The Pieniny mountain range is divided into three parts - Pieniny Spiskie (Slovak: Spišské Pieniny) and Pieniny Właściwe (Slovak: Centrálne Pieniny) in Poland and Malé Pieniny (English: Lesser or Little Pieniny; Polish: Małe Pieniny) in Slovakia. The Pieniny mountains consist mainly of the limestone and dolomite rock strata. The most famous peak, Trzy Korony (Three Crowns), is 982 meters high. Pieniny's highest peak - Wysoka (Polish); Vysoké Skalky (Slovak) - reaches 1,050 meters above sea level.

The Dunajec River Gorge (Polish: Przełom Dunajca; Slovak: Prielom Dunajca; German: Dohnst-Schlucht) runs through the Pieniny Mountains in the south of Poland and the north of Slovakia (as Dunajec is the border river between the two countries in the area). The gorge is characterized by some of the most interesting geological and geomorphological structures and area-specific natural ecosystems with little anthropogenic influence. It is featured on UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in Poland.

Dunajec Gorge is also one of the best-known tourist attractions in the Pieniny Mountains. Wooden canoe trips have been organized daily by Goral highlanders since the early 19th century — when their customers consisted mostly of guests of nearby Niedzica and Czorsztyn castles. The trip begins in the village of Sromowce Kąty, and ends in the resort town of Szczawnica, 18 km downstream. It takes about 2-3 hours. The second leg of the tour is only 5 km long. It begins in Szczawnica and ends in the town of Krościenko. You can take the trip from Sromowce Kąty to Krościenko as well. The Gorge makes 7 loops in its length. The surrounding rock reaches 300 m in height almost all the way through.

The Gorge is part of a valley located within the Pieniny National Park. The landscape distinguishes it from surrounding mountains due to interaction of natural factors such as geological ground, relief, water, soil, climate, flora and fauna, and their evolutionary relationships. All these elements contribute to the complexity of the natural beauty of the whole area.

The conditions for the development of unique flora and fauna are closely related to the limestone and dolomite rock strata. Literally, the rock is the foundation for this one-of-a-kind environment. There is the occurrence of the Carpathians' plant and animal species, in many cases endemic. Their varied morphologic segmentation is responsible for the area's original and highly valuable aesthetic character.

From a botanical standpoint the Dunajec River Gorge serves as an example of area-specific vegetation dating back to the glacial age, even though the Pieniny Mountains were not glaciated. From a geographical standpoint it exists apart from the West Carpathians flora (Carpaticum occidentale) with their endemics and subendemics. From a zoological standpoint the Mesozoic valleys have an extraordinary importance for preservation of many species and fauna of the Carpathians. Enormous segmentation of the terrain results in high concentration of biodiversity in a relatively small area.

The Dunajec River Gorge represents the main stages of geological and geomorphological evolution of mountain terrain from the early Cenozoic era to the Quaternary period including tectonic movement, geological structure, petrographic composition and proportion of rocks.

The Dunajec River Gorge in the Pieniny Mountains

Poland (Europe and North America)

Date of Submission: 20/03/2006 Criteria: Category: Natural Submission prepared by:
Pieniny National Park, PolandMichal Sokolowski Coordinates: N 48° - 50°E 20° - 21° Ref.: 2102

Property encompasses valley located within the Pieniny National Park in the south of Poland. During the selection of representative sites defined location represents a unique and extremely interesting geological and geomorphological features and which is characterized by poor anthropogenic influence with preservation of specific natural ecosystems.

Evaluation of high level of ecological stability and high biodiversity of flora and fauna, preservation of relict phytocenoses and zoocenoses as well as high representation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna on the small territory served as the secondary criterion for the selection of sites.

Selected site represents the main stages of geological and geomorphological evolution of the existing territory in the period since the early cenozoic till quaternary. Geological structure, petrographic composition and proportion of rocks, tectonic movement as well as exogenetic factors created original territories, extremely valuable and rich in natural beauty.

The landscape of the Dunajec River Gorge has in contrary to the other types of country lot of specific features which distinguish it evidently from the other areas. Mainly, it is a strong interaction of all natural factors of the area (geological ground, relief, water, soil, climate, flora, fauna) and their evolutional relationships. These facts simply underline the complexity of natural conditions of the area in a whole and also in some individual details.

