Original subtitles

NARRATOR: Poland.

From a unique aerial view, we will show a country

undergoing an extraordinary transformation.

We'll reveal ancient landscapes

and medieval mega-structures,

engineering marvels,

and record-breaking constructions.

No longer a country defined by its past,

Poland is emerging as a European superpower.

In this series, we'll take an aerial tour across Europe,

seeing its sights from a brand new perspective.

Filmed from above, over the course of a single year,

as the landscape transforms through the changing seasons.

We will uncover the culture, history and engineering

that built the great European nations we see today.

Poland sits at the crossroads of Europe.

On one side, Germany and the west,

on the other, Russia and the east.

As a result, Poland is the continent's melting pot,

home to stunning diversity.

In the east, Warsaw is heaving with Communist housing blocks

and Stalinist skyscrapers.

Western Poland is dotted with fairy-tale castles and palaces.

The Highlanders in the south have a culture all of their own,

with unique dialects and traditions.

And in the north is Gdańsk,

a port that feels distinctly Dutch,

thanks to historic ties with Amsterdam.

In June, Poles flock to the north

to explore old ports,

or bask on the golden beaches of the Baltic Sea.

Summer is here.

Northern Poland may be a picture postcard scene today,

but if you know where to look,

the scars of this country's bloody history

can be found in some surprising places.

Forty five kilometers southeast of Gdańsk,

on the banks of the Nogat River,

a huge complex of red-roofed buildings,

surrounded by thick, impregnable walls is visible.

A closer look reveals a colossal fortification,

spread out over 18 hectares.

This is Malbork Castle,

the largest medieval castle in Europe.

Malbork was built in the 13th century by Teutonic Knights,

Catholic crusaders from Germany.

From the ground it's hard to see past the seven-meter tall walls.

Taking to the air reveals its incredible scale.

It's an impregnable mega-fortress, a mountain of a structure,

made up of over 30 million bricks.

This gigantic castle is the pride of Poland,

and it's Bernard Jesionowski's job to preserve it for future generations.

(Bernard Jesionowski speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): I am responsible for taking care

of the big pile of bricks,

making sure it doesn't fall down.

Malbork Castle is a symbol, a very important one.

NARRATOR: At first glance,

the castle appears to have gone through its life unscathed

by the ravages of time.

But our unique aerial view allows for a closer look.

The walls are actually a patchwork of old and new bricks.

It's a surefire sign that this castle once laid in ruins.

But medieval knights didn't have the firepower

to inflict this kind of damage,

and our bird's-eye view reveals what appear to be machine gun marks

high in the brickwork.

This damage is from World War II,

but it wasn't the Germans invading in 1939.

In fact, the castle almost survived the war unscathed.

(Bernard Jesionowski speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): The fighting began on January the 26th, 1945,

and finished on the 10th of March.

Those few weeks were crucial for the castle.

NARRATOR: The Soviet Army swept through Poland to liberate the country.

Malbork was a bloody battleground

as the advancing Red Army pushed back the retreating Germans.

The damage was devastating.

(Bernard Jesionowski speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): There was heavy artillery attack

on the east side of the castle.

Some parts were damaged, as much as 70 to 80 percent.

Others were destroyed entirely.

NARRATOR: Over the decades,

stonemasons painstakingly restored the castle

using historic records.

Including the entire 39-meter tall bell tower.

And an eight-meter tall Madonna statue.

Today, the castle looks much as it would have six centuries ago.

The pride of Poland raised from the ruins.

Malbork is one of many historic sights in Northern Poland.

An hour away, the summer sun beats down on the port city of Gdańsk.

It was here that Nazi forces invaded the country in 1939,

the very first battle of World War II.

And in Gdańsk's famous shipyards,

workers launched the Solidarity Trade Union in 1980.

What began as a series of strikes became a social movement

that ultimately led to the collapse of Communism in Poland.

This history is now commemorated with an enormous museum,

its design evoking the hull of a huge ship.

Today, Polish shipyards still employ thousands of highly skilled workers,

selling ships all over the world.

And it's a special day.

Workers are gearing up to launch this 75-meter long fishing trawler,

sideways, into the water.

It's just one of many ships under construction here.

Once floated, engineers will add navigation lights and a deck crane.

A wheel house will sit in the center with accommodation for crew.

Additional cranes will stand on the back of the ship to haul fishing nets.

10:00 a.m., it's time to launch.

