Situated in the heartland of Europe, Poland has been both a bridge and a front line between eastern and western Europe. Today, free from outside interference, Poland is the place to go if you're interested in seeing how a nation picks itself up off the floor and tries to reinvent itself. It's a multifaceted country where the capital and medieval old towns are coddled by contemporary city slickers and where horse-drawn carts negotiate country lanes in areas where the 20th century appears to have got lost somewhere down the road.

Full country name: Republic of Poland
Area: 312,677 sq km (121,944 sq mi)
Population: 38.6 million
Capital city: Warsaw (pop 1.75 million)
People: 98% Polish, plus Ukrainian and Belorussian minorities
Language: Polish
Religion: 95% Roman Catholic
Government: Parliamentary republic
Premier: Marek Belka
President: Aleksander Kwasniewski

GDP: US$373.2 billion
GDP per head: US$12,000
Inflation: 5.6%
Major industries: Machinery, iron & steel, chemicals & agriculture
Major trading partners: EU (esp. France, German, Italy, UK), Russia
Member of EU: Yes

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