Krakow, Poland by Klearchos Kapoutsis

Once the capital city during Poland’s Golden Age, Krakow could be one of the top most beautiful cities in Europe. It is Poland’s second largest city, with a population of around 700,000. It is also one of Poland’s oldest cities, with archaelogical remains showing inhabitation dating back to 20,000 B.C.E. By the year 1000 AD, it had grown to an immensely important, wealthy, and large trade center for Slavonic Europe.

Wawel Castle

One of Krakow’s major tourist destinations, the sprawling Wawel Castle, was built during the 13th century under threat of continued attacks from Mongol and Tatar forces. Thee 16th century found Krakow as a center for strong developments in science and arts – this led to Krakow’s golden age, another period of wealth and growth. Throughout history it had its ups and downs, but World War II was the largest most recent threat to its long-standing history. While much of Poland was destroyed as a main target of the enemy during WWII, much of Krakow was left intact from invading forces and aerial attacks (unlike Warsaw). This contributes to its historical tourism.

Located in southern region of Poland, only a couple of hours from the Tatra Mountains, Krakow is an excellent base from which to explore this beautiful region. Public transportation in the form of electric trams, buses, shuttles, and trains make getting around incredibly painless. Exploring on foot is also another great way to get around, as much of Krakow’s main tourist points are located around the Old Town Center. There is also a municipal bike rental for very affordable rates.

Must-see attractions within the city include the Wawel Castle, which offers a variety of touring options – the whole compound, or separate buildings such as the cathedral, galleries, or main castle grounds. Nearby, the historic Old Town Center is filled with museums, cathedrals, galleries, as well as restaurants, cafes, and bars. Historical buffs will enjoy the Museum of Archaelogy, which has many exhibits showing the fascinating history of the area, as well as contains the world’s only known representation of Swiatowit, the ancient and mysterious Slavic diety.

Wawel Castle, Krakow, Poland by fraumrau

The Zoological Museum

The Zoological Museum of the Jagiellonian University is the oldest zoological museum in Poland, and is located in a beautiful historic building, with exhibits located in cellars hewn into the rock. The Rynek Glowny (Main Town Square) contains an historic trading hall, called Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), from which many locally made Polish souvenirs can be purchased. The lovely Town Hall Tower gives a great view of the city when you climb to many stairs the top.

Wieliczka Salt Mine

There are also amazing attractions outside of the city. An absolute must-see is the Wieliczka Salt Mine, about a 20 minute bus ride from the city center. This is the oldest and longest-running salt mine in the world, having had a continuous mining operation for over 700 years. Visiting the mine requires registration as part of a guided tour, which has tour guides in all major languages. The tour starts with a long descent down 30 stories of stairs, followed by about a 2 mile walk through the underground tunnels, visiting not only salt operations, but fascinating pieces of history of the people who lived and worked here over the centuries.

There is an incredible cathedral in the mine, at a depth of about 1,000 feet below ground, and which is carved entirely out of salt – the floor tiles, chandeliers, wall frescoes, and pulpit were all hand carved from the gigantic salt deposit. Some 60 km from Krakow lies another popular destination – Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous concentration and extermination camp used by Nazis during World War II. Words cannot describe the conditions the prisoners endured, but visitors get an idea of it from the numerous exhibits containing personal effects of prisoners, as well as piles of shoes, prosthetics, shaved hair, etc. While incredibly saddening, this site is a must-see.

Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland by Adam Kumiszcza

Enough History and Culture

Krakow is the top tourist city in Poland, for good reason. There is enough history and culture to draw in tourists and keep them busy for weeks at a time. Any time of year is great to visit, however the winter season has less tourists. Winter also allows skiing buffs the chance to take the 2 hour ride south to the charming town of Zakopane, the regions skiing mecca. For a different, memorable trip to Europe, consider Krakow and you won’t be disappointed.

This article was written by Kevin Caldwell who enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures. He also built www.bricktownokchotels.com to help travelers find hotels near Bricktown when they are traveling in Oklahoma.

