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Krakow is one of Eastern Europe’s most charming and historic cities, with a rich cultural heritage and a wealth of fascinating attractions for visitors to enjoy. Known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and vibrant nightlife, Krakow is a hidden gem that is just waiting to be discovered. Krakow history background Krakow is one of the oldest cities in Poland and has a rich and fascinating history that spans over a thousand years. The city was founded in the 7th century and quickly became a center of trade and culture. During the Middle Ages, Krakow was the capital of Poland and a center of power for the country’s rulers. One of the defining moments in Krakow’s history was the reign of King Kazimierz the Great, who ruled from 1333 to 1370. During this time, Krakow experienced a cultural and intellectual flowering, with the establishment of the city’s first university and the commissioning of many of the city’s most famous buildings, including Wawel Castle. In the late 16th century, Krakow became part of the Austrian Empire and was incorporated into the Habsburg Monarchy. The city continued to be a center of culture and learning, with the establishment of the Royal University of Krakow and the development of the city’s Baroque architecture. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Krakow became an important center of Polish national culture, with the establishment of a number of cultural institutions, including the National Museum and the Academy of Fine Arts. During World War II, Krakow was occupied by Nazi Germany, and the city suffered significant damage and loss of life. After the war, the city was rebuilt and became an important center of culture and politics in communist Poland. In addition to its rich history, Krakow is also a city that is full of life and energy. From its bustling bars and clubs to its vibrant street markets, there is always something happening in Krakow. Today, Krakow is a thriving city that is proud of its rich history and cultural heritage. From its stunning Gothic and Baroque architecture to its thriving arts scene, Krakow is a city that is both deeply rooted in the past and full of life and energy. Must-visit tourist attractions in Krakow Here are some of the must-visit tourist attractions in Krakow, Poland: Wawel Castle – A historical castle and former residence of Polish kings. Main Market Square – A large medieval market square in the heart of the city. St. Mary’s Basilica – A beautiful Gothic church with a famous wooden altarpiece. Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum – A former Nazi concentration camp turned museum. Kazimierz – A historic Jewish quarter with a rich cultural heritage. Cloth Hall – A Renaissance-era trading hall that now houses a market and museum. Schindler’s Factory Museum – A museum dedicated to the life of Oskar Schindler and the Jews he saved during the Holocaust. Wieliczka Salt Mine – A medieval salt mine that has been turned into a museum and tourist attraction. One of the most popular attractions in Krakow is the Wawel Castle, which sits atop a hill overlooking the city. The castle has a long and fascinating history and has served as the residence of Polish royalty for centuries. Today, it is open to the public and offers a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Poland. Another must-visit attraction in Krakow is the Main Market Square, which is considered one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe. The square is surrounded by historic buildings, including the Gothic St. Mary’s Basilica, and is a popular gathering place for locals and tourists alike. The city is also home to a thriving arts scene, with numerous galleries, theaters, and museums to explore. Whether you are interested in history, culture, or simply soaking up the atmosphere of one of Eastern Europe’s most vibrant cities, Krakow is a destination that is sure to leave a lasting impression. So why not add this hidden gem to your travel itinerary today?
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Krakow is the second-largest city in Poland yet most of the interesting things to see/do are almost within walking distance. There are currently over 760,000 citizens living in Kraków and 1,4 million if the larger metropolitan area is included. A perk of visiting Kraków is that the main neighborhoods and attractions are very close to the Old Town. Best Neighborhoods in Kraków The two most popular neighborhoods to stay in Kraków are definitely Stare Miasto (Old Town) and Kazimierz (Jewish quarter). Old Town with its central location and stunning beauty is still the most attractive, but it is relatively crowded and expensive. Main areas of Kraków: Stare Miasto is the most important sightseeing area of Kraków, which means Old Town in Polish. It is packed with fascinating landmarks. Kazimierz was established during the fourteenth century. Kazimierz was once known as the Jewish City and is one of the areas most crippled during World War II. Podgórze was a city across the Vistula river until 1795. The Nazis created a ghetto here where all the Jews from Kraków were placed during WW2. Nowa Huta is a district founded during the Polish People’s Republic in Kraków. It is based on Socialist realism, the popular architectural style of the time What is the best area to stay in Krakow? One of the best areas in Krakow is the Kazimierz district. By choosing an apartment or hotel in Kazimierz you will have a chance to catch a more local atmosphere – a few steps from your doors you will find the best pubs, art cafes, and restaurants that are visited mostly by locals in the city. Not only staying here but also eating and drinking will save you some money. You can reach the Krakow Market Square within 15 minutes by walk. The other good alternatives can be Podgórze or Dębniki. Both of them are still within walking distance from the Rynek Główny (Main Square), on the other part of the Wisła river. Especially Podgorze is getting a lot of attention- recently