Limestone and dolomite ground, its shape and original evolution makes conditions for specific elements of flora and fauna which are by its existence linked to this environment. There is a typical occurrence of Carpathians plant and animal species, in many cases endemitic. With their varied morphologic segmentation they give the area original and highly valuable landscape and esthetical character.

From botanical point of view the Dunajec River Gorge serves as an example of the evolution of vegetation since glacial age to contemporary times (Pieniny was not glaciated). From phytogeographical point of view selected sites form the part of the West Carpathians flora (Carpaticum occidentale) with the occurrence of characteristic species and Carpathian endemics and subendemics. From zoological point of view the areas of mesozoic valleys have an extraordinary value for preservation of many zoologically important species and also for preservation of original and typical fauna of the Carpathians. Enormous segmentation of the terrain, heterogeneous and untouched communities cause exceedingly high biodiversity concentration in relatively small area.

• THE SALT MINE IN WIELICZKA is the only salt mine in Europe which has been a working mine for over 700 years! In 1978 it was put on the UNESCO's List of World Class Landmarks of Cultural and Natural Heritage. It is also listed among twelve the most fascinating places in the world.
  You can't avoid visiting this amazing place full of both nature and human works of art: beutiful stalagmites and stalactites made by the salty water but also huge chapels carved by the miners - amateurs.

• OJCOW NATIONAL PARK & PIESKOWA SKALA is a beautiful place perfect for a quiet day outside the city. It houses a castle in Pieskowa Skala with beautiful interiors and various exhibitions and also ruins of the Ojcow castle. Both of the castles are on the Eagle Nests' Route of fortresses once built to protect Polish lands.
  In the National Park there is also famous king Lokietek's cave which is believed to have been the hide out of the Polish king, Wladyslaw Lokietek, during complicated political times in Poland in the Middle Ages.

• WADOWICE - POPE'S BIRTHPLACE, the home town of John Paul II. A small town, where you can get in an hour from Krakow, houses a Museum of the Pope placed in His former house where He used to live with His family as a young boy. In this museum there are a lot of exhibits connected with Karol Wojtyla.
  On the nearby square you can visit the parish church John Paul II was very much connected with from His early years.
  On the way back from Wadowice you will also visit Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - a special place which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is called "Polish Jerusalem" and represents the Way of the Cross. John Paul II used to visit Kalwaria very often as a boy and until the end of His life He would go there every time it was possible - it was a special spiritual place for Him.
  

• DUNAJEC RIVER GORGE IN THE PIENINY MOUNTAINS. The Pieniny Mountains are one of the most beautiful places in Poland. The famous breathtaking Dunajec river gorge together with stunning architecture of castles, country houses and wooden churches is the highlight of Pieniny.
  First you will go rafting on Dunajec river. It takes 18 kilometres and 2 hours of admiring beautiful countryside and getting to know legends of Pieniny.
  The medieval castle in Niedzica is the next stop - a watchtower which was keeping in peace the unquiet Polish - Hungarian borderline. Then a visit to a beautiful 15th century wooden church in Debno Podhalanskie - the monument of the the highest possible Class "0", which interior contains many treasures definitely worth seeing.

• ZAKOPANE & THE TATRA MOUNTAINS. Zakopane, the capital of the Tatra Mountains, is, at the same time, a modern city and still a small mountain village, where it is not very difficult to spot a mountain man dressed traditionally in trousers, embroidered shirt, woollen waistcoat and leather shoes and it is even easier to hear the mountain dialect. It is so because tradition in the Tatras is stronger than anywhere else.
  The trip includes a few stops during which you will visit: the Open Air Museum in Zubrzyca Gorna, Chocholow - a typical mountain village and Zakopane where, among others, a church and cemetery in Peksowy Brzyzek, the museum of "zakopane style" in Koliba and the panorama of the mountains are waiting for you.
  

The Salt Mine in Wieliczka

Wieliczka is very often called “The Salt Treasury” but there is nothing surprising in it because, since the oldest times, salt was the source of wealth and prestige to the region.

