The main aim of the exhibition is to familiarize the visitors with the history of Krakow and centuries-old traditions of Krakow’s merchants, but also to show Krakow’s connections with other European countries in the Middle Ages. The title of the exhibition says it all: Following the traces of European identity of Krakow. And these traces lead, for example, to the connection with Hanseatic League or to the quite surprising contacts with Christianity far before the Baptism of Poland.

The entrance to the museum is on north side of Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) in the Main Square. The museum is opened daily from 10 am. to 8 pm (except for Tuesdays – to 4pm). The visitors (up to 30) can enter every 15 minutes.

The absolute must-see!

The pharmacy was founded and run by a Polish pharmacist Tadeusz Pankiewicz. He was the only non-Jewish person actually living inside the ghetto. His pharmacy was a secret point, where the elite would meet, the underground press was read and letters were exchanged. But most of all Pankiewicz and his staff would help sick Jews and protect many of them by smuggling them to non-Jewish part of Krakow.

Pankiewicz was able to provided shelter for Jews during night arresting. The pharmacy had two exits: the official and a spare one. The latter helped to save lives of many people escaping to Jozefinska Street. The hero also saved over a dozen valuables and old scrolls from local synagogues. After the war, when the communists took over the Pharmacy was turned into a low class bar and Pankiewicz himself moved. It remained in a poor condition until the 80′. In 1983 a museum was opened in the former pharmacy building due to efforts of Pankiewicz’s friends and war heroes, and in 2004 the interiors were refurbished due to the efforts of Roman Polanski and Steven Spielberg.

In 1983 the state of Israel honored Tadeusz Pankiewicz with a medal of ‘The Righteous Among the Nations‘ – a medal honoring those who saved Jews from the Holocaust. He died in November 5th 1993 and is buried in Rakowicki Cemetery in Krakow.

Cathedral was the coronation site of nearly all Polish monarchs. One of the very first pope John Paul the II masses as a young priest took place here, so it’s a place of great importance for all the Poles. The Cathedral is still being used to conduct masses and during them is closed for visiting. Sometimes you can see a weding ceremony, but a mass is every day. So remember not to disturb praying.

These days Dominican Church is known as a place where Krakow’s students meet for 7 o’clock masses. It’s a place where you can hear a good not-dogmatic lecture and meet friendly people. In the past you could attend a mass conducted by such great priests as Jozef Tischner. So – if you’re openminded and catholic and student you’re likely to be interested in this place. Otherwise just admire the architecture – it’s definitely worth visiting.

Sukiennice was Krakow’s first market place for most of what was interesting for merchant to import and sell since the beginning of 15th century. Spices, silk, leather and wax, everything except for salt which was taken from locally founded Salt Mine in Wieliczka. As the city’s position on economical map of Europe has declined in 17th century, Cloth Hall went downhill along with it.

Other, very similar cloth halls have existed in other Polish as well as other European cities. To mention couple of them – Ypres, Belgium; Braunschweig, Germany; and in Leeds, England.

It contains the following faculties:

Faculty of Law and Administration
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Pharmacy
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Philosophy
Faculty of History
Faculty of Philology
Faculty of Polish Studies
Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
Faculty of Chemistry
Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences
Faculty of Management and Social Communication
Faculty of International and Political Studies
Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology

Now – for the interesting stuff. Students from abroad are most welcome at the Jagiellonian University. Master-degree studies take 5 to 6 years, and end with completing the master theses, based on students’ own research. There is a number of master-degree and postgraduate programs in English and a few in other foreign languages. So – is you’d like to make your degree in Poland, nothing simpler. And … it’s still a country with the highest standards for education in EU, as well as endless and cheap partying possibilities.

The University buildings are also very often simply interesting - especially Collegium Novum (home for lawyers, historians and administration). It’s a monumental building definitely to be visited if you like places with lots of history (that is the one pointed at our interactive map of Krakow). Another one worth mentioning would be Collegium Maius with The Jagiellonian University Museum. Go there to get to know the University’s history, take a look at old 14th century courtyard, old manuscripts, and more.

Especially during the summer time the place is full of tourists and pulsing with life. Personally, I always try to go through the Planty going anywhere within the city center – it’s simply more enjoyable.

The Mound is an artificial hill modelled after the Krakow’s prehistoric mounds of Krak and Wanda. A serpentine path leads to the top, 326 metres above sea level, with a great panoramic view of the Vistula River and the city of Krakow. You can enjoy unique view of Wawel hill as well as Manggha Center and other sites. It was completed in November 1823. The construction was financed by donations from Poles living in all territories of Poland under foreign occupation. For three years beginning in 1820, people of all ages and class voluntarily constructed the Mound to the height of 34 metres. Later – between 1850 – 1854 the Austrian authorities built a brick citadel around the Mound. In 1997, heavy rains eroded the Mound threatening its existence. It went through a restoration process from 1999 until 2003 and has been was reopened.

