Multinational cultural heritage of the Eastern part of the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania

Abstract

Poland is a country with the largest territorial variation in the history of Europe. These changes involved not only the temporary gaining and losing some provinces that were later regained (as was the case for most European countries), but a transition of the country from its natural geographical frames deep into neighbouring ecumenes, while losing its own historical borders in the process. There were also times when the Polish state would disappear from the map of Europe for extended periods. Poland is also a country which for centuries was a place for foreigners where foreigners settled, lead here by various reasons, and left their mark, to a smaller or greater extent in the country's history. They also left numerous places in the Republic that became important not only for Poles. Today, these places belong to both Polish and non-Polish cultures and they become a very significant element of our cultural heritage, a deposit within Polish borders.