From above it's an astonishing sight.

Around 1,500 tons of hull pushes a huge wave in front of it.

Another triumph of Gdańsk's historic shipyards.

Poland is a nation of mega-scale builders,

and aerial cameras can explore the dazzling variety of their creations.

In the southern city of Katowice,

a huge circular arena looks like a gigantic, crashed UFO.

In the west, religious Poles

have constructed the tallest Jesus statue in the world.

It rises an extraordinary 33 meters high,

three meters taller than Rio's Christ the Redeemer.

And in Poland's capital,

work on a brand new gargantuan structure is underway,

a building that's set to be a record breaker.

Poland's mighty Vistula River cuts through the nation like a knife.

Its banks are home to the sprawling city of Warsaw,

Poland's beating heart.

Our bird's-eye view can swoop high over the capital

to reveal a city being transformed by towering glass giants.

In the center sits a roughly 18,000-square meter construction site.

Almost 1,200 workers are constructing three enormous buildings.

Two are almost complete, but one has a way to go.

A long way to go.

This is Varso Tower.

Soon, it will be a monster.

Once finished,

Varso Tower will be a 310-meter tall 53-story beast,

with restaurants on the 46th and 47th floors,

and a viewing gallery at the top that will have commanding views over the city.

It will be one of the tallest buildings in Europe.

Marcin Chruśliński is the man overseeing this colossal creation.

We hope it's gonna be a new icon of Warsaw.

It's not only the highest building,

but it has also great quality architecture.

It is the heart of the town.

It has a great central location.

NARRATOR: This is no ordinary construction site.

The tower is right next to Warsaw Central Station,

and hemmed in by busy main roads.

This central position creates unique challenges for Marcin.

CIN CHRUŚLIŃSKI: The project is very complicated

because it's on the very tight footprint.

It was a big challenge for designers.

NARRATOR: This single narrow street is the only way in or out.

CIN CHRUŚLIŃSKI: We have very limited space for delivery of materials.

We have a person who is controlling delivery 24/7.

NARRATOR: Speed is key to minimizing disruption to the city.

So, unlike most building sites,

much of the construction work takes place away from the main tower,

on a small patch of land nearby.

CIN CHRUŚLIŃSKI: We are preparing as much as possible elements

outside the construction,

and this is speeding up our process.

NARRATOR: From above, we can see a team

weaving together steel structures on the ground.

These reinforcing frames will add strength to the building's core.

Cranes can then lift these pre-built parts to the top of the building in one go,

so the tower can race upwards at stunning speed.

CIN CHRUŚLIŃSKI: One level is approximately 1,500 square meters.

And we now achieved the timing of building one level in seven days.

NARRATOR: More than a dozen skyscrapers are under construction in the capital.

Thanks to Poland's roaring economy,

it seems Warsaw has more cranes than buildings.

But Varso marks the beginning of a new era.

Once completed, it will tower 79 meters over the current tallest building,

the Palace of Culture and Science,

a gift from the Soviet Union.

CIN CHRUŚLIŃSKI: This is also kind of symbolic for this project,

because this is the first time when we will be able

to look from above to the symbol of Communism.

NARRATOR: Marcin and the team still have 240 meters to go

until Varso Tower reaches full height.

But once complete, it will forever alter the skyline of Warsaw.

A new icon of Poland, fit for the 21st century.

As Poland's summer draws to a close,

forests, once green, turn brown.

And farmers harvest their crops before the cold sets in.

Autumn is here.

For Poles, it's a time for reflection.

And on the 1st of November, Warsaw's center lies eerily quiet.

It's a ghost town.

Residents are on a pilgrimage to the city's outskirts.

Their destination,

the graveyards.

This is All Saint's Day,

a day when the living remember the dead.

Polish Christians believe this is All Saint's Day,

the 1st of November.

A day when the living remember the dead.

So, millions head to the country's cemeteries

to ensure their special visitors know they're not forgotten.

Among the throngs are Klaudia Karłowicz and her family.

They're visiting the graves of her grandfather and great-grandmother.

KLAUDIA KARŁOWICZ: All Saint's Day in Poland is the day

that we are traveling to see the graves of passed people

that are not with us anymore.

To clean the graves, to put the flowers,

to talk some nice things about the people that are gone.

NARRATOR: It's when night falls

that the most poignant display of remembrance begins.

Millions light candles.

Placing them on the graves,

their flickering lights are said to guide souls in the darkness.