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While you could easily spend a few months exploring the many corners of Krakow, should you be heading there just for a week, or even for a weekend, there are a number of key experiences that really should not be missed. I will now outline seven perfect ways to spend your time in this beautiful city.

1. People Watching at Rynek Glowny

Those that just want to sit and watch the world go by, would be hard pushed to find a better place in the whole of Europe. Krakow’s main square is not only the largest in Europe, it is also lined with over forty outdoor bars and restaurants. Regardless of whether you want to enjoy a light breakfast or an evening beer, you are sure to find the perfect place to sit and simply take in the scene. Day or night, the square is a hive of activity with an eclectic mix of both locals and tourists, bikes and horse drawn carriages.

Rynek Gowny, Krakow’s central Grand Square / Ana Paula Hirama

2. A Romantic Meal in Kasimeirz

The old Jewish district of Kasimeirz is one of Krakow’s most dynamic and cosmopolitan areas. At it’s center is, of course, a small square lined with bars and cafes but the real prize can be found in the many winding streets packed with quaint cafes and small art galleries. Incredibly popular with both students and tourists alike, no visit to Krakow would be complete without at least one night exploring this side of town. It is also the best place to go for romantic meal for two.

3. Explore the Hectic Nightlife

The two best places for a night out in Krakow are the Rynek Glowny area and Kasimeirz. The area around the main square is the part of Krakow that officially has more bars per square mile than anywhere else in Europe and there are countless clubs that don’t close until dawn. Kasimeirz on the other hand, while still offering it’s fair share of clubs, is known for it’s many chilled out student bars ideal for a few drinks in a significantly quieter environment.

4. Shopping at Galeria Krakowska

Located immediately next to the cities main train station, this shining example of just how fast Poland’s economy is growing immediately dispels any misconceptions that tourists may have about Eastern European cities. Encompassing three floors, countless fountains and an endless selection of designer clothing stores, those who love to shop will feel perfectly at home here. A wide range of dining options are available on the top floor, making the shopping center the perfect place for a relaxing day out.

Auschwitz-Birkenau, Oświęcim, near Krakow / Ian Rutherford

5. Explore Poland’s Tragic Past

Although Krakow offers visitors many illustrations of the atrocities of World War II, few are as harrowing as excursions to nearby Auschwitz. What remains of the largest German concentration camp has been open to tourists for many years and the wide range of tours available are both harrowing and highly educational. Although certainly not a pleasant day in the sun, a visit to this museum of one of humanities darkest times is not something that you are ever likely to forget.

6. A Romantic Walk Along the Vistula River

Culminating in the towering Wawel Castle, a stroll along the Vistula river is a wonderful way to spend a sunny day or a romantic evening. And thanks, to it’s convenient route, pointing the way from Rynek Glowny to Kasimeirz, the walk can easily be fit into even the shortest of visits to Krakow. Should you have the time however, why not hire a bike and really take advantage of the peaceful views on offer.

7. Visit the Tatra Mountains

The popular mountain town of Zakopane is just a two hour bus ride from Krakow and not only offers some fantastic hiking opportunities in Summer, it transforms into the most popular skiing resort in Poland each Winter. Many people are surprised to learn that Poland actually offers some tremendous skiing opportunities and unlike the Swiss Alps, a few days in the snow can be had on a backpackers budget. A word of warning however, don’t take the train which for some strange reason takes twice as long as the bus.

Zakopane in High Tatras / Ana Paula Hirama

This article was written by guest blogger and travel writer Nick. He writes for Cruise1st.co.uk.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by tomasz przechlewski

Insights into the history
Gniew Castle was founded in the 2nd half of the 13th century and served as the seat of the Teutonic Knights. In the 15th century castle took possession of the royal family. Later, however, the fortress fell to Prussians, who established the military barracks and armory at the Gniew castle. In the first half of the 20th century the building was damaged by a large fire. About 50 years later, began an extensive reconstruction, and the whole place got back to its original form.

