Springtime in Poland
It may not seem like it, but springtime is just around the corner. If you’re looking to get away this spring, consider planning a trip to Poland. Springtime starts early—at the beginning of March—in Poland, with weather conditions improving to mostly sunny by early May. The country is really quite lovely in the changing of seasons, and offers plenty of activities for tourists. Here are some suggestions of what you can do once you arrive:
Spring Festivals
There is perhaps no better way to usher in the start of spring than with the traditionally pagan Polish festival known as the Drowning of Marzanna, which is aptly celebrated on the first day of spring, March 21. On this day, Poles—especially school-aged children—burn and drown braided straw effigies of Marzanna, the Frost Maiden/Winter Witch, to symbolize the end of the harsh and cruel winter.
May Day (May 1) and Constitution Day (May 3) are big holidays in Poland, with the latter commemorating the signing of the world’s first constitutional monarchy in 1971. Military parades, concerts, and cultural programs are held in Warsaw, while towns like Zakopane take a more carnival-like approaching, lining the streets with food and craft booths, games, and rides. In Krakow, other important spring festivals include the Theater Remembrances in April and the Film Festival in May.
Garden Visits
Of course, one of the best reasons to travel in the springtime is to enjoy the sight of budding flowers after the cold, barren winter. Catch spring fever by taking a tour of one of Poland’s pleasant gardens. The park surrounding Lancut Castel contains several species of trees and plant life, including wisteria sinensis, pontic azaleas, Japanese pagoda trees, and a rose garden. The castle is also home to The Orchid House, which consists of an exhibition and a back section divided into three climactic zones that make it possible to see different species of orchids growing in the ground, on rocks, and on tree branches.
If you’re traveling to Warsaw, make it a point to stop by Łazienki Park (Royal Baths Park), a 17th-century park designed in the Baroque style. In addition to the flora, you’ll find such attractions as the Palace on the Water, the Roman Theater, the Little While House garden villa, the Temple of the goddess Diana, and the Old Orangery, and the New Orangery. Another garden worth strolling through on a sunny afternoon is the baroque Italian garden at Wilanów Palace in Warsaw.
If you’re thinking about traveling to Poland this spring, start saving money to put toward your travel expenses.
