270. Poland: Copernicus, the Dragon and the Salt Mine

Join Tom and Dominic as they explore the seven wonders of Poland. Hear all about Krakus the dragon-slayer, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, "Kaiser soup", the influence of Oriental fashion, and much more...
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[@bonawentura6161]

Gentlemen, thank you for this wonderful episode on my country's history! As for the Polish communists' attitude towards the national heritage, it was indeed quite ambiguous. One reason for this, I believe, was their anxiousness about legitimacy - they were aware that they owed their position solely to the Soviets and were worried that a wholesale break with national tradition would bring this out and expose them as minions of a foreign power. A campaign against the country's historical heritage would've led people to draw analogies between the Nazis and the Soviets which the communists were understandably keen to avoid. And yes, Barbara is in fact one of the historically most popular female given names in Poland! Its diminutive, Basia, is often given to the "girl next door" character in books or films, and is seen as one of the quintessentially Polish names. What's more, St. Barbara, whose feast is celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church on 4 December and is huge in Poland, happens to be a patron saint of miners and hence very popular in the country's heavily industrial south (the region of Silesia).

[@Trzysetny]

Thank you for episode dedicated to my country. Great fan of your podcast. Keep up the good work👍 And yes Wałęsa is still alive😁

[@jimb9063]

Superb gents. More broadening of the mind. I was brought up to believe the world centre of gingerbread was Market Drayton. This kind of world shattering trauma could perhaps provide insight into baffling phenomena such as abandoning loyalties to The Shire for thirty pieces of old gold.

[@veganmatry]

Kraków is in Małopolska, Wielkopolska is in western Poland and it is where Poland's original capital city, Gniezno, is located.

[@johnhaynes9910]

Terribly entertaining, as usual :)

[@Pedrohnm]

Hey there 🙋🏼‍♂️

[@leestevens5144]

I know I am late, but I visited both Krakow and the Wieliczka Salt Mine in the summer of 2004 as part of an MBA program (the 'international portion of the curricula). It is as amazing as Dominic says. I also snuck away and had dinner at an outdoor cafe in the Square. What is not on the Wonders list, but should be are the amazing wild-mushroom dishes they serve there. 😀

[@gosiachaaban2484]

Good pronunciation from Dominic😊

[@JullianRoman]

No mention of Katyn forest either! Notorious for the infamous masacre during WW II

[@jezalb2710]

It ain't in Poland. And what about: Starobielsk, Charków

[@antonisauren8998]

As partitions went, you rather wanted to be in Austrian one. Gratest freedom of cultivating Polish culture, creating social organisations etc. Cracow remained a free city for a while. And after Hungarians got their dual monarchy, there were hopes to get same status for Poland-Ruthenia. While Germans might have the best economy and industrialisation, they were also hard into assymilation. Even Russian partition got major industrial growth compared to the others due to being west-most province of the empire with closest links to european markets.

[@JullianRoman]

How about Chopin? No mention of him!

[@jezalb2710]

He was French

[@djangojames3193]

@@jezalb2710His father was French but he was born in what is now Poland; near Warsaw. This all confused by the many partitions of Poland in the 18th and 19th centuries between the major powers of Russia France and various pre unification German states

[@MichaelDembinski]

@@jezalb2710 As French as Bob Marley was English

[@jezalb2710]

@@MichaelDembinski British you mean?

[@MichaelDembinski]

@@jezalb2710 No - Bob Marley's father was a white Jamaican of English descent.

[@gosiachaaban2484]

Oh dear, Tom Holland wanted Lech Wałęsa buried in the cathedral.... I don't think he will nor should he..... when he dies, of course

[@drugiedno3397]

Something more about Zamość, it was designed to remind human body. You can notice, where head was supposed to be they’ve build a university, main squade is a heart etc etc Also, actually some cities where destroyed during WWII but not that much xd. I believe only Wrocław And Warsaw were bombarded. Im a bit dissapointed with you research Or rather lack of it. I noticed more mistakes and mistruths.