Sites you cannot miss!

The Wawel Cathedral, the national temple built after the bishopric of Cracow was established in 1000, has witnessed most of the royal coronations and funerals. Its place was chosen to be the Wawel ("Vah-vel") Hill. Nowadays, the Cathedral features: Sigismund Chapel, which is the pearl of Renaissance architecture and art; Royal Tombs; Sigismund Bell, popularly called "Zygmunt", heavier (twelve people are needed to put it in motion) and 350 years older than its famed London cousin, the Big Ben; Poets' Crypt (where two great Romantic poets, Adam Mickiewicz and Juliusz Slowacki, are buried) and Black Christ's Crucifix, which is a 650- year-old, 13-foot-tall remarkable sculpture.

The Wawel Castle was the residence of Polish kings from the mid-11th to the early 17th century. The present image of the castle has Romanesque fragments and Gothic parts. They are visible signs of the reign of the kings Alexander (1501-1506) and Sigismund I the Old (1506-1548) of the Jagiellonian dynasty. The Renaissance architecture of the castle is a work of Master Eberhard Rosemberger and Francesco the Florentine. Their work was finished by Master Benedykt and another Florentine, Bartolomeo Berrecci (who, when his work was completed, placed the following inscription over the entrance gate "Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos" (If God is with us, who will be against us?). At the turn of the 16th century some of the castle rooms were refashioned in the early Baroque style. Following the third partition of Poland in 1795, the former royal castle was converted into Austrian army barracks for the greater part of the 19th century. The army did not leave Wawel until 1905. During the Second World War Wawel was the seat of the occupation authorities of the Government General and the residence of Hans Frank.

There are some permanent exhibitions in the castle on Wawel Hill. If you visit the State Rooms you will take part in the travel to the past. The historical interiors are furnished in the Renaissance style, what is more, there is a unique and famous collection of the tapestry of Sigismund August, royal portraits, Italian and Dutch painting of the 14th to 17th centuries. You may also visit Royal Private Apartments, Crown Treasury and Armoury, where are shown the precious examples of arms, armours, horse trappings from Poland and West Europe. Finally, tourists may visit a room dedicated to the Oriental Art with Turkish tents, banners, weapons, carpets, and Chinese and Japanese ceramics. To complete your Wawel trip, you should visit the Dragon's Den, former home of the legendary Wawel Dragon, located just outside the Castle, next to the fire-spitting bronze Dragon's monument. However, the entrance to the cave is next to the Thieves' Tower at the western edge of the hill.

WAWEL HILL
The Chakra

The Wawel Castle museums may be forgettable. But the complex has one "sight" which - while invisible - attracts travelers from around the world: the chakra. Hindus believe the chakra is part of a powerful energy field which connects all living things. There are seven points on the surface of the earth where this chakra energy is most concentrated. These points include Jerusalem, Mecca, Rome...and Krakow's Wawel Hill. Look for peaceful people with their eyes closed. One thing's for sure: they're not thinking of Kazimierz the Great. The Wawel administration seems creeped out by all this. They've done what they can to discourage this ritual, but believers still gravitate from far and wide to hug the wall in the castle courtyard.

THE MAIN MARKET SQUARE
The Main Market Square

Measuring 200x200m, Krakow’s Rynek Glowny (Main Market Square) is the largest medieval town square in Europe and reputedly in all of the world. It's considered to be the finest urban design of its kind. Its layout was drawn up in 1257 and has been retained to this day, although some of the buildings have changed a bit. The most recent addition is the monument of Adam Mickiewicz, designed in 1898 by Teodor Rygier; today it is the most popular meeting place for young people.

THE MAIN MARKET SQUARE
St Mary's Church

St Mary's Church is not located perpendicularly to the Main Square which proves that it was constructed before the location of the city. It was firstly mentioned in the chronicle of John Dlugosz in 1222. The oldest Romanesque fundaments has remained as an underground part of the church (2.60 cm under the present floor). The new Gothic edifice has been built in the place of the old one between 1287 and 1320. During the reign of Jadwiga and Jagiello it was converted into a basilica. The famous Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz) altar, the jewel of the basilica, was created from 1477 to 1489. It is 13 metres high and 11 metres wide and is the largest medieval wooden altar in all Europe.

