Silesia (Slask) is a historical and ethnographic region in south-western Poland. Geographically, it encompasses the basin of the upper and middle Oder and partly of the upper Vistula. It is divided into Upper and Lower Silesia, which together account for 1/8 of Poland's area and are inhabited by about 1/4 of the country's population.

For centuries, this land was contested by Poles and Germans. As a result of the Second World War, which Germany lost, the entire region returned Poland. The Germans were evacuated and Silesia was resettled by a Polish population, mainly the Poles who lost their homes in eastern Poland when the border was shifted west and their areas were annexed by the Soviet Union. A difficult period in the region's history began: for many years its inhabitants felt uprooted and insecure about their future, while the intensive development of heavy industry implemented here eventually led to environmental disaster. It was not until 1989 that this situation could change, when the political transformation prompted environment-oriented projects focusing on the region. People have come to appreciate the legacy of the German past, and the dilapidated town centres are slowly regaining their former splendour. Tourist facilities are being developed and cross-border contacts restored.

Despite its dense population and heavy industrialisation, Silesia boasts many beauty spots and scenic landscapes. Mountain lovers flock to the Sudetan and the Silesian Beskid Mountains. Those who value like the serenity of forests will be delighted by the vast Bory Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesian Forests). And if you are into sightseeing, you can visit historic cities and towns like Wroclaw and Klodzko. The roads are good, with an efficient system of public transport and tourist infrastructure.