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| Places of interest: |
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 Wawel - a hill in Cracow, on the left bank of the Vistula River, where, among others, the royal castle and the cathedral are located. |
The Dragon’s Lair - a cave that may be reached from Wawel courtyard after going down the winding stairs. According to a legend, there was a dragon that lived in this cave, and the citizens of the town had to make the dragon offerings of people. To commemorate this story, an effigy of the dragon was made and located in front of the cave on the bank of the Vistula River. The Main Market Square - the biggest medieval market square in Europe. Lengths of its sides amount to 200 metres. Its outline was demarcated in 1257, and adjusted to the two already existing churches: St Mary’s Church and St Wojciech’s Church. |
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 “Sukiennice” - a building impossible not to notice while you are on the Market, because of it is situation in its centre. It had been a trading centre already in the 13th century; however, the Renaissance representative construction was built there only in the mid-16th century. There are many trading stalls downstairs, and the Painting Gallery upstairs. St Mary’s Church - most probably, it is the third church located at this place. Originally, a wooden temple was placed here, then on its site, a Gothic church was built, and after its demolition, the existing church came into existence. |
St Wojciech’s Church - a small church located modestly in the background of the Main Market Square. Most probably, it had existed already in the 11th century. Its interior is situated under the level of the Market, which perfectly reflects changes and overlaying of subsequent surfaces of the city centre. The exhibition “The History of the Cracow Market” is to be seen in the vaults. Barbican - once connected with the Florian Gate, next fragment of fortifications. Thickness of its walls reaches, in some places, over 3 metres. Nowadays, it houses the Historical Museum of the City of Cracow. The Czartoryscy Museum - the oldest museum in Poland has in its collection, among others, “Lady with an Ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci” and “Landscape with the Good Samaritan” by Rembrandt. Moreover, you can see there a rich collection of porcelain things, weapons, Roman sarcophaguses, and the medieval jewellery. |
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 The Florian Gate - constitutes remains after the 13th century fortifications, which formed a three kilometres long double wall. Nowadays, a street gallery of artists is organised at the gate. Floriańska Street - although its length amounts to only 335 metres, it is one of the most important streets of Cracow. It links the Main Market Square with the Florian Gate. Its route was planned out together with the Main Market Square. It was also given its name then. The name has not changed until now. Planty - a city park established at the beginning of the 19th century in place of the former fortifications that surrounded the town. Kanonicza Street - cobbled street leading to Wawel. You can see there buildings of late Gothic, Renaissance and Mannerism style. The street owes its name to the fact that, in the past, mainly canons, bishops, and priests lived there. Some of the houses have courtyards surrounded by the galleries; they have coat of arms and Latin mottos. |
The Wyspiański Museum - output of the artist have been gathered there. Artistic output is divided according to the domains the artist practiced. What you may see there are, among others, his paintings, manuscripts, interior ornaments, stained glass windows, and a theatrical costume designed for Helena Modrzejewska. Colegium Maius - the main and the oldest seat of the Jagiellonian University. The Courtyard is surrounded by arcades. It is worth to sit there for a while and feel the atmosphere of the place, and then, use the professorial stairs and see the Golden Portal. It is also possible to visit the museum. |
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 The Franciscan Church - inside the 13th-century church, a great altar made by Wyspiański "God the Father in the Act of Creation of the World" (“Bóg Ojciec stwarzający świat”) dominates above all. Apart from this, other stained glass windows and wall paintings of the artist may be seen there. The Dominican Church - a part of the complex that includes also the monastery. In the church, it is worth to pay attention to the bronze epitaph of the famous humanist Philippus Callimachus, made of bronze according to the project by Veit Stoss. The Small Market Square - a miniature of the Main Market Square. It is possible to see the St Mary’s Church from there, from a totally new perspective. It is worth to go to the small square between St Mary’s Church and St Barbara’s Church. In medieval times, it was the location of a cemetery, were dance parties were organised during the carnival time. |
Kazimierz - a district of the city established by King Kazimierz Wielki (Kazimierz the Great). It was a separate town for a long time. That is why there is a town hall Wolnica Square, the former town market square. It is worth to visit the Church of Corpus Christi – one of the biggest churches in Cracow and a number of places connected with Jewish culture, because Kazimierz was, in the past, the intellectual capital of the Polish society of Jews. You can see there: the High Synagogue, the Old Synagogue, and Remuh Synagogue and next to it, a 15th-century cemetery, and a building of ritual slaughter. Kościuszko Mound - one of four Cracow mounds built to commemorate historic figures. Kościuszko enjoyed the extraordinary recognition in Cracow. He was strongly connected with the city, and he was buried there. In 1820, the official building of the mound started. Many volunteers took part in it. The building lasted three years. As a result, an over 34 metres high mound was built. It is possible to go there from the city centre by bus line 100. |
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| In the area around Krakow: |
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Wieliczka Salt Mine - located a dozen or so kilometres south-east of the centre of Cracow, Wieliczka is famous, above all, for its salt mine – one of the most gladly visited tourist attraction in Poland. Underground passages are available to the visitors. They have a total length of 3.5 km and they are located at depth from 64 to 135 metres. Walking through the mine passages, you will see the temples sculpted in the salt and some underground lakes. Moreover, you may learn about the history of people doing the mining works. Auschwitz-Birkenau / the Death Camp in Oświęcim - located about 50 km west of the centre of Cracow, Oświęcim tragically became a part of the history of contemporary Europe. During World War II, a huge death camp complex was established there. The camps were the biggest place of extermination mostly of Jews, but also Poles, Romanies and citizens of other nationalities. Wadowice - a town located about 50 km to the south-west from Cracow. It is famous above all as a place of birth of Karola Wojtyła - Pope John Paul II. Following his footsteps, you may visit the church in which, he was christened and his family home which, currently, houses a museum. |
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