Wawel Hill was inhabited by the Vistulans tribe in ancient times. The settlement came to prominence during the reigns of Boleslaw the Brave and Kazimierz the Restorer. The latter made Wawel the seat of his political power. In the late medieval period, from the 14th century onwards, the royal residence and a new cathedral were built. The Cathedral houses the relics of St Stanislaw, patron saint of Poland. The last rulers of the Jagiellonian dynasty transformed the Gothic castle into one of the most magnificent Reneissance royal residences in Central Europe. They also endowed the Cathedral with important works of art and architecture. Although the capital of Poland was moved from Krakow to Warsaw at the end of the 16th century, royal coronations and funeral ceremonies continued to take place in Krakow. A series of events in the 17th and 18th centuries led to the dilapidation of the Castle. The Austrian army was garrisoned here from 1795 until the early 20th century. The Castle and Cathedral have both regained their former magnificence through an intensive restoration programme. Fortunately Wawel was saved from destruction in both World Wars.
redactor1 Grudzień 20th, 2018
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redactor1 Grudzień 20th, 2018
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The skyline of Krakow is dominated by churches. There are some 40 churches within the historic centre alone. It must be remembered, however, that a number of churches were destroyed or dismantled in the 19th century. The surviving churches bear witness to the splendour of Krakow. The interiors are suprisingly rich in furnishings and house a variety of works of art in different artisitic styles. (DK Eyewitness Travel, Cracow, 2002)
redactor1 Grudzień 20th, 2018
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Krakow has dozens of museums, which are very varied in character. The Royal Castle at Wawel is the best known, offering visitors the chance to see collections housed in hte royal chambers which date from the time when the Polish kings resided here. The Czartoryski Museum is the best place for Western art. The National Museum has rich collections of Polish art housed in a number of branches in the city centre. (DK Eyewitness travel, Cracow 2002)
redactor1 Grudzień 20th, 2018
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Krakow saved from destruction during many wars, preserved many monuments and also its specific ‚antiquarian’ atmosphere. Krakow and Wieliczka were included on the first UNESCO World Heritage List. Here is the list of sites of the most precious historic interest and beauty.
redactor1 Grudzień 20th, 2018
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The town of Kazimierz next to Krakow, was founded in 1335 by Casimir the Great. With its own Town Hall and a defence wall, Kazimierz competed with the capital in position and wealth. The king built two large churches and planned to establish a university here. After king Jan Olbracht had moved the Jewish population here from Krakow in the late 15th century, the separate nature of Kazimierz became more pronounced. The town was soon to become a leading centre of Jewish culture. Although Kazimierz was integrated administratively into Krakow in 1791, the distinctive character of this quarter is still evident. With narrow streets lined with low buildings, it seems to belong to a different world. It bears witness to centuries of peaceful coexistence of two nationalities, Jewish and Polish. Magnificent sacred architecture of both religions can be seen as futher confirmation of this symbiosis. (DK Eyewitness Travel, Cracow 2002)
redactor1 Grudzień 20th, 2018
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The name Malopolska (Little Poland, Lesser Poland, Malopolska Voivodship, Malopolska Province) applies to a large, south area of Poland with a rolling landscape of fields and quiet villages. This ancient region formed together with Wielkopolska, the first Polish medieval state. It has an area of over 15,000 square kilometres, and a population of 3,5 million people. The province is bounded on the south by the Tatra and Beskidy mountains, on the north by the Swietokrzyskie Mountains and by Jura Krakowsko – Czestochowska hills on the west. The most prominent areas of tourism and recreation are the Tatra mountains with Zakopane winter resort. The natural landscape features many historic sites such as: the salt mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska – pilgrimage town, Wadowice – John Paul’s II birthplace, Oswiecim with a former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz and Birkenau and Krakow with its UNESCO ranked Old Town.
redactor1 Grudzień 20th, 2018
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