Every hour from the higher tower (81 m) of the church a Bugle Call (hejnal) is played to the four quarters of the world in turn. In the medieval a melody, which now is a musical symbol of the city, was played as a warning call. The hejnal is broadcast on Polish Radio every day at noon.

THE MAIN MARKET SQUARE
The Cloth Hall

The creation of the Cloth Hall dates back to the 14h century. Then in 1555 the building, designed as a centre for the cloth trade, was rebuilt after a fire. The present image is a reconstruction from 1875-1879. The ground floor continues to be a trading centre, now for crafts and souvenirs, while the upper floor has been taken by a museum of the Polish Art of the 19th century, featuring works by Jozef Chelmonski, Jacek Malczewski and the leader of monumental historic painting, Jan Matejko.

THE MAIN MARKET SQUARE
Town Hall Tower

From the Town Hall of Krakow remained only the Tower and the first floor, which is now covered by the ground. This Gothic building dates back to 1316, but after several fires it was rebuilt several times. The height of the tower is about 70 m. In the past, it contained the city dungeon with a torture chamber as well as a popular beer house. Today, it is a Historical Museum of the City with a café and a theater.

THE MAIN MARKET SQUARE
St Adelbert's Church

In the southern corner of the square is the small St Adelbert's Church. The oldest fragments of the Church date back to the 10th century. Traditionally, it is thought that St Adelbert, who evangelised Poland, used to give here his sermons. The present shape is baroque. You can see the original foundations in the basement, where a small exhibition also presents archaelogical finds excavated from the Rynek. Once inside, one should not miss a look at the figure of Christ crucified on the rood-screen.

MAIN SQUARE SURROUNDS
The Barbican

It is one of the greatest achievements of the architecture of fortifications of the 15th century due to the fact that it was the first of that type in Poland. It is round, made of brick and has seven turrets and 130 loopholes. Its high walls are three meters thick. The Barbican was connected with the Florianska Gate by a drawbridge and a walled passage. Its mission was to obstruct the first attack of the enemy.

MAIN SQUARE SURROUNDS
The Florianska Gate

Dated to the turn of the 13th/14th century, along the neighbouring walls and tree towers, the gate is part of the powerful fortification system which once surrounded Krakow with a 3-km long band. It was reinforced with 47 towers, eight gates and a moat. The Florianska Gate opened the Royal Route which royal and envoy processions took on their way to Wawel. In the 19th century, city walls were demolished and replaced by the Planty Park.

MAIN SQUARE SURROUNDS
The Collegium Maius

The history of the Polish oldest University starts in the year 1364 when the king Casimir the Great established a Studium Generale. In 1400 the restoration and modernization was possible thanks to the legacy left by the Polish queen-saint Jadwiga. The Jagiellonian University has got its present name after her royal husband, King Ladislav II Jagiello. It became famous all over the Europe for its high level of mathematics, astronomy, astrology, geography and legal studies. The most famous Polish student of the Jagiellonian University are Nickolaus Copernicus (1491-95) and Pope John Paul II (1938-39, 1942- 46). Today, the building of Collegium Maius has been converted into a museum.

"Plus ration quam vis" (Reason over force) reads an inscription on the wall of the Ceremonial Room of the Collegium Maius.

MAIN SQUARE SURROUNDS
The Czartoryski Museum

A branch of the National Museum containing Poland's most valuable paintings: Leonardo da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine" and Rembrandt's "Landscape with the Good Samaritan". On display are also works of European painting, mementoes connected with Polish kings, hetmans and generals, and an exquisite collection of china, goldwork and arms.

MAIN SQUARE SURROUNDS
The Kosciuszko Mound

This symbolic mound is the effect of work of volunteers who in this way honored a great Polish patriot and a 1794 leader of the nation Tadeusz Kosciuszko. But above all, it is an ideal place to admire a magnificent panoramic view of Cracow.

