Routes to Polish Roots

About Tour

The history of Poles in Romania is certainly linked to the history of Bucovina, a region in the north of the medieval state of Moldova annexed and named as such in 1775 by the Austrian Empire.

At the time, Bucovina was a buffer zone between Eastern and Western civilization, located in an area where the Ottoman, the Russian and Austrian Empire, have exercised their influences as well as the Slavic, Byzantine and Central European ones. Polish communities began to grow during the 18th century in Bucovina, with Polish immigrants who came from Galicia. The region attracted ordinary people, where they found better conditions of living, people such as officials, priests, teachers, and few nobles. Let us not forget the so-called "mountain people" in the region Czadec, now belonging to Slovakia. These people inhabited all the cities in Bucovina.

During the Second World War, Poland suffered most from the two evil empires, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Following the invasion of Poland by the Nazis and Soviet armies in 1939, over 60,000 Poles took refuge in Bukovina and other regions of Romania. After the war, Poland and Romania have agreed to repatriate thousands of Polish families, both refugees and descendants of the ancient colonies. This process has been one of great magnitude, but not entirely destroyed the Polish communities in Bucovina and Romania. If considering today Republic of Moldova we can find polish roots in it's northern districts, where the Polish landowners had land and established even localities. So let’s discover two wonderful countries, their culture and history, but also look for some traces the Polish people left behind.

What People Say

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Dear Victoria!

There are not enough adjectives in the world to describe adeguately the experience of doing a visit with you! You certainly have enhanced my appreciation of your country. I learnt a lot from you on many different levels. Your organizational skills are extraordinary and Explore will definitely receive extremely positive feedback. We were very lucky to have you with us during this short trip.

Thank you once again for all you did so beautifully with grace, humor and smile. I wish you all and only the very best for now and for the future. 

If you go to Moldova, for tourism or for business, you can't do it without Cristina. She knows the country perfectly, its history, its culture, its traditions... And she knows all its places: monasteries, churches, villages. Plus it speaks perfect Russian, Romanian and Italian and will let you communicate with all the people you meet.

Thanks, Cristina, for making this trip beautiful and unforgettable.

I am very glad and thankful with the cooperation that we have had during these 3 years. All our tourists – groups and individuals – were satisfied with your work. One of the main things that I appreciate in you is the following: it does not matter what category clients are – tourists, VIP, government delegations or even international organizations (as OSCE) – you can find the best words, the best way, the best “direction” to each of them to make them interested in given information. 

In each review which we had from our clients there were words of thankfulness to your services. Some of our partners even in advance ask us to choose you as a guide for their groups. Thank you for your professionalism and waiting for the future cooperation!