The Malopolska Region is located mainly in the Malopolska Plateau and partially in the Western Carpathian Mountains. It boasts exceptional riches of beautifully formed terrain, such as the highest mountain chain in Poland: the Tatras.
It is also at Malopolska where the valley of the Vistula, Poland's largest river, runs from west to east, and where major transport routes from east to west and from north to south intersect.
There are six national parks, 11 landscape parks, ten areas of protected landscape, 88 nature reserves, and over 2,000 monuments of nature in the Malopolska region.
The land is considered the cradle of the Polish state. Dozens of castles, numerous villages, towns and cities with their historical urban layout and ancient development, accompanied by nearly 1,000 churches, shrines and manor houses have been preserved.
In the region there are more than 100 museums, countless sanctuaries and pilgrimage destinations in operation. On the top of these there are as many as 14 sites protected as world cultural and natural heritage situated in the region. This is more than any other region in Poland offers.
Over three million people live in Malopolska, representing various ethnic groups, including a small number of Ruthenians, Armenians, Romani, Slovaks, Ukrainians and Jews. To quote an old proverb: "Every country has its own customs; every village has its own song."
In other words the Malopolska Region is characterised by its unique richness and variety. Luckily some customs are still preserved and looked after in many places despite the forces of globalisation.
It is so partially due to the fact that some have never passed away, partially they are maintained or reborn. Last but not the least, new traditions and phenomena come into existence. Surely, this all adds to the perception of the Malopolska region as one of the most attractive areas in Poland, both to live and visit.