KLAUDIA KARŁOWICZ: Lighting a candle is to show the grave are not empty,

are not abandoned.

It looks amazing, because it's so warm.

It's something different.

NARRATOR: The scale of this great tradition

can only be truly appreciated form the air.

The dark graveyards are transformed into oceans of light.

It's a moving experience for all those present,

and a stunning sight to see from above.

It's late November,

and in Poland's southwest,

the explosion of autumnal color has faded

to dark greens and slate grays.

This is Lower Silesia,

and there's something curious about this area.

From above, dotted throughout the thick forests,

we can see countless palatial buildings.

In fact, a full quarter of the country's palaces and castles

can be found in an area that covers just six percent of Poland.

Why are they here?

And why are there so many of them?

At the turn of the 20th century,

Poland as we know it today didn't exist.

Much of Central Europe was under the control of Prussia,

the vast kingdom that was forerunner to modern Germany.

Lower Silesia was a playground for the Prussian aristocracy.

They built countless palaces across the landscape here.

Sadly, many were abandoned and fell into decay.

But their fading grandeur can take us back in time,

into this country's fascinating pre-Communist history.

Photographer, Tomasz Cichy,

is one of the lucky few granted access

to a beautiful dilapidated palace called Bożków.

The warm, autumnal light is perfect

for capturing the eerie beauty of this rambling ruin.

TOMASZ CICHY: My first time in Bożków was about ten years ago.

I felt like a little boy coming to an amusement park.

I feel something like Alice in Wonderland.

It was real inspiration for a photographer.

NARRATOR: The main building is from the late 18th century.

It was built by the Von Magnus family,

the biggest landowners in the area.

The palace's exterior was built to impress,

but it's the inside where the real magic is.

Our aerial cameras can soar through the abandoned glory of Bożków Palace.

It's a labyrinth of some 180 rooms,

spread out over 4,000 square meters.

As Tomasz explores, he kicks up decades worth of dust.

TOMASZ CICHY: It's really rich and majestic.

I can feel emotions and history flowing in the air.

NARRATOR: An enormous ornate ballroom was the centerpiece.

Countless aristocrats, foreign kings,

and even future US President, John Quincy Adams visited here.

TOMASZ CICHY: When you close your eyes just for a few seconds,

you can almost feel the beautiful music filling up the room,

and you can imagine people dancing around in fancy clothes and having good fun.

NARRATOR: But when the Second World War came,

the party was over.

The local aristocracy who dominated this area were forced to leave.

TOMASZ CICHY: It wasn't safe here,

because they were afraid of the Russian troops and locals.

I think so.

NARRATOR: The palace has fallen into ruin,

and much of the decor has been plundered,

but for Tomasz, there's a beauty in decay.

The photos he takes are echoes from a long-forgotten era.

It's magical.

I'm trying to make the palace alive,

and save it for the future generations.

NARRATOR: As November gives way to December,

Poland's sleepy villages

are buried beneath a thick blanket of snow.

And hills, once green, become playgrounds,

as winter arrives in Poland.

As the temperature plummets,

pancake ice forms on the Vistula River in Warsaw.

Even the golden beaches of the north are painted brilliant white.

Polish winters are beautiful, but the cold can be brutal.

Biting easterly winds

can cause the temperatures to drop below minus 20 degrees.

For even the hardiest Poles, it's time to seek shelter.

And the unforgiving cold brings trouble for Poland's vulnerable wildlife.

In Poland's far east, straddling the border with Belarus,

sits a vast patch of dark green

that stretches out over 1,400 square kilometers.

This is Białowieża Forest.

Białowieża is a land trapped in time.

One of the last remnants of an immense, primeval forest,

that once spanned lowland Europe.

On the plains between the densely packed trees

roam elusive creatures

that often run at the sight of a human,

but our aerial cameras can track them down.

These are European bison, the continent's largest land animal.

They can weigh up to a ton each,

and stand as high as two meters tall.

The bison has become a symbol of Poland,

but it's a species in trouble.

Nobody knows this ancient forest and its enormous inhabitants

better than Bogusław Dawidziuk, forest ranger.

(speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): I grew up in the forest,

so I had contact with the forest ever since I was little.

A city is a strange place for me.

NARRATOR: Bogusław is worried that, thanks to the cold temperatures,

the bison don't have enough to eat.

(Bogusław Dawidziuk speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): They don't eat just anything.

