Warszawa/Warsaw
Wojewódschaft Masowien, 1.689.600 inhabitants and something for everyone. "Warsaw is likeable" was the name of a Polish hit in the inter-war period. And it must be true, because every year thousands of Poles, looking for work, move to Warsaw and stay. Warsaw, like no other town, embodies the tragic history of Poland in the last century. It is a symbol of Polish resistance, a cultural and economic centre, a city that was rebuilt from scratch after it was almost completely destroyed in the Second World War. It is hard to think of Poland without Warsaw. However, the Poles themselves aren't very fond of their capital. Its people are considered arrogant, and its socialist post-modern architecture ugly (particularly the Palace of Culture, which is nicknamed 'the confectioner's nightmare'). But secretly, the city's economic success is envied. Warsaw inspires strong opinions: you either love it or hate it.