Soviet military secret base - the biggest secret of Poland?

In the past only few knew what was special about this place in Poland.

In 90-ties of XX century they were abandoned in rush by Soviets and afterwards inhabited by Poles or fully disassembled.

There is one place still untouched and this post you will learn more about it.

In communist Poland for over 45 years there was few Soviet military bases located with nearly 100.000 Soviets with their families living there. This cities and villages were extraterritorial, which means that they were exempt from the local law.

Fully equipped for comfortable living including goods in the shops brought from Soviet Union.

One of these places is Borne Sulinowo located in Western Pomerania. When you walk around, it is possible to see really big buildings - how many people and with how big money it was all build here?

If you see this beautiful military guest house, don't think Soviet have built it - this building was built by Germans in 1936. It is not restored yet and still waiting for potential investor. In the past, before and during the World War II it was used by the army of general Heinz Wilhelm Guderian for trainings of high ranked officers.

Some of the places still keep the secret and nobody really have explored yet.

30 km away from Borne Sulinowo there is ghost village Kłomino. Before Soviets came here it used to be German panzer range and during WW2 prisoner camp where Germans kept their prisoners of war. After Soviets came here in 1945 they prisoned Germans in their own camp.

After the WW2 this place became part of Soviet military basy, with 7.000 inhabitants - today officially it has 11 inhabitants.

At the beginning of 90-ties Soviets left the place in big rush - like there was fire coming. They left literally everything behind. According to eyewitnesses who enter the place right after, there was wet laundry hanging and hot pots in the kitchens.

What scared them so much, that they left so fast, taking with them only most needed stuff? There is no answer to this question yet.

Near Kłomino there is Brzeźnica - a place in remote forest, far away from anywhere, protected with 3 tier fences. What was the reason for building here a very solid conrete road leading to large buildings with large gates?

There are still signs on the walls warning from possible nuclear radiation and large silo. Officially nobody confirmed that after WW2 there was SS-2 missiles in Poland, but what is that place then?

And why in 2005 Polish army had filled all underground with soil? What was there?

Other ex-Soviet bases with SS-20 missiles located in Poland during cold war: Templewo and Podborsko.

Before you get to Poland you may want to get a map Michelin Poland (Michelin Map) (Multilingual Edition).

Picture by Kamil Porembinski

Library of Warsaw University - Dobra Street

Railway Station - Stargard Szczeciński

These pictures were taken in July 2009 in Stargard Szczeciński - city in Western Pomerania, north of Poland.

General view from Szczecin direction.

Old train/locomotive is parked at the end of one of the platforms since already few years. So, probably it will be still there when you come to visit.

This is part of my last trip by Intercity train.

Eating in the Train - WARS

I took a trip last weekend to Western Pomerania - north of Poland - by Intercity train. 2nd class ticked was 107 zł/34$.
Majority of time I have spent on looking at the baby and the dog, that seemed to have fallen in love.



As hunger appeared immdiately, I went to buffet wagon. This pictures are taken in Intercity train between Szczecin and Warsaw last week (July'09).


Sweet blonde behind the bar was one of 3 staff members including the cook and the waiter.


After short look at the menu, I decided to take traditional Polish meal which is pork steak called "schabowy" (20 zł /6,25$), but the waiter managed to convince me to take dish of the day, which was pork steak with mushrooom sauce for 25 zł (7,8 $ currently). It was not worth the change. Plain schabowy would be better.

Top 10 places worth to see in Poland

Today I'd like to recommend you TOP 10 must see places in Poland, so in case you travel to Poland, you may drop by and see these true wonders. This is my very private choice based on my preference, if you would like to add a site, please let me know in comment section. Then I will visit the place and decide whether it is worth to recommend.

This list is in alphabetical order, places are not ranked.


# 1

Białowieża Forest

Picture by Kasiat

An ancient woodland located north of Poland, close to the border of Belarus.
This is place is so unique, because it is one of the last and largest remaining parts of the huge primeval forest that many centuries ago was spreading across the European Plain.
Białowieża Forest is UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve.


# 2
Fortifications in Hel - north of Poland at the Baltic Sea. Hel is the name of narrow peninsula, which is 300 m wide in the most narrow place close to Jurata.