lots of cafes, bars, and restaurants were opened in this district. How safe is Krakow? Kraków is a very safe city. You can walk everywhere, there are no dangerous districts or so. Also coming back home at night normally does not create any disturbances. According to tourists, this is one of the safer places in Europe. As everywhere, it’s better to remember to keep a few rules that will allow you to move freely around the city, visit monuments with a guide, photograph the most beautiful nooks and crannies of the city, or dive into its atmosphere and culture. Walking wandering through the center of the city you will feel completely secure. If you go to Main Square, you will be delighted with the spaciousness and architecture of the place. Once you find yourself inside the Old Town, you will immediately mix into the crowd of other visitors, which will increase your sense of security. It is similar to Kazimierz District, another interesting place in Krakow. Kazimierz is worth visiting to learn more about the turbulent history of Polish Jews who once lived in these areas. Kazimierz has a completely different atmosphere and is a bit less crowded, but if you like visiting historic places with a guide and photographing old synagogues, you must visit this district. The historical part of the city is safe for visitors from all over the world. The risk of someone attacking you in broad daylight is so low that it almost doesn’t exist. In that case, what are some areas to avoid in Krakow? Areas to avoid in Krakow Krakow is not considered dangerous, but it’s worth knowing which situations and places to avoid so that only pleasant memories will remain from the trip. Areas to avoid in Krakow include some of the old residential areas and the city’s outskirts. There are also interesting tourist destinations in places further out. A perfect example is the raw architecture of Nowa Huta. This utopian district will melt the heart of every photographer and history lover. However, in these areas, tourist traffic is much lower than in the very center, and therefore, a foreigner might catch some unwanted attention. In the old days, Nowa Huta was considered by Cracovians as one of the most dangerous districts due to the frequent skirmishes among football fans. Current statistics now show that the smallest number of dangerous events occur in Nowa Huta in comparison to other parts of the city. Also, you should not leave the center in the evenings and at night. You may encounter some provocation from, let’s say a homeless person under the influence of alcohol, or if unlucky you might run into some aggressive football fans. The best solution to avoid Krakow dangers is to navigate around unusual locations during the day, especially on weekends, when tourism is the most intense.
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The Royal Road is the ceremonial route that kings and other celebrities proceeded through Krakow when the city was Poland’s capital. Now the road still links most of Krakow’s Old Town landmarks. The Royal Road or Royal Route (Droga Królewska) begins at the northern end of the medieval Old Town and continues south through the center of town towards Wawel Hill, where the old royal residence, Wawel Castle, is located. The Royal Road passes some of the most prominent historic landmarks, providing a suitable background to coronation processions and parades, foreign envoys, and guests of distinction traveling from a far country to their destination at Wawel. The monarchs used to enter through the main of the city’s eight gates, the Gothic Florianska gate. The Royal Route across Krakow The Royal Road starts outside the northern flank of the old city walls in the medieval suburb of Kleparz, now a central district of Kraków. The road begins at St. Florian’s Church (Kościół św. Floriana), containing the relics of St. Florian – the Patron Saint of Poland – miraculously saved numerous times in the 12th, 16th, and 17th centuries. St. Florian’s Church was also the starting point for royal funeral processions, concluding at Wawel Cathedral. The Royal Road crosses Matejko Square (pl. Matejki), passes the Academy of Fine Arts (Akademia Sztuk Pięknych) on the right-hand side, and crosses Basztowa Street – to the medieval barbican (Barbakan). The Gothic-style Barbakan, built in 1499, is one of only three such fortified outposts still surviving in Europe and also, the best preserved. The Road passes the old fortifications through Floriańska Gate under a defensive tower. It is the original entrance to the city and the only gate, of the eight city gates built in the Middle Ages, not dismantled during the 19th-century modernization of Kraków. Inside the Old Town, the Royal Road continues along Floriańska Street and enters the Main Square. On the left-hand side, at the northeast corner of the square stands St. Mary’s Basilica, home of the oldest and the largest Gothic altarpiece in the world. At the center of the plaza, stands the Renaissance cloth hall Sukiennice flanked by the Town Hall Tower. Every full hour the ancient Krakow Signal resounds four times from its taller, crowned tower. The Road passes the Romanesque Church of St. Wojciech in the south-eastern corner of the square and leads down Grodzka Street along a number of historic landmarks and two smaller squares featured on both sides. Halfway the Grodzka street turn right to Senacka street and then turn left and you will find yourself on the most spectacular Kanonicza street with its stately historic houses. In the middle of Kanonicza street, a charming square opens to the white facade of the Jesuit august Baroque church of SS Peter and Paul’s of 1619 next to the majestic Romanesque church of St. Andrew’s of circa 1090. From 1951 to 1963 Father Karol Wojtyla, future Pope John Paul II, lived at 19 and 21 Kanonicza Street (his former rooms have been turned into a part of the Archdiocese Museum, otherwise exhibiting church art). Grodzka street ends at the foot of Wawel Hill with the Wawel Castle with an armory and the Cathedral.
