IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE

Aim. This study analyzes Polish castles as: 1) heritage of Polish fortification art; 2) tourist attraction; 3) their tourist use. For the sake of a more thorough description and explanation, the humanistic dimension of this type of culture tourism was also taken into consideration.
Methods. The methods used for this study are analysis of the contents of subject’s bibliography, tourist guidebooks and popular content from the scope of mass culture as well as participant observation. The interpretation is conducted from a systemic theory of tourism and anthropology of tourism perspective.
Results. The Castle of Malbork, one of the biggest in the world and in its time the true pearl of the European fortification art, is properly used for its tourist purposes. Other Polish objects of military defence engineering amounting to 16,000 are used at various levels. They present high historical, cultural and landscape value, thanks to which they enjoy a raise in popularity as tourist attractions. There were 7 ways of using castles for tourist or non tourist purposes characterized.
Conclusions. A tourist is an observer, in a way conducting a field research like in cultural anthropology. Sociological participant observation of the author and a reflection from the anthropologically - systemic theory of tourism indicates a relatively high interest of tourists (native as well as foreign) in Polish tradition of fortification art and the monuments of military defence engineering. The remaining heritage is still not promoted or put to a proper tourist use efficiently enough in Poland. A lot of castles still require rebuilding or renovating, many others just an appropriate tourist management and information in the offer for travel companies in Poland and abroad.