Attractions
Today the castle houses an archaeological museum, where you can see many exhibitions of medieval excavations and archaeological findings. The castle also hosts festivals of various historic characters and many exhibitions. In the vicinity of Gniew Castle you can find another great castle, Malbork Castle, which is the largest Gothic building in the world and the largest brick building in the world.

Practical information
You can visit Gniew Castle almost every day (except of Mondays) from 9:00 to 17:00. Admission is 8 PLN. The museum is open from 15 April to 31 October. You can even accommodate right in the castle complex or try some of the great polish traditional meals in the castle’s restaurant. Very impressive is night walking around the castle.

For further details visit official website of Gniew Castle.

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Author: dysiu

Mylna Cave is situated at an altitude of 1098 metres above sea level. Its total length is 1630 metres, but only 300 metres is open to the public. The temperature in the cave in summer is around 5 °C and in winter drop below freezing. The cave consists of several tunnels that lead into different cavities. Some corridors had to be artificially extended, so the visitors could pass through. There is a small stream flowing through the cavity, which is a home to a unique troglobite – a blind shellfish – Niphargus tatrensis.

It is possible to get to the cave by following the marked hiking trail that leads through the valley up to the cave entrance. If you plan to visit the cave, you must have a reliable flash light. The cave is not lighted, and it happened already several times that the visitors get lost in the dark. Prepare for the narrow passages (sometimes you even have to crawl), slippery rocks and mud in some areas. It is definitely not recommended to enter the cave with large backpacks. You should really wear good shoes and warm clothes. The tour is without guide and takes you about 30 minutes. The arrangement of the corridors is quite complicated, so they are carefully marked. You certainly should not abandon the route. Once you decide to visit a cave, you should also not enter alone or in such case at least let someone know that you intend to visit the cave.

Mylna Cave is accessible throughout the year.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Udo Schröter

Muskau Park is located on the border between Poland and Germany, along the Neisse River. It covers an area of over eight hundred hectares, thus it is one of the largest and certainly the most famous English parks in both countries. The park includes also two magnificent castles – An Old Castle, dating back to the 13th century and two centuries younger New Castle. Right here, beside those two castles, was Muskau Park founded in 1815. The founder was Prince Hermann Ludwig Heinrich von Pückler-Muskau, whose name is probably not missing in any publication of the garden architecture. He was an excellent artist in landscape gardening and wrote also several great publications about a harmony between a nature and human activity. In 1834 he summarized his ideas and findings into the publication, which meant a complete breakthrough in this area. Unfortunately, not all plans could be implemented. The cost of construction of the park and extensive reconstructions of the adjacent castles greatly exceeded the architect’s investment options. In 1845 Pückler was forced to sold a park and the adjacent estate and the new owner engaged for completion works the famous landscape architect Eduard Petzold.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Udo Schröter

Muskauer Park was seriously damaged during the World War II. Both castles and surrounding structures, including bridges, were destroyed by bombing. In addition, the park was in 1945 divided into two parts, which made its reconstruction very complicated. More than two thirds of the area fell to Poland and and the rest to Germany. The closer cooperation between those two parts started in the 90′s of the last century, while the reconstruction work is still being done.

Not only the life-work of Hermann von Pückler, but also the way how Muskau Park was created, greatly influenced the development of landscape architecture in Europe and America. This is why the park was in 2004 inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The park is now open for visitors every day from 10 to 18 hours, winter months excluded. The admission is free.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Kristian Dela Cour

Final finishing works were carried out under the guidance of architect Henry Hetzel. From 1529 until 1945 it served to the Protestants. It was destroyed during the World War II and then undergone extensive reconstruction, just like many other monuments in Poland. The interior of the church is furnished with a Gothic, manneristic and baroque furniture. You can see here also several memorial plaques of the leading local families.

This truly monstrous Gothic building has the shape of the cross and features a great nave and huge windows along the entire perimeter. You should visit it early in the morning when the sun is still low – it’s worth to wake up early!

