Lublin is a large city in Poland, located near Warsaw. Lublin is rich not only with its cultural attractions, but is also a major industrial and commercial center, with a population of 350 thousand people.
Lublin was first mentioned in chronicles in the XII century, and in 1317 it was granted the status of the city. Advantageous location of the town towards the main trade routes to the Black Sea contributed to the development and enrichment of the city. However, because of this provision Lublin also was always a desirable target for the attacks.
In the XVI century in Lublin happened one of the key events of that time not only in the history of Poland, but also in the history of the whole Europe - the union of the Polish Kingdom and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a new state. Rzecz Pospolita was the largest state in Europe, embracing the territory from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
And during the Second World War Majdanek concentration camp was located not far from Lublin.
Thanks to the efforts of the Polish state Lublin was completely rebuilt after the war and now appears in its ancient form. The major streets of the city are Krakow suburb with its summer restaurants. The same street leads from the Lithuanian square to the Old Town.
Old Town is also the main attraction of Lublin. It retained its appearance as it was once in the XVI century. The peculiarity of the Old City is its narrow streets and old stone houses. In the Old Town is also located the Market with its old Town Hall building which served as a Crown Court-martial.
Also there is the famous Dominican monastery, where in 1569 was signed an act created Recz Pospolita.
Near the monastery there is the cathedral and Trinity tower, a museum of religious art of Lublin and observation deck.
In the Old Town is also located the castle, built in the XIV century. There still remained a defensive tower and the royal chapel. In the chapel are preserved the valuable paintings in the Russian-Byzantine style, made by the order of Wladyslaw Jagajlo. It was in this castle in 1386 Jagajlo proclaimed as the King of Poland, and in 1569 here took place the Sejm on the establishment of the Union. Until the mid XX century the castle served as a prison, and then it was turned into Lublin Museum with exhibits of various themes, from archeology and ethnography to painting. Here you can see the famous painting by Jan Matejko 'the Union of Lublin'.
In addition, on the outskirts of Lublin there is the Museum of the Polish village.
