Poland Travel [#28] - Virtual Tour

During the coronavirus epidemic, tourism in Poland has practically come to a standstill. Museums, theatres, and even some forests and national parks have been closed. Sporting events, tourism activities, and trips have been cancelled or postponed. Luckily, the time spent at home doesn't have to be wasted, especially in terms of sightseeing. One can reminisce about trips from previous seasons and plan new ones for when the opportunity for free movement returns. Virtual tours can assist with this, allowing people to explore interesting places through an internet connection.

 

WHAT IS NEEDED FOR VIRTUAL TOURING?

Firstly, an internet connection and a device on which to view interesting places. This could be a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Some museum websites offer guided tours, so headphones or speakers might also be helpful. Generally, no special programs are required to open a virtual tour, as most can be opened directly in a web browser. Therefore, it is enough to know the link to start an online trip.

 

WHAT CAN BE VISITED?

There is a vast range of places to explore - from museums and churches to the most famous tourist attractions and the main streets of larger cities in Poland. Managers of these sites provide virtual tours through prepared routes of entire locations with recorded guides and maps. Live views of particular sites are also available; thanks to installed cameras, one can follow such broadcasts in real-time.

 

WHERE CAN ONE FIND WEBSITES THAT OFFER VIRTUAL TOURING?

In the current situation, some museums and open-air museums have prepared special materials and forms of touring. Some places, such as the Kieleckie Village Museum - www.mwk.com.pl  - regularly offers daily videos on weekdays describing various objects within the open-air museum. This museum also currently provides an online library, which further expands knowledge about the site and general history.

Another website worth visiting is Kultura Dostępna - www.kulturadostepna.pl  Here you can find an easily accessible map of the country divided by voivodeships, along with descriptions of places that can be viewed virtually.

Additionally, virtual tours can currently be found on the websites of most institutions or on their social media profiles. It is a convenient and free way to spend time and an opportunity to enhance knowledge about interesting places in Poland.