Welcome to Kraków!
The former capital of Poland (760 000 inhabitants), now a center of culture, art, science, higher education (200 000 students) and business (100+ International Companies)
Tourists attractions in Krakow – City Center walking distance
Wawel Castle is a fortified architectural complex on the left bank of the Vistula River in Kraków. The complex consists of many buildings and fortifications; the largest and best known of these are the Royal Castle and the Wawel Cathedral
Market Square It’s the central point of Kraków, with handcraft stores, street artists, and flower shops. It’s surrounded by restaurants and has a lot of buildings with touristic interest. The Market Square was built in 1257 after the Mongol hordes invaded Poland and razed the city. At the time it was the largest market square in Europe and still has a vibrant atmosphere.
The Church of St. Mary´s dominates the Kraków skyline and is responsible for a very timely and familiar sound. It is from here that visitors will hear a bugle call on the hour every hour ring out across the city, a historical tradition that continues to this day.
Cloth Hall (Polish: Sukiennice) is one of the symbols of the city. It is a central building in the Market Square in an Old town. Apart from small shops under arcade there is also The Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art. The Medieval Shopping Centre was built in 1257, but the original structure needed renovating after it was ravaged by fire in 1555.
The Town Hall Clock Tower Originally built at the end of the 13th Century, the 70-meter tall tower only has a tilt a 55cm, although the reason for its disfigurement is rather unusual – it was caused by a strong wind in 1703.
St. Florian’s Gate and the Barbican Situated at the Floriańska St. and forming part of the Royal Route, St. Florian Gate was the main entrance in which King´s would return to Kraków following victorious battles. The gate stands 34.5 meters high (113 feet) and was the main gate of seven that had been built into the defensive walls of the city around 1300. Built in the 16th Century The Barbican was formerly the main city gate and was originally surrounded by a moat which spanned 30-metres wide from the city walls.
Tourists attractions in Krakow – out of City Center
Jewish Quarter-Kazimierz became known as the Jewish quarter in the late 15th Century when King Jan I Olbracht transferred all Jews living in Kraków to live in one area. The narrow streets lead you through one of Kraków´s most unique districts and boast some of the finest architecture found anywhere in the city.
Czartoryski Museum is the oldest in Poland and features a wealth of artwork, sculptures, and silverware from antiquity to the 19th Century collected by six generations of the noble Czartoryski family. It was originally founded in 1796 by Princess Isabela in Pulawy in eastern Poland. Shortly after it was established, the museum acquired its most valuable painting, “The Lady with an Ermine,” by Leonardo da Vinci which was bought in Italy by Isabela´s son together with Raphael´s “Portrait of a Young Man”.
Nowa Huta is situated in the East of Kraków and is the most modern and populated area of the city. It was originally built in 1949 as a satellite district to Kraków and used as part of the Communist propaganda to attract peasants and farm workers closer to the city. It ultimately became a cog of industry and because of its money-making potential formed part of the municipality of Krakow two years later. The area, however, is the most historic part of Krakow. Archaeological evidence shows the first Slavic settlers lived here as far back as the 8th century and built the “Wanda Mound,” which according to legend is the burial ground of Wanda, the daughter of Krak who is the mythological founder of the city. You can go for Communism tour and experience how Nowa Huta. looked like in the past when it was a town in the vicinity of Kraków before it was incorporated as a district. Going by authentic cars from the Communist times everyone can experience those propagandist times and understand the paradox of the “old system.”
Tourists attractions in Krakow – out of Krakow
Auschwitz concentration camp – now a memorial museum.
The most famous of the Nazi death camps, Auschwitz witnessed around one point five million executions of Jews, gypsies, Soviets and political prisoners. Visitors will hear eye-opening accounts of the prisoners and victims that were brought here, explore the huts where they lived and the gas chambers where the majority of them died.
Wieliczka Salt Mines. Venture along the passages and you will discover giant caverns, underground lakes, and chapels with sculptures made from salt crystals. The mines date back more than 900 years when salt was as great a commodity in medieval times as oil is in the modern world. The UNESCO World Heritage site takes visitors to depths of 135 meters below ground and gives you the opportunity to explore 2km of tunnels in what is regarded as the world´s largest mining museum.
Zakopane situated in the Tatra mountains in the South of Poland, 110 km(68 miles) from Kraków. It is a popular resort where you can get a breath of wonderful air, marvelous nature-experiences, great views, food and buy local handicraft at the market.
Ojców National Park situated 30 km from Kraków to the North. The earliest settlement in the area dates to the Paleolithic, approximately 120,000 years ago. The Ojców region is rich in flint, which attracted early humans.