The rocks of salt which were created about 18 million years ago in a shallow sea that was covering what is today Little Poland, due to tectonic movements, got on very deep levels under the ground.
In Middle Ages people learnt how to mine the salt at great scale and created many salt mines on today's Little Poland territory. Wieliczka became a “pearl” among them.
Legend has it that this mine was a wedding gift of the Hungarian Princess Kinga to the Polish king Bolesław Wstydliwy.
It brought a lot of wealth and splendour to Little Poland.

Wieliczka Salt Mine is the only one in Europe which has been a working mine for over 700 years!
In 1978 it was put on the UNESCO's List of World Class Landmarks of Cultural and Natural Heritage. It is also listed among twelve the most fascinating places in the world.

Some parts of the mine were made tourist attraction to show its treasures to people.
Walking along corridors from one chamber to another, we can see both nature and human works of art: beautiful stalagmites and stalactites made by the salty water but also huge chapels carved by the miners - amateurs.
One of the most beautiful examples of the salt sculpture is the chapel of Blessed Kinga, the patron saint of miners, where we can admire relieves showing scenes from the Bible like: “The Flight into Egypt”, “The Last Supper” or “The Wedding at Cana”. On the ceiling of the chapel there are amazing huge chandeliers made of salt crystals.

One of the great attractions, that tourists can admire, are three underground salt lakes. One of them is 7metres deep.

Sings of the old mine art, wooden structures, machines and miners' equipment which are a few hundred years old, as well as lightning equipment and the results of the archaeological and geological excavations can all be found during the underground tour which is a part of the Krakow's Salt Mine Museum.

In this mine there is also very specific microclimate which is helpful especially for people who suffer from asthma and other chest diseases.
From time to time special stays are organized in the mine for people who try to cure themselves.

The Salt Mine in Wieliczka is a secret underground world, a labyrinth of chambers, corridors, sidewalks. It's a symbol of pride, power and the enormous work of miners who loved this place.

The Salt Mine in Wieliczka, since the oldest times, has been an admired, interesting place. A lot of famous people decided to get under the ground in order to see the “salty pearl”.
Among the prominent guests of the mine are: Nicholas Copernicus, the author of the Heliocentric Theory who visited the mine a few times, great German poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe, famous geographer Aleksander Humboldt, composer Fryderyk Chopin, writers Henryk Sienkiewicz, Maria Konopnicka, the author of modern chemistry Dmitri Mendelejew, French actress Sara Bernhardt and Pope John Paul II.

Also you can join this outstanding group of famous people.

 

Retracing the footsteps of Pope John Paul II

What you should know

• Wadowice - this is the home town of John Paul II. Here you can see his former house where now there is a museum. In this museum there are a lot of exibits connected with the Pope.
  On the nearby square you can visit the parish church the Pope was very much connected with from His early years.
  Before leaving Wadowice stop for coffee and the famous "pope's cream cake".

• Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - a special place which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is so called "Polish Jerusalem" and it represents the Way of the Cross.
  John Paul II was visiting Kalwaria very often as a boy and until the end of His life He would come here every time it was possible - it was a special spiritual place for Him.

• Lanckorona - a small town which is very close to Kalwaria. There is a charming little square there with old characteristic houses. In Lanckorona there are also ruins of a medieval castle.

Wadowice is rather a small town as far as its area and the population are concerned but it is definitely special because the Pole most known in the world, Great Man, the pope John Paul II came from Wadowice.

His real name was Karol Wojtyla. He was born on the 18th May 1920. He was brought up in Wadowice, went to school there but also went through one of the greatest tragedies of his life: his mother's death and soon after also his brother's death. It was also here that he decided to devote his life to God. From that moment on he bonded his life with Krakow what led him to Vatican.

In Wadowice there is still the house of the Pope where a small museum was opened. There are quite a few memories, things which used to belong to Karol Wojtyla that are now shown to people who, especially after his death, come to Wadowice to see the place this Great Man came from.

In the Main Square there is a parish church where Karol Wojtyla was baptized.

While being in Wadowice it is impossible not to taste the famous cream cakes John Paul II mentioned during one of his pilgrimages to Poland, while remembering his high school finals.

