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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