Explore Krakow, Poland: Recommended Places of Interest

January 13, 2018 70 Comments

When the Second World War broke, Krakow was one of the few places that was not extensively bombed by either the Germans or the Allies. Compared to Poland’s capital Warsaw, that was completely down in rubles, Krakow was spared and as a result it was able to preserve its fine Medieval treasures. Today, Krakow is Poland’s most visited city. It was also named as one of the first UNESCO Heritage Sites.

As first time visitors, Derick and I were so impressed of the well-preserved Medieval buildings in the Old Town. We explored the city by joining the free walking tour with an expert local tour guide. Below are the interesting sites we have visited during our stay in Krakow.

The Old Market Square

KrakowSt. Mary’s Basilica

St. Mary’s Basilica is a remarkableΒ brick Gothic church built in the 14th century. The impressive structure standing adjacent to the Main Market Square is one of the most noticeable buildings you can find in the area.

According to chroniclerΒ Jan DΕ‚ugosz, Saint Mary’s Bacilica in the Main Square in KrakΓ³w was founded inΒ 1221–22Β by theΒ Bishop of KrakΓ³w,Β Iwo OdrowΔ…ΕΌ. The building was destroyed during theΒ Mongol invasionΒ of Poland. Between 1290–1300 the newΒ early Gothic church was built on the remaining foundations. It was consecrated twenty years later, in 1320.

Main Market Square 1The Cloth Hall and Town Hall Tower

Krakow’s Cloth Hall is an iconic Renaissance building which is the central feature of theΒ main market squareΒ in theΒ Old Town. It was listed as aΒ UNESCOΒ World Heritage SiteΒ since 1978.

The Cloth Hall was once a major centre of international trade. Traveling merchants met there to discuss business and to barter. During its golden age in the 15th century, the hall was the source of a variety of exotic imports from the east – spices, silk, leather and wax – while KrakΓ³w itself exportedΒ textiles,Β lead, andΒ saltΒ from theΒ Wieliczka Salt Mine.

Krakow doesn’t have Town Hall after the original one was demolished in 1820 to give more space for the Main Square. Luckily the Town Hall Tower survived and remained standingΒ  until today.

Main Market SquareAdam Mickiewicz Monument

Krakow Headβ€˜The Head’ – Eros Bendato’ (Eros Bound). The bronze headΒ is the work of Polish artist Igor Mitoraj (1944 – 2014). Now the head is a popular attraction which became a photography subject and backdrop.

Wawel Castle

Wawel CastleWawel Castle – view from Vistula Boulevard.

TheΒ Wawel CastleΒ is aΒ castle residencyΒ located in centralΒ KrakΓ³w,Β Poland. Built at the behest of KingΒ Casimir III the Great,Β it consists of a number of structures situated around theΒ Italian-styledΒ main courtyard. The castle, being one of the largest in Poland, represents nearly all European architectural styles of Medieval, RenaissanceΒ and BaroqueΒ periods. The Wawel Royal Castle and theΒ Wawel HillΒ constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in the country. In 1978 it was declared aΒ UNESCO World Heritage SiteΒ as part of theΒ Historic Centre of KrakΓ³w.

Wawel Castle-2Wawel Royal Castle Complex

Today Wawel Castle is one of the country’s premiere art museum. It houses important collections of paintings, sculpture, textiles, tapestries, ceramics, furnitures and a lot more.

The City Defense Walls

Defense WallsThe City Defense Walls include theΒ St. Florian’s Gate and the Barbican. These are among the few surviving remnants of city’s medieval walls.Β The St. Florian’s Gate was once the city’s main entrance back in the 14th century.

Krakow-1The Barbican

This fortified outpost is considered a masterpiece during its time because of its impressive military engineering. It was once connected to the city walls and its historic gateway leading into the Old Town. It is also connected to the gate by a narrow passage running over a moat.

TheΒ Gothic-styleΒ barbican, built around 1498, is one of only three such fortified outposts still surviving in Europe, and the best preserved. It is a moated cylindrical brick structure with an inner courtyard 24.4 meters in diameter, and seven turrets. Its 3-meter-thick walls hold 130Β embrasures. The barbican was originally linked to theΒ city wallsΒ by a covered passageway that led throughΒ St. Florian’s GateΒ and served as a checkpoint for all who entered the city.

 

Juliusz SΕ‚owacki Theatre

Theater2

Juliusz SΕ‚owacki TheatreΒ inΒ KrakΓ³w,Β Poland, (Polish:Β Teatr im. Juliusza SΕ‚owackiego w Krakowie), erected in 1893, was modeled after some of the best EuropeanΒ BaroqueΒ theatres such as the Paris Opera designed by Charles Garnier,Β and named after Polish poetΒ Juliusz SΕ‚owackiΒ in 1909.

Theater

Jewish Quarters

Krakow-11Krakow-12

Trendy, creative Kazimierz is Krakow’s historic Jewish quarter, now a jumble of indie galleries, quirky shops, vintage clothing stores and bars that range from hip cocktail dens to shabby-chic spaces. Szeroka Street’s many synagogues include the 16th-century Old Synagogue, while the nearby Remuh Cemetery has a wall built of tombstones broken during WWII. The Galicia Jewish Museum celebrates local Jewish culture.

 

Auschwitz –Β BirkenauΒ Concentration CampsΒ 

AuschwitzOne of the highlights of our Krakow tour is the Auschwitz Concentration Camps visit. It is an hour travel from Krakow which is ideal for day tour if you have extra time. Although it is the saddest place to visit, it is also a good place to learn about what happened during the holocaust.

Birkenau Concentration Camp

Wieliczka Salt Mine

Salt Mine 5Salt Mine ChapelThe Salt Mine is one of the most popular attractions in Poland. Also considered a UNESCO World Heritage site, this salt mine is about a 30-minute drive from Krakow’s old town square.

Today, the β€œWieliczka” Salt Mine combines many centuries of tradition and modernity, the history of several hundred years and an underground metropolis with extensive infrastructure.

The mine is aΒ product of work of generations of miners. A monument to the history of Poland and to the Polish nation – aΒ brand, present in Polish consciousness for centuries. – UNESCO

 

The Schindler’s Factory

Schindler's FactoryIf you have watched Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Schindler’s List’ you would know that this factory saved many lives during the holocaust. Now a museum, a visit to this factory is highly recommended. It may also be worthwhile to note that Schindler’s Factory is now one of the most visited museums in Krakow.

Krakow Photo Gallery

 

 

Note: Some information mentioned above are taken from Wikipedia.

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CategoriesEurope, Poland, Recommendations, Travel
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