Modlin Fortress is situated 35 km from Warsaw. Fortress was built for Napoleon Bonaparte in 1807 – 1812. It was defended for the first time in 1813 by Polish and French soldiers against Russians. From the upper floor more distant targets could be shot at while the bottom floor protected the access to the moat. During the period of partitions, Russians enlarged the earth-and-brick fortifications.

Zegrzynski Impoundment Lake is located approximately 40 km from Warsaw and can be reached through Jablonna village. Lake was created in 1963 when waters of Narew River were dammed. It created and area of 33 km² with a maximal depth of 15 meters. Today Zegrzynski Impoundment Lake is the centre of leisure and water sports for citizens of Warsaw.

Kampinoski National Park is called “lungs of Warsaw”. It is because it begins at Warsaw’s city limits (toward west direction from Warsaw) and in terms of area ranks among the biggest forests in Poland. It is a primeval forest inhabited by such denizens as red deer, elk, cranes and black storks. A dense network of hiking trails and the roundabout Kampinos Cycle Path are responsible for the fact that the forest is filled with lots of people on each sunny weekend.

Two concentration camps were established here by Nazis: first called Treblinka in 1941 and Treblinka II in 1942. Camps were located approximately 100 km from Warsaw. Treblinka I was a penal labour camp which functioned until 1944. Approximately 7000 people died here from slave labour and in executions. Majority of them were Poles from the Warsaw District. In 1964 a monument was unveiled here and a symbolic cemetery arranged.

Niepokalanow is situated 40 km west of Warsaw on the road to Poznan. It consists of the Franciscan Church and Monastery founded by Father Maximilian Kolbe in 1927. Father Kolbe was arrested by the Nazis during Second World War and taken to Auschwitz, where he gave his life for another prisoner who had family. Because of this incredible sacrifice he was canonized in 1982.

Brochow exists on a tourist map thanks to the defensive church which resembles a castle. It was built in Mazovian Gothic style in 1551 – 1561. Its Renaissance interior is covered by a barrel vault of the Pultusk type, decorated with a geometric pattern. In 1806 Fryderyk Chopin’s parents had a wedding here and the composer’s birth certificate is still kept in this church.

Nieborow is well-known for its Baroque palace. Originally it was built as a Gothic – Renaissance manor house in the 16^th century. Between 1690 – 1696 it was rebuilt in Baroque style for its owner Primate Michal Radziejowski, Archbishop of Gniezno by Dutchman Tylman van Gameren. Around palace a symmetric garden was laid out. Later owner of palace, Prince Michal Oginski, ordered to adorn façade with a Rococo figure portraying a dancing Bacchus, with a bunch of grapes and a garland on his head.

Arkadia lies close to Lowicz on the way to Nieborow. It is a romantic landscaped park with beautiful historic gardens. It was founded in 1778 by Princess Helena Radziwillowa. Park covers area of 44,4 hectares and is definitely one of the finest parks in Poland.

Lowicz was established in the 13^th century. It used to be the seat of the archbishops of Gniezno, was also the capital of the Lowicz Duchy. Residence of the bishops was the castle which did not remain. But this small town has some remarkable old architecture. On Kosciuszki Square stands the monumental Renaissance and Baroque twin-tower Cathedral. Inside Cathedral there are eleven tombstones one of Primate Jakub Uchanski. The cathedral library has some precious old prints.

Today Czersk is just a small village but with very long history. A fortified settlement existed here from the 10^th century. From 1240 Czersk was a Duchy capital and it was a town from the mid-14^th century until 1869. In the 14^th a castle replaced the stronghold and a town developed below it. Czersk lost its role of capital of Mazovia in 1413 due to the shift of the riverbed away from town.

The church and monastery in Czerwinsk nad Wisla (on the Vistula) are among the oldest buildings in Mazovia region. The abbey of the Canons Regular brought from France was founded here by Piotr Dunin in the 12^th century. The monastery existed here by 1155 and the Romanesque basilica was probably built in the time of Bishop Aleksander of Plock in the mid-12^th century.

Zelazowa Wola is a must see for all who love music of Fryderyk Chopin. This small village situated 52 km from Warsaw is a birthplace of Poland’s most famous composer of all times. The first mentions of Zelazowa Wola come from the first half of the 16^th century.