MAIN SQUARE SURROUNDS
The Franciscan Church and Monastery

Gothic, single-nave church established in 1237. Interior decoration, including Europe's largest stained glass window ("God the Father - Let it Be"), from around 1900 by Stanislaw Wyspianski. The stations of the Via Dolorosa were painted by Jozef Mehoffer.

MAIN SQUARE SURROUNDS
St. Andrew's Church

The Romanesque church dates from the 12th century and is one of the oldest buildings in Poland. Its thick walls (1.5 m) and narrow windows prove that it also had a defensive function. Its small interior is stunning with its splendid Baroque decor; its rococo boat-shaped pulpit is especially noteworthy.

MAIN SQUARE SURROUNDS
The Slowacki Theatre

The eclectic building, modelled after the Paris Opera, was designed by Jan Zawiejski and built in 1893. The most outstanding Polish actors - Helena Modrzejewska, Aleksander Zelwerowicz and Ludwik Solski performed on its stage. The stage is adorned with a fine curtain by Henryk Siemiradzki, who painted on it various allegorical and symbolic figures connected with theatrical art.

MAIN SQUARE SURROUNDS
Kanonicza street

This peaceful and sheltered street, which turns gracefully towards Wawel Hill, is Krakow's oldest street with an unique historical value which cannot be underestimated. The principal approach to the Wawel ran along this street in the Middle Ages. The street took its name from the canons of the Krakow Chapter who resided here in the 14th-century. All the buildings date to Medieval times, while their portals and arcaded courtyards come from teh Renaissance period, a good reason to have a look at what is hidden behind the gateways.

MAIN SQUARE SURROUNDS
The Divine Mercy Sanctuary Lagiewniki]

Up until the 2nd World War, the Convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Krakow's Lagiewniki was an institution which was closed to the public and which served exclusively the sisters and those entrusted to their care. Today it houses the sanctuary of the Divine Mercy with its famous, grace-working image of Merciful Jesus and the relics of the Blessed Sr. Faustina. The place is visited by some two million pilgrims from all over the world each year.

On August 17, 2002 Pope John Paul II consecrated the sanctuary’s majestic 1,600-sq.m. brand-new basilica. Pope, previously the Krakow archbishop Karol Wojtyla, is said to be once a driving force behind the worldwide Catholic movement to worship the Lord's Mercy with its center in the Lagiewniki sanctuary.

JEWISH QUARTER OF THE KAZIMIERZ DISTRICT

Kazimierz was established by King Casimir (Kazimierz) the Great as a separate town. In 1494 an autonomous Jewish district was established here to protect the Jews from the numerous persecutions and a rout that took place in Krakow. In the 16th century the Jews all over Europe had to face the prejudice, persecutions and finally, the exile. They found a safe shelter in Krakow. Due to the fact that they were mainly rich and well educated; moreover, they belonged to the intellectual elite of Europe, the Kazimierz Jewish District soon became eminently prosperous. Kazimierz became the world of philosophers and thinkers. In 1812 the Jews were given a law to settle in all of Kralow. Finally, the walls were destroyed in 1822, which is linked to the incorporation of the city into Krakow. The tragedy of the Second World War and the extermination of Jews by Nazi invaders caused falling into a desolate ruin. However, at the turn of the 1980s heirs of former inhabitants started the renovation. Today, the devastated buildings are continuously restored, so that the district becomes more and more attractive. Steven Spielberg shot here "Schindler's List".

The enchanting atmosphere of Kazimierz is created by its narrow streets, the abundance of markets, the small tenements, synagogues and kirkuts - Jewish cemeteries. It is a real treasure of Jewish culture and an important part of their history. Furthermore, thanks to its numerous cafés and pubs, Kazimierz has become a popular place of meeting. It has also a marketplace of antiques and second-hand jumble. Its historic centre is Wolnica Square but social and cultural life focuses around Plac Nowy (New Sqaure) and Szeroka Street.