Not very far away from Wadowice, half way between Krakow and the pope's city, there is Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - a special place put on the UNESCO List in 1999.

This place is very much connected with John Paul II because he used to come here first as a boy with his father, then as a priest, bishop, cardinal and finally as Pope.


Kalwaria Zebrzydowska was founded at the beginning of the 17th century. It was created in a way to remind the Christ's way of the Cross in Jerusalem. This is a private foundation of Mikolaj Zebrzydowski. From the very beginning of its existence it has belonged to Bernardine Order.

Similar sanctuaries were created all over Europe because at that time the Holy Land was occupied by Muslims who made it impossible for the Christians to travel to the Holy Land and visit places in Jerusalem.

Kalwaria was built between hills and the chapels situated in such a way which would easily remind the real Way of the Cross in Jerusalem.

A very famous event takes place in Kalwaria every year just before Easter, during the Holy Week. It is the Passion Play in which students of theology but also other people, citizens of Kalwaria. The Passion Play starts on Palm Sunday when Christ's entry into Jerusalem is shown and then on Holy Wednesday, Thursday and the Crucifixion on Good Friday, certain scenes and processions of the Passion Play take place.

A lot of Catholics come to take part in this Passion Play to get ready for the Easter. But not only them - it is watched by people of all the other religions because it is a beautiful theatre played outside, where actors - amateurs are dressed in traditional clothes, use traditional texts and above all the Passion Play has been presented in Kalwaria since the 17th century without any breaks.

Absolutely recommended.

The Pieniny Mountains and Dunajec River Gorge

What you should know

• Dunajec river gorge - the rafting lasts about 2 hours. It is 18 kilometres long. It starts in Sromowce Wyzne - Katy and ends in Szczawnica.

• a visit to a medieval castle in Niedzica - a watchtower which was keeping in peace the unquiet Polish-Hungarian borderline.
  In the castle there is also an exhibition showing the culture of Spisz.

• a visit in a beautifu 15th c. wooden church in Debno Podhalanskie which interior contains many treasures definitely worth seeing.

 A trip to the Pieniny mountains takes the whole day.  

RAFTING ON THE DUNAJEC RIVER IS CLOSED BETWEEN 1st NOVEMBER AND 31st MARCH

 

Who wouldn't like to sit down comfortably in a little boat and let the beauty of Pieniny hold your attention forever. It is possible because Dunajec River Gorge is one of the most interesting attractions of Pieniny, breathtaking for both children and adults.

The boats have only slightly changed over the years. The boatmen dressed in colourful , locally made, characteristic waistcoats, still tell beautiful stories, legends and ask people riddles. Because of that, the atmosphere on the boat is wonderful and amazing views, constantly changing in front of our eyes, make us remember this experience for ever. And even though the clothes are moist and the shoes wet sometimes, you feel like coming back here and experiencing the meeting with Dunajec River and the Pieniny Mountains again.

But not only Dunajec River Gorge is worth seeing in Pieniny. A beautiful architecture of castles, country houses and wooden churches are as well the highlights of Pieniny.

It's enough to visit Niedzica castle to fall in love with it. It is situated on a hill, overlooking a huge lake of Czorsztyn. From the very beginning of its existence it used to be a watchtower for Hungary, keeping in peace the unquiet Polish-
Hungarian borderline. It was built by a wealthy Hungarian Berzevicsy family at the beginning of the 14th century and stayed in Hungarian possession until 1945 (even though these lands became Poland in 1920).
There is an exhibition in the castle showing the culture of Spisz, which has always been a border area where mainly Polish and Hungarian but also German and Slovakian influences mixed together.

There is also a romantic story connected with the castle. It is told that the historical treasure of South American Incan Indians was hidden in the castle. It is because one member of the Berzevicsy family, Sebastian, who lived in Peru for some time, married an Inkan woman from the Royal Dynasty. Their daughter also married one of the last male Royal Members and when he was killed, Sebastian escaped from Peru together with his daughter, her son and the key to the treasure, unfortunately preserved only in the kipu - Inca's language.
You can believe in such stories or not but one thing is sure - they add some magic to the castle's history also because of the fact that the puzzle of the Inca's treasure has not been revealed up untill now.

