02.jpg
Olkusz 02.jpg

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