5 Things You Didn't Know Were Polish

From science to make up, Polish scientists, engineers and businessmen are responsible for some surprising and revolutionary concepts. Our round up takes a look at five things that prove Poles are a truly talented bunch.

Heliocentrism

In the 16th century, Polish astronomer Mikolaj Kopernik (Nicolaus Copernicus) revolutionised science by establishing the heliocentric theory (stating that planets revolve around the sun instead of the other way around). He had been working on the concept for 16 years and finally published it in his book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium, just before his death in 1543.

The Bulletproof vest

The Bulletproof vest was invented by two Poles, priest/engineer Kazimierz Żegleń and inventor Jan Szczepanik, in 1897. It was made mainly of silk (which was one of the most durable materials at the time). The vest saved the life of Alfonso XIII, King of Spain in 1906, during an assassination attempt in Paris.

Melex

Believe it or not, the first Melex (electric golf buggy) was produced in the Polish town of Mielec in 1971.

Max Factor

US beauty brand Max Factor was founded by a Pole, Maksymilian Faktorowicz. He emigrated from Poland to the USA in 1904 and established his cosmetics company five years later. Max Factor first specialised in theatrical/movie make up, and Faktorowicz was known for applying make up to Hollywood actors himself.

Fashion TV

Fashion TV was founded in 1997 by a Pole, Michel Adam Lisowski, a Warsaw-born businessman, who worked in Thailand’s fashion textile industry before moving to Paris, where the idea of Fashion TV was born. Lisowski invested in a trendy hangout called Café Paris and noticed people’s interest in fashion-themed video content projected on screens around the venue.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.