Standing on the courtyard of the castle, overlooking Czorsztyn Lake we can see in the distance the ruins of another castle which, in contrast to Niedzica, for centuries used to guard the southern borders of Poland. This is Czorsztyn Castle. The name of the lake derives from the name of this castle. The castle was situated along the main trade track between Little Poland and Hungary. This created its strategic position because the castle was along the fortification system of the Dunajec River Valley. Unfortunately, it was not as lucky as Niedzica. Only ruins survived to our times. For the last few years though, it has been used as a tourist attraction.

While spending your time in Pieniny it's impossible to miss one of the most beautiful examples of wooden architecture - the church in Debno Podhalanskie built in the 15th century without a single nail. Certain parts of the church were put together using wooden elements.
Inside the church one can find a beautiful polychrome which colours are still vivid despite the time passing away. And there is one more curious phenomenon about the church in Debno - the glock made in the 15th century. The interesting thing about this musical instrument is that its thinner bars produce high notes and the thicker ones low notes which seems to be against the rules of physics.

Let the Pieniny Mountains uncover their charm to you. These mountains are really worth devoting them some of your time to.

 

The Tatra Mountains and Zakopane

What you should know

A trip to the Tatra Mountains consists of a few parts:

• sightseeing of the Open Air Museum in Zubrzyca Gorna

• a visit in Chocholow - a village where people still live in old wooden houses.

• sightseeing of Zakopane (among others: church and cemetery in Peksowy Brzyzek, the Tatra's Museum, the panorama of Zakopane from Gubalowka mountain, a walk in Krupowki - the main promenade of Zakopane).

 

Zakopane - the capital of the Tatra Mountains, the most beautiful, majestic mountains, is itself a magnificent place where you come back again and again, trying to discover its beauty. It's because the charm and fascination for the mountains never ends.

Zakopane is, at the same time, a modern city and still a small mountain village, where it is not very difficult to spot a mountain man dressed traditionally in trousers, embroidered shirt, woollen waistcoat and leather shoes and it is even easier to hear the mountain dialect. It is so because tradition here is stronger than anywhere else.

The oldest part of Zakopane is Koscieliska Street, which is known as a preserved area of the mountain architecture. Every few steps we pop into an old house which has been kept unchanged for many, many years.
It's important not to mix them with houses built in so called “Zakopianski Style”, which was created by Stanislaw Witkiewicz at the end of the 19th century.
The most beautiful examples of the “Zakopianski Style” are villa “Koliba”, villa “Pod Jedlami” or wooden chapel at Jaszczurowka.

Nowadays, the heart of Zakopane is in Krupowki which is the main promenade of the city. It is rather commercialised, colourful and always full of people.

But not very far away from the main street, there is a place where you can relax from the noise of the city and in peace learn some of the history of Zakopane. This place is an old wooden church built over a century and a half ago by the mountain men and also the graveyard on Peksowy Brzyzek, where all the people who loved the mountains, came from here or gave their lives for the mountains are buried.
Among them, are: Tytus Chalubinski, the professor of medicine, a man merited to Zakopane, Jan Krzeptowski Sabala known as “Homer of the Tatras”, musician, chatter, Kornel Makuszynski, writer, Stanislaw Witkiewicz, writer, painter but first of all the creator of “Zakopianski Style”, Bronislaw Czech, legendary skier and winner of the Olympic Games but also more and more of them. It is difficult to mention them all here.

In order to see the beauty of the Tatras which they loved so much, you can climb up Gubalowka (or get there by the narrow gauge cable railway). There is a wonderful panorama of the mountains there, which makes you feel closer to the beauty of nature than you actually are.
You can also get into one of the mountain tracks and walk through the woods, mountain meadows or admire amazing lakes, caves, streams, waterfalls - each of them has its own fans, painters, poets and legends.


In comparison to other mountain chains, the Tatras are the miniature of the high mountains. But this has its good sides because the Tatras reveal their beauty suddenly and unexpectedly.