Picture by Myto

Hel Peninsula was considered as one of the most important military areas and after 1918, when Poland gained independence, Polish army decided to build there a naval base. Today it is very popular place among tourists, especially windsurfers due to strong winds.
If you get there, you shouldn't miss to see some of the many bunkers, which it is possible to enter. I attach the link to a page with some picture, although it is in Polish, just scroll down and look at the pictures.


# 3

Góry Stołowe - The Stołowe Mountains, part of Middle Sudety Mountains,

located west-south of Poland.

Picture by hr.icio

Mountains structured from plated rocks, making overall amazing impression. This is the only mountains of its kind in Poland. Abundant in different kind of habitats - scientists counted 16 of them in total and claim it valuable for European nature.

#4

Krakow - city in the south of Poland.

You may know it as Cracow. Wonderful, old city that dates back to the 7th century. Starting from the Stone Age it has been grown to one of the most important cities in Poland.
There is an oldest and best in Poland Jagiellonian University with very old library containg large collection of medieval manuscripts.

# 5
Marienburg Castle in Malbork - north of Poland.

Picture by BiLK Thorn

This is a gothic castle, one of the most awesome in Europe, built in XIII century by Teutonic Knights. It used to be the Europe's largest gothic fortified castle, today it is a museum listed as UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.


# 6

Nikiszowiec - district of Katowice, city in the south of Poland.

Picture by Pawel Bak

Nikiszowiec was build 100 years ago for coal mine workers. Place is very unique in entire Europe, also among film producers.

# 7

Peatbogs and marshes of Biebrza River - located in north-eastern Poland within Grajewo County.

Picture by Jurek Durczak

This is vast and untouched fenlands, where you can see unique plants, rare wetland birds and other animals (Elk or Beaver) and other. This is very important place of birds’ nesting, feeding and resting. From 1995 this place is under protection of the Ramsar Convention. The most unique part is under strict protection, if you want to see it look for Red Marsh.

# 8
Polish Jura Chain - (Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska) part of Jurassic system in the south-central Poland.

Picture by Maciek Bor

This is a hilly landscape that consists of vast limestone formations, cliffs and about 220 caves. It is a part of Ojcow National Park - one of the most attractive in Poland.

#9

Toruń - city in northern Poland.

Picture by Janusz I

This is an extraordinary, beautiful medieval city and place where Nikolaus Copernicus was born - it is possible to visit a house from XV century, where he was born.

Archelogists have proofs of first settlements in this area from 1100 BCE. You can see there many monuments of architecture beginning from the Middle Ages, about 200 military structures, 4 gothic churches, oldtown from XIII century, ruins of teutonic castle, city fortifications from XIII century etc.

This place is also on the World Heritage List of UNESCO as World Heritage Site.

# 10

Warsaw Old Town - central Poland.

Picture by Jarosław Pocztarski

This oldest part of the city is definately worth to see. It was established in XIII century and still keeps the mood. There is many restaurants, cafes, shops etc.

Ufortunately in 1939 during the Second World War the Old Town was very badly damaged. In 1944 the Warsaw Uprising took place here and the Old Town was turned into pile of bricks.

After the war is was meticulously reconstructed based on all availabe pictures and photographs.

In 1984 it was placed on the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Best buy befre you come to Poland - Michelin Poland (Michelin Map) (Multilingual Edition).

Most beautiful office building in Warsaw, Bobrowiecka 6

Looking for green, beautiful office building in Warsaw? Don't miss this one. I recently had a meeting here and again was walking around jaw-dropped. It is located on Bobrowiecka 6, Mokotów distr., close to Panorama commercial center.

It has great green arrangements inside of the building and also water springs. In front of the building, on the slope, there is beautifully planted lavender, so in the summer you may enjoy the view and scent of lavender 'field' in the city.

.. ivy and tree inside of the building....

... inside patio includes also big trees.....

... inside patio ...
There is also cantine with meals coming directly from Belvedere Restaurant - can't get better than this... I've had a salmon with veggies - delicious! Picture was taken after hours...

Girl Reading Book, Warsaw, Bankowy Square

City Hall, Warsaw, Poland

Bankowy Square, Warsaw, Poland

Bike Spring - Thank You! Whoever planted them!