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Maciej Kasprzyk

The first written mention of the Książ castle dates back to 1288. It was one of several defensive castles built by duke Bolek I “the Cruel”. In 1508 Książ castle fell into the hands of John von Haugwitz, who sold it to Conrad von Hochberg.

Książ castle was rebuilt many times, so it combines many architectural and artistic styles – including the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and eclectic elements. The most beautiful part of the castle is certainly Maximilian Hall, which was used for concerts and theater performances, and its interior served as a setting for several movies.

One of the most important and also the most tragic periods in the history of the castle was the time of the World War II. In 1941 Książ castle was occupied by the Nazis. All the valuable works of art, furniture and contents of the castle library where took by Nazis. Many underground corridors were built below the castle, which proves that Nazis prepared here one of the seats of the German dictator Adolph Hitler.

Książ castle combines the history of several nations and many people. In addition to the standard attributes of building castles like beautiful gates, bastions and towers, also hundreds of undiscovered secrets are waiting here for the visitors.

The castle is open daily except for Mondays from 10:00am to 3:00pm (extended in Summer and weekends). You can attend several routes, the basic admission is 20PLN (€5).

For further details visit the official website of Książ castle.

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Aquapark Zakopane offers lots of great water attractions. It is ideal for swimming as it offers a large 25 meters long swimming pool, with a depth between 130 and 150 cm and three swimming lanes. Another recreational pool has been created just for fun. It is equipped with water jets that provide a massage after which you can rest at the deckchairs around the pool.

But its major attraction is a large pool with geothermal water at a temperature of 30.5 °C. It is located on the terrace in front of the aquapark and from it you can enjoy views of the great snowy peaks of the High Tatras. Aquapark also have two water slides with a length of 167 and 106 meters. You can relax in one of the 6 types of whirlpools, where the temperature reaches 36 °C. For enjoying much more fun you can try “wild river”. Aquapark is suitable also for the youngest children and offers a smaller pool with a temperature of 33 °C.

If you get wet or tired at hiking throughout High Tatras, or after a cold day in winter skiing you surely enjoy several types of saunas (Finnish sauna – 96-100 °C, Bio sauna – 65 °C, salt sauna – 30-40 °C, or winter cabin – 10-15 °C). In addition, it has a steam bath and relaxation room.

There is also a modern bowling alley, which is open daily from 10.00 to 22.00. Aquapark Zakopane offers swimming courses and stays for children with defective posture. There are also several restaurants waiting for hungry visitors. Swimming pools at the water park is open from 9.00 to 22.00. Basic admission is 50,00 zł for the whole day.

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Aquapark Sopot has 25 meters long and 12.5 meters wide swimming pool. There is also a leisure pool with a water geyser in the middle of it, massage sofas, an artificial river and a cave with a waterfall. For the youngest children there is prepared a mini pool with a depth of 30-60 cm. You can enjoy a lot of fun in the form of water cannons, slides and animals. The water temperature reaches pleasant 31-34 °C.

Aquapark Sopot offers also an outdoor pool for seasonal recreational use, with a maximum depth of 130 cm. It is coloured and adapted for interactive games. For lovers of adrenaline and excitement there are 2 water slides, one with a length of 110 meters with many curves and a second, very fast, with a length of 70 meters. If you have never swim in the natural mountain streams you should try Wild River which is flowing at about 600 liters per second.

Aquapark offers also whirlpools with bubble massage with a water temperature of 34 °C. It is great for complete relaxation and cleaning the body. You can find here bars, steam, dry and Finnish saunas, a bowling hall, cosmetics and massage.

Aquapark Sopot is open daily from Monday to Sunday from 8.00 to 22.00 hours.

Admission to the complex Aquapark Sopot ranges from 20 zł /1 hour or 50 zł /whole day, children under 3 are admitted free. You can use a family and a student discount or discount for people with disabilities and visitors over 65 years.

For further details visit official website of Aquapark Sopot.

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It is worth to visit also Biale Skaly, which are 30m high white-colored rocks, or Skalne Grzyby, areas with high prevalence of these rock formations.

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