Everyone who likes tracking will find here something for themselves.
The difficulty of certain tracks is different. You can choose between a nice walk along a valley, which will not make you feel very tired or a difficult way through the highest parts of the Tatras.
For those who can't walk the mountains we also have a solution. You can take a cable railway up to Kasprowy Wierch, have tea in a mountain shelter which is on top and admire the Tatras in this way.

Zakopane is also the winter capital of the Tatra Mountains and the Tatras - one of the European centres of ski sports and speleology.
Every year on Wielka Krokwia, the highest ski-jump in Zakopane, one of the Ski World Cup contest takes place. It gathers crowds of people.
People who visit museums, like the Tatras' Museum where you can learn about Tatras' history, ethnography and nature, the Gallery of Wladyslaw Hasior, famous sculptor, the Memory Museum of Bronislaw Czech or the Museum of “Zakopianski Style”.
There are also many people who come to Zakopane for the International Festival of the Mountain Folklore - famous cultural festival held in Zakopane, during which competitors from Europe, Africa, Asia and South America have fun together.

While being in Zakopane you can't miss to taste “oscypek”, a kind of smoked cheese prepared by the mountain men in an old traditional way. “Oscypek” is easy to find everywhere in Zakopane.

Mountains - beautiful but commanding respect, enormous and majestic. The Tatras are like this.

Visit this special place and your wonderful memories will stay with you forever.

The Old City in Kraków

 What you should know

• Matejko's Square - the centre of the former Kleparz town;

• remainings of Krakow's defence walls. Among others: St. Florian's Gate and the Barbacan;

• walk along Florianska street;

• The Main Market Square: St. Mary's Church, the Clothhall, the former townhall's tower;

• Jagiellonian University: Collegium Maius, Collegium Novum;

• All Saints' Square: the Townhall, Franciscans' Church, Dominicans' Church;

• walk along Grodzka street: St. Paul and Peter's church and St. Andrew's church, the history of the prechartered settlement called Okół;

• walk along Kanonicza street;

• Wawel Hill and the Royal Catheral;

Krakow is a city full of mysteries where the history is mixed with legends.
High above us we can see majestic church towers or houses, wealthy once, and behind the corners we can spot characters known from legends.

Walking along the Royal Way we enter the biggest medieval square in Europe. It's here that you can hear the famous bugle call played every hour from the highest tower of Saint Mary's Church.
From the town hall tower you can admire a breathtaking view of Krakow, both the medieval and the modern one and in the Cloth Hall, trade centre of medieval Krakow, crowds of people nowadays buy presents for their family and friends, choosing from typical Polish goods: amber, crystal, hand-made embroidered table-clothes, napkins, shawls or bedding.

From the distance you can see majestic Royal Castle and Royal Cathedral at Wawel Hill. They went through numerous historical storms and survived both enemies and time distractions. Right here at Wawel Castle there was the world famous royal collection of Tapestries, a part of which can still be admired in the Royal Chambers.
In Krakow we can also see masterpieces of other artists known all over the world, like “The Lady with an Ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci or “Landscape with Merciful Samaritan” by Rembrandt.

Krakow is also a city of education. The famous Jagiellonian University and its students known all over the world like Nicholas Copernicus and John Paul II, attract crowds of young people who come to study here.
Thanks to them Krakow shows another wonderful face - the face of entertainment and fun in numerous pubs and restaurants. Most of them are situated in beautiful medieval cellars of historic buildings. This makes an unforgettable atmosphere.

Krakow is not only monuments along the Royal Way. It's also or rather to say, above all, people, their cordiality and open attitude towards visitors. This makes the atmosphere in Krakow so special.
In Krakow the history mixes up with legends. They are combined with each other.

Once you see Krakow for the first time, it is guaranteed that you will be back here sooner or later to discover its beauty once again.
This the beauty that has been noticed by experts who entered Krakow, together with Kazimierz and Podgorze, into the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 1978.

We could go on writing about Krakow but words cannot express its charm properly.
The best way to feel it is to come here personally and enjoy the atmosphere.