They definitely like attractive foods in the forest.

They like acorns, sometimes tree bark.

NARRATOR: The species was once almost wiped from the planet.

Humans hunted wild European bison to extinction in the early 20th century.

Fortunately, 54 creatures survived in captivity.

Conservationists began reintroducing animals to the forest in the 1950s.

Today, around 1,000 bison roam here.

(Bogusław Dawidziuk speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): The ones we have

come from a very little number of specimens.

Now they are doing okay, but they need help.

NARRATOR: Bogusław is their guardian angel.

He loads up his car with food for the bison,

bag after bag of grain,

until he can carry no more.

Each enormous creature can eat up to 32 kilograms of food a day.

So he also arranges for a local farmer to drop hay around the forest.

The shy creatures normally stay clear of human invaders,

but Bogusław knows where to find them.

(Bogusław Dawidziuk speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): We need to supply them with additional feed.

We supplement their diet.

We lay grain, beets and attractive foods in the fields,

like rapeseed in winter.

NARRATOR: A group of animals

suddenly appear at the edge of the clearing,

but they're too shy to approach the food.

Will the bison come out to feed?

All Bogusław can do is retreat to a safe distance and wait.

Six hours later, in the middle of the night,

one of the webcams placed in the forest captures a heartwarming sight.

The bison have emerged and begun to feed.

(speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): Bison really make a big impression

when you see them up close.

Many time I watch them with pleasure.

NARRATOR: Hopefully, over the years, the bison population will thrive,

and the magnificent beasts of Białowieża will roam for centuries to come.

They'll have Bogusław to thank.

Poland's brutal winters bring biting winds and thick snow.

But for some, that sets the stage for fun.

In the country's far south, marking the border with Slovakia,

stands a white-peaked mountain chain.

Poland's highest.

The Tatras.

It's a stunning landscape of around 300 peaks,

and countless picturesque villages.

It's also home to Poland's wildest aerial spectacle.

In the village of Poronin, the crowds have gathered

for the traditional ski-skijoring competition,

also known as "horse skiing."

The concept is simple.

One team member sits on the horse, whilst the other skis behind.

Jessica Michalczewska and Stanisław Rzadkosz

are on their way to race.

Stanisław is a horse skiing master,

but Jessica is still learning the ropes.

(speaking in Polish):

(woman translating in English): I liked horses ever since I was little,

but I never thought I'd be a rider,

and then I met Stanisław through my parents.

He was telling me how to sit right, what position to take.

NARRATOR: Stanisław needed a new teammate after his wife retired,

so he became Jessica's teacher.

(speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): This girl has something about her,

something traditional.

She is stubborn, she is sharp.

NARRATOR: Today's competition has all manner of events.

There are individual races, where a horse with no rider pulls a skier.

There are speed sledding races.

Even the kids get involved.

But the event everybody wants to win

is the two-person ski-skijoring race.

It's a time trial.

Each team completes a single lap of the course,

hurtling as fast as they can.

But it's not easy, and injuries are common.

(Rzadkosz-Pulka speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): It is dangerous.

The horse can fall over, or you can hit the back of the horse.

NARRATOR: Jessica and Stanisław are up next.

(indistinct announcement in Polish)

NARRATOR (in English): But their horse, Cezar is nervous.

He's like a bucking bronco on the start line.

(speaking in Polish):

(woman translating in English): For us, it's an additional challenge

to get the horse to calm down.

You have to get the grip on your own nerves, too.

NARRATOR: Eventually, they're off.

Cezar accelerates to 40 kilometers an hour in just a few strides.

It takes all Jessica's skill to keep the horse under control,

but she's doing well.

(Rzadkosz-Pulka speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): Simply, when the horse bucks

or when it gallops, she is not scared, she just rides.

NARRATOR: Their lap is over in just 28 seconds,

and their time is good.

They secure second place.

(Rzadkosz-Pulka speaking in Polish):

(man translating in English): All the learning and training

didn't go wasted.

Cezar is not to be beaten, I think, and Jessica has done well.

NARRATOR: Stanisław and Jessica enter as many events as they can.

Once it's all over, they come away with a bumper crop of trophies.

(Michalczewska speaking in Polish):

(woman translating in English): We won everything we could have won.

We have really good horses.

We gave it our all, and so did the horses.

NARRATOR: It's January,

and the freezing weather keeps most Poles indoors.