Today the Kosciuszko Mound is a great place for walks, a panoramic view of all the Krakow is moving especially in the late evenings when one can observe the lights of the city. With a good weather you can not only admire Krakow, but also see silhouettes of Tatra Mountains. Former Austrian fort is used as a offices for one of the biggest polish radio stations. There is also a small restaurant and a gift shop.

A popular version of Smok Wawelski’s tale takes place in Kraków during the reign of King Krak, the city’s legendary founder. Each day the evil dragon would beat a path of destruction across the countryside, killing the civilians, pillaging their homes and devouring their livestock. In many versions of this story, the dragon especially enjoyed eating young girls, especially virgins. The King wanted to put a stop to the dragon, but his bravest knights fell to its fiery breath. In the versions involving the sacrifice of young girls, every girl in the city was eventually sacrificed except one, the King’s daughter Wanda. In desperation, the King promised his beautiful daughter’s hand in marriage to anybody who could defeat the dragon. Great warriors from near and far fought for the prize and failed. One day, a poor cobbler’s apprentice named Szewczyk Dratewka accepted the challenge. He stuffed a lamb with sulphur and set it outside the dragon’s cave. The dragon ate it and soon became incredibly thirsty. He turned to the Vistula River for relief and he drank and drank. But no amount of water could quell his aching stomach, and after swelling up from drinking half of the Vistula river, he exploded. Dratewka married the King’s daughter as promised and they lived happily ever after.

In 1970 a metal sculpture of the Wawel Dragon designed by Bronisław Chromy was placed in front of the dragon’s den – nowadays it overlooks Manggha Center of Japanese Culture in Krakow. It is stylised, with six legs, and, to the amusement of children, it noisily breathes fire every few minutes, thanks to a natural gas nozzle installed in the sculpture’s mouth. Currently the dragon breathes fire every five minutes, or when an SMS with the text “SMOK” is sent to the number 7168.

St. Mary’s Basilica (pol. Kościół Mariacki) is a Gothic church built in the 14th century, adjacent to the main market square in Krakow. It is particularly famous for its wooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss (pol. Wit Stwosz). Not to be missed. Best experience for people who love golden baroque churches with rich ornaments.

On every hour, a trumpet signal – called the hejnał – is played from the top of the taller of St. Mary’s two towers. The tune breaks off in the middle, to commemorate the famous 13th century trumpeter, who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before the Mongol attack on the city. Despite of the legend the trumpet’s tune is one of the most recognizable symbols of Krakow and states every hour as well as people gathered to hear it.

Open every day. Small fee is collected for visiting the church. Mind that it’s forbidden to visit during masses – the hours of masses are written in front of the Cathedral. Also as in many other polish places of prayer it’s recommended to not wear sport clothes, shorts or naked shoulders.

History of Kazimierz

Kazimierz (Latin: Casimiria; Yiddish Kuzmir) is a historical district of Krakow, best known for being home to a Jewish community from the 14th century until the Second World War.

On 27 March 1335, King Kazimierz III (pol. Kazimierz Wielki), the Great declared the two western settlements to be a new city named Casimiria (later “Kazimierz”) after his name. He also began work on a campus for his University of Krakow, founded in 1364, but Kazimierz died in 1370 and the campus was never completed.

The Jewish community in nearby Krakow had lived undisturbed alongside their Christian neighbours under the protective King Kazimierz III. Later relations had deteriorated and pogroms began to occur with increasing frequency. Finally after a disastrous fire was blamed on them, the Jews of Krakow were expelled from the city in 1495 and forced to move nearby Kazimierz.

Kazimierz became the main spiritual and cultural centre of Polish Jewry, hosting many of Poland’s finest Jewish scholars, artists and craftsmen. Among its famous inhabitants were the Talmudist Moses Isserles, the Kabbalist Natan Szpiro, and the royal physician Shmuel bar Meshulam.

In 1791, Kazimierz lost its status as a separate city and became a district of Krakow. By the 1930s, Krakow had 120 officially registered synagogues and prayer houses scattered across the city and much of Jewish intellectual life had moved to new centres like Podgórze.

During the Second World War, the Jews of Krakow, including those in Kazimierz, were forced by the Nazis into a crowded ghetto in Podgórze, across the river. Most of them were later killed during the liquidation of the ghetto or in death camps. The most known worldwide commemoration of these events is Steven Spielberg’s film – Shindler’s List. The story of a German businessman touched by the tragedy of the Second War World and the doom of the Jewish Nation so deeply that he dared to risk his own life to help rescue over 2000 Jews. Schindler’s factory is now deteriorated ruin but it remained as a symbol of humanity.