The Jewish Quarter in Kazimierz and the Ghetto in Podgórze

What you should know

• the Remuh Synagogue (the only synagogue still used for services);

• the Remuh Cemetery (where a lot of important people are burried. Among them: rabbie Moses Isserles and kabalist Natan Spira);

• a walk along Szeroka street where there are: the Popper Synagogue and the Old Synagogue;

• the Isaac Synagogue;

• the Tempel Synagogue;

• the New Square;

• the courtyard at 12 Jozefa street;

• the former pharmacy of Tadeusz Pankiewicz - now: the Museum of the Ghetto;

• the factory of Oscar Schindler;

• the site of the former concentration camp in Plaszow;

 

Wandering around Krakow it's impossible to skip Kazimierz. In the old times it used to be a separate town, located on the other bank of the non-existing nowadays Vistula's tributary. It was supposed to be the contradistinction to Krakow. Kazimierz is now a part of Krakow.

For many years of the contemporary history, Kazimierz seemed to have been forgotten, left alone. Nowadays it is full of life again but this life is so different now.
It's worth getting to know the former face of Kazimierz, which became the inspiration for its today's Renaissance.

For many centuries of its existence Kazimierz was naturally divided into two parts: the Jewish Quarter and the Christian Part. And it's because of its Jewish face that Kazimierz flourishes nowadays so much.

Szeroka Street has always been the heart of the Jewish Quarter. This hasn't changed because on Szeroka Street and its neighbourhood we can find everything we should know to feel the character of this place that is passing away slowly.
We can still see little rocks covering matzevas of the former citizens of Krakow or feel the atmosphere of the services which are still held regularly in the Remuh Synagogue.
It's also impossible to miss the Old Synagogue where the exhibition about Jewish Culture is organized. It's a nice exhibition which makes clear certain aspects of Jewish culture even to people who know nothing about it or at least very little.

All the other synagogues are also open to the public. Each one is different but all of them fascinate with their interiors, most of them with their simplicity, others with richness and beautiful decoration.

Walking around Kazimierz it is easy to refresh our memory and recognize places in which certain scenes from “Schindler's List” were shot.
Steven Spielberg found here an ideal place to make his movie, because Kazimierz was like a real scene which did not have to be built. It is recommended to visit this part of Krakow because it is changing very quickly and the newly restored buildings less and less remind us of the ones that “played” their role in “Schindler's List”.

Kazimierz is also another famous scene on which, every year, at the end of June and the beginning of July, for many years, the International Festival of Jewish Culture has been taking place.
The atmosphere of the festival cannot be compared to anything else. But it's easy to see how much people who take part in the festival are into it. How carefully they cut the Jewish cut-outs, get to know secrets of Jewish cuisine or practice Yiddish language. And the final concert which takes place on Szeroka Street on the last day of the festival seems to show that something like religious intolerance does not exist in the world.

Every day we can look for the spirit of Kazimierz, not only the Jewish one but the Christian one as well.
For centuries, in the close neighbourhood of the Jewish Quarter, the Christian life was passing by at its own measure. The inhabitants of both parts used to live in peace for most of the time. The best proof of their co-existence is two streets: Rabbi Meisels and Corpus Christi which still cross each other.

The Christian part of Kazimierz, much bigger and also having an interesting history, seems to be left alone nowadays. It's remembered mainly during big Christian feasts like the procession from Wawel Hill to Skałka in honour of Saint Stanislav, the patron saint of Poland, who was killed in Skałka when conducting the Holy Mass or during the Corpus Christi procession.

But we have to remember that the Christian Part of Kazimierz is also known for its main square, called Wolnica, with a beautiful town hall in which the Ethnographic Museum is situated. There are also a big number of churches like the one in Skałka, where, apart from Saint Stanislav's cult, people also pay homage to great Polish artists buried there in the Crypt of Merit.

Nowadays Christian Kazimierz seems to be still waiting for its chance to develop just like the former Jewish Quarter.

Many restaurants and cafes also create the charm of Kazimierz. They offer a minute to relax before visiting another part of the tour which is very difficult emotionally since it is connected with this period in history when hatred and intolerance were dominant in the world - with the Second World War.

On the other bank of the Vistula River in Podgórze the Nazis organized the ghetto, where the Jews of Kraków were forced to live.
It is important to visit the Museum of the Ghetto which is situated in the former pharmacy “Under the Eagle” owned during the war by