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Poland declared independence in 1918 following more than 120 years when it came under Russian, Prussian, and Austrian rule. Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939 sparked the Second World War, during which six million Poles died, including the majority of its Jewish population. After the war Poland became a communist state and member of the Warsaw Pact. In 1989, it became the first member of the Soviet bloc to establish a non-communist government and joined the European Union in 2004. Getty Images
Part of the capital's Old Town, Castle Square is home to the Royal Castle, the official residence of Polish monarchs, and the King Sigismund III Vasa column, the oldest monument in the city. A modern hub for locals and tourists the iconic square was often a site for demonstrations during Poland's tumultuous history. It was rebuilt after the Second World War. Cover/Getty Images
The Bialowieza forest in northeastern Poland preserves nature as it was a few centuries ago, with bison, ancient trees and rare plants. Aside from its beautiful architecture, Poland also has a wealth of lakes, mountains, and forests that are home to animal species otherwise extinct in Europe. AFP/Getty Images
Located in the center of Krakow's Old Town, Market Square is one of the largest medieval squares in Europe, dating back to the 13th century. It hosts several of the city's historical landmarks, including the Renaissance Sukiennice (ancient cloth market), St. Mary's Basilica, and the Town Hall Tower. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In Poland's first years of EU membership, over 800,000 Poles left every year to work in other -- mainly Western -- EU countries where wages were higher. But according to recent research by Poland's Central Statistics Office, this tide of emigres has stemmed and an increasing number of Polish nationals have remained in the country since 2008. Poland is the only economy in the European Union to avoid going into recession since the 2008 financial crisis. Getty Images
Meet Slavek and Slavko, the 2012 European Cup twin mascots. Poland and Ukraine are co-hosting the football championships, which will kick off in Warsaw on June 8. Wearing the red and white colors of the Polish national team uniform, Slavek represents Poland. AFP/Getty Images
In 2010, President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others, including many of the country's top leaders, died in a plane crash in Russia. They were on their way to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Russian massacre of Polish prisoners of war in the village of Katyn. Following Kaczynski's death, Bronislaw Komorowski was elected as the country's president for a five year term. AFP/Getty Images
The gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest and most notorious concentration and extermination camp of Germany's Nazi regime. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, 1.5 million people, the majority of them Jewish, were starved, tortured and murdered within its walls. AFP/Getty Images
More than 90% of Poland's population is Roman Catholic. The late John Paul II served as Pope from 1978 until his death in 2005. The only Polish pope to date and the third-longest serving pontiff, he was one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, credited with helping end communism in his native Poland and Europe. He traveled extensively during his pontificate, visiting over 120 countries and delivering more than 2,000 speeches.