After the war, Kazimierz became a backwater area with a reputation for being unsafe at night. At least one synagogue building was torn apart by scavengers seeking hidden Jewish treasure. Many old buildings were not repaired and became empty shells.

However, since 1988, a popular annual Jewish Cultural Festival has re-introduced Jewish culture to a generation of Poles who have grown up without Poland’s historic Jewish community. In 1993, Steven Spielberg shot his film Schindler’s List largely in Kazimierz (in spite of the fact that very little of the action historically took place there) and this drew international attention to Kazimierz. Since 1993, there have been parallel developments in the restoration of important historic sites in Kazimierz and a booming growth in Jewish-themed restaurants, bars, bookstores and souvenir shops like that one in Galicia Jewish Museum. Nowadays Kazimierz is a social hub, second Krakow’s center for going out, home of many galleries and small cafees, picturesque place for afternoon walks and many more.

Gallery of Kazimierz

Main Market Square in Krakow (Polish: Rynek Główny w Krakowie, also known as Rynek Krakowski — Krakow Market Square) is the main square of the Old Town, Krakow, Poland. It dates back to the 13th century and – at 200 by 200 meters in both dimensions – it is the largest medieval town square in Europe.

History

Rynek Główny was designed in 1257, during the location of the city of Krakow by prince of Krakow, Bolesław V the Chaste. It was purposefully designed large, to attract passing merchants so they would offer their goods in Krakow, which at that time was the capital of the Kingdom of Poland. At 40,000 m², for many centuries it was the largest marketplace and town square in Europe.

The square was a witness to many important events in the history of Poland. On 10 April 1525, Albert I, Duke of Prussia paid the Prussian Homage to the king of Poland, Sigismund I the Old. On 24 March 1794, polish hero, Tadeusz Kościuszko announced the general uprising there and assumed the powers of the Commander in Chief of all of the Polish forces, beginning the Kościuszko Uprising.

Location

The square is located on the coronation route, between the Barbican of Krakow and the monumental Wawel Castle. Ever since its creation it has been considered the center of the city.

The square is surrounded by old brick buildings and palaces, almost all of them, several centuries old. They house many tourism-oriented establishments as well as the Historical Museum of Krakow and the International Center of Culture. Probably the most famous of the oldest establishments is the Wierzynek’s restaurant, remembered for the great feast (dated 1364) which, according to the legend, lasted for twenty one days and helped to reach a consensus between monarchs of Europe.

Among the square’s landmarks are the Sukiennice – a Renaissance trading hall and one of city’s most recognizable icons – now host to many merchant stalls, and the Gallery of the National Museum, upstairs. Another one is St. Mary’s Basilica with its Altar by Wit Stwosz, a Brick Gothic church built in the 14th century adjacent to the main market square. Other landmarks include the Church of St. Wojciech, Town Hall Tower and the Adam Mickiewicz Monument.

Present times

Since its creation, the ground level of the Market Square has raised, in some places by over 5 meters. Underneath there are large basements, the most famous of which is the Piwnica pod Baranami. Many basements are now transformed into caffees and restaurants; other include the Theater Maszkaron and small archaeological museum in the basement of the Church of St. Wojciech. There are passages linking some of the basements — for example one linking Town Hall Tower with Sukiennice. Sukiennice itself has a little known underground trading hall, 100 meters wide and 5 meters high. Now trade is dominated by gift shops and small but really interesting coffee places and restaurants.

Rynek is a center of Krakow – you cannot miss it as all the routes in te old city center focuses on it and lead to it. The Mail Square is also used for people’s gatherigs. It serves well wheather it’s a celebration of Poland joining European Union, or a simple annual celebration of students culture – Juwenalia. Every

Apart from its historical significance the Main Square is surrounded by dozens, or maybe hundreds of pubs, clubs and interesting places worth being visited. Renovation of formerly Jewish quarter of Krakow – Kazimierz, took some glamour of the Market Square. Kazimierz began to play role of Krakow’s center of night life, with it’s multitude of pubs and fashionable restaurants. Still Market Square is in lead for the fact that it’s more center that Kazimierz and closer to the University Campus.

Apart from the Castle itself one sould visit one of the oldest polish Cathedrals, the Bell Tower were with a good weather Tatras Mountains are visible and Royal Tombs. Everything within medieval walls surrounding Wawel Hill.

Below – a photograph of Wawel Castle and the whole rock taken from Vistula River.