But despite the cold,

a small team are hard at work

constructing a colossal wooden structure

that they hope will put this area of Poland on the world map.

Forty kilometers west of Kraków,

sits perhaps the most colorful corner of Poland.

From above, it's a patchwork of twisting tracks

and multi-colored tents.

This is Energylandia, the biggest theme park in Poland.

Energylandia opened in 2014.

It has 70 attractions

spread out over 30 hectares.

In winter, the park is hauntingly silent,

except for one corner.

Workers are constructing a brand new monster roller coaster,

designed to be on every enthusiast's bucket list.

American, Damien Selph, is on site to help turn these piles of wood

into a record-breaking thrill ride.

People will come from all over the world to ride this ride.

It's gonna be big and fast.

NARRATOR: The ride will be a so-called "hybrid" roller coaster,

one made from both wood and metal.

Once finished, it will be 1,300 meters long and 61 meters tall,

making it the tallest hybrid roller coaster in Europe.

DAMIEN SELPH: Well, the wooden structure gets built on the ground,

and then we utilize a crane.

We do like a tilt up, where you stand 'em up

and set 'em on the foundations.

NARRATOR: As the weeks tick by, the structure grows and grows.

Our bird's-eye view shows the thrill ride becoming a monster.

Now, workers are getting their own adrenaline rush,

as they climb 60 meters into the air

to assemble this enormous construction.

DAMIEN SELPH: Once they start putting track on,

they have to just kinda climb with the track.

NARRATOR: The Alpine team put the finishing touches

to this colossal hybrid roller coaster.

The climbers tighten bolts on the wooden supports,

and guide the track components into position.

DAMIEN SELPH: You watch all these guys pour all their heart and souls

in building these.

It's, uh, it's very physical and demanding.

NARRATOR: The ride won't be open for another year,

but once it is, it'll be the jewel in the crown

of this already enormous park,

and a proud moment for Damien and the team.

DAMIEN SELPH: You know that millions of people

are gonna ride this when you leave.

It definitely puts a smile on your face.

NARRATOR: As the days get longer,

frozen rivers begin to flow.

And the snow in the mountains melts.

Spring comes to Poland.

The spring sun beats down

on arguably Poland's most beautiful city, Kraków.

Once the royal capital, it still retains its medieval core.

Kraków may no longer be the country's political center,

but this city is still Poland's cultural heart.

And in a few days, the Vistula River will be the setting

for a breathtaking aerial spectacle.

One of Poland's biggest firework displays.

In a bunker on the outskirts of Kraków

is the man with perhaps the most important job of the festival.

He's carefully carrying a box full of explosives.

This is Aleksander Wadoń.

It's his mission to make sure this year's fireworks display

is the best yet.

This festival, it's extremely exciting for me.

And, in my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful show in Europe.

NARRATOR: Aleksander has picked out

some brand new firework effects for the show,

but so far he's only seen them in videos.

So he comes with his team to the outskirts of town to do some tests.

ALEKSANDER WADOŃ: We are finding the new colors, new shapes,

and then we need to test it.

Fireworks have to be loud, have to be full of colors.

NARRATOR: Fireworks dance across the night sky,

a spectacular sight when viewed from above.

But will they wow the crowds?

The big day arrives.

The festival is the annual Great Dragon Parade.

A creature that holds a special place in Kraków's history.

Legend has it a local cobbler killed an evil dragon.

Grateful, King Krakus gave the cobbler his daughter's hand in marriage.

The happy couple went on to found the city.

The fireworks are in place,

and thousands crowd the shoreline,

waiting with baited breath.

ALEKSANDER WADOŃ: You are nervous because you never

can be 100 percent sure how it will be.

Of course, the responsibility is huge.

NARRATOR: As the clock strikes ten,

it's time for the show to begin.

Flying dragons battle it out on the river,

As Aleksander's fireworks burst with color high above their heads.

Our aerial view

reveals an extraordinary new perspective.

A fiery landscape fitting for the birth of this great city.

For Aleksander, all the hard work suddenly feels worth it.

ALEKSANDER WADOŃ: It's not just my job, it's my passion.

Kraków is a special place, the best place in the world.

You can find here whatever you want,

even something so extremely strange as a Dragon Festival.

NARRATOR: Modern Poland is a country that looks to the future.

Poles may have seen their share of conflict,

but through hard work and resilience of spirit,

they have forged a nation full of confidence and energy.

An emerging European superpower.