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The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is a Roman Catholic Polish Baroque church located in the Old Town district of Kraków. This church was built between 1597–1619 by Giovanni Maria Bernardoni who perfected the original design of Józef Britius. It is the biggest of the historic churches of Kraków in terms of seating capacity. Since 1842 it serves the Catholic All Saints parish. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is the first structure in Kraków designed entirely in the Baroque style, and perhaps the first Baroque building in present-day Poland. It was funded by King Sigismund III Vasa (Zygmunt III) for the Jesuit order. The plan of the church as a cruciform basilica was drafted by the Italian architect Giovanni de Rossi. His design was carried out by Józef Britius at first (from 1597) and then modified by Giovanni Maria Bernardoni. The final shape of the present-day façade, the dome, and its Baroque interior belongs to Giovanni Battista Trevano, who completed them in the years 1605–1619. The Church was ceremonially consecrated on 8 July 1635. From 1842 until now, it belongs to the Roman Catholic All Saints parish. In 1960 the church was raised to the rank of the Smaller Basilica. Architectural form The facade of Saints Peter and Paul Basilica was constructed with dolomite. It resembles that of the Church of Santa Susanna in Rome by Carlo Maderno, but also, contains similarities with the facade of the main Jesuit church of Il Gesù. In its niches are statues of Jesuit saints: Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Aloysius Gonzaga, and Stanisław Kostka made by Dawid Heel. Above the main portal, there’s the emblem of the order of Jesuits with saints Sigismund of Burgundy and Ladislaus I of Hungary. The very top of the facade is adorned with the coat of arms of the Vasa dynasty since king Sigismund III Vasa was the founder of the church. The church interior has a broad, single-nave with two aisles consisting of chapels, as well as the transept with a dome at the intersection, and a short rectangular chancel around the altar, with a semicircular apse covered with a hemispherical vault. In front of the Church-grounds, there are several plinths with raised sculptures of apostles designed by Kacper Bażanka. They were made with Pińczów limestone, and completed in 1722 by Dawid Heel. Today, in place of the original 18th-century statues, which were very much damaged by acid rain, there are contemporary copies made of the same material by Kazimierz Jęczmyk. Interior design Stucco decorations of the interior, mainly on overhead vaults, belong to Giovanni Battista Falconi of Milan who spent most of his adult life working in Poland. In the apse of the presbytery, there are also his scenes from the life and death of Saints Peter and Paul, and the statues of patrons of Poland – Saint Wojciech and Saint Stanisław. In the aisles, his artwork becomes much more joyous and includes figures of angelic putti woven into ornamental compositions and plafonds. The late Baroque high altar from 1735 with the image of Józef Brodowski “giving keys to St. Peter” was designed by Kacper Bażanka. Among the accessories in the interior, a sarcophagus of the Bishop Andrzej Trzebicki from the late 17th century stands out prominently, as well as the receptacles of the Branicki family (from 1720–1725) and Brzechffs, from 1716 by Bażanka. The interior lighting is subordinate to the Baroque dramatization of liturgy and focuses on the priest celebrating Holy Mass. The side pillars supporting the dome were supposed to create the impression of the theatre stage inside. In 1638 the Jesuits formed a musical ensemble there, the biggest in contemporary Poland. It featured around 80 to 100 singers. In the basement beneath the floor of the church Rev. Piotr Skarga is buried. Most recently, beginning in January 2010, works proceeded on creating the National Pantheon in the Church’s vaults. Foucault pendulum Every Thursday inside the Church, demonstrations are held of the longest Foucault pendulum in Poland (46,5 m), suspended for the popular display of the Earth’s rotation. Named after the French physicist Léon Foucault, the experimental apparatus consists of a tall pendulum free to swing in any vertical plane. The actual path of the swing appears to rotate; while in fact the plane is fixed in space, the Earth rotates under the pendulum once a sidereal day. It is a simple and easy-to-see proof of the Earth’s movement. The pendulum weighs 25 kg and is fitted with the red laser marking a clock face on the floor. It takes about an hour to notice a significant difference in its path, and the explanation is provided in Polish. The history of the pendulum at the Church is several decades long. For the first time, it was hung in 1949 on the initiative of professors Kordylewski and Horbacki. It was put on display again in 1991 on the anniversary of the arrival of Mikołaj Kopernik in the city. However, the renovations two years later required that the pendulum be taken down. In 2000, said Dr. Henryk Brancewicz, an astronomer at the Jagiellonian University, a local daredevil clambered from the outside and again hung the string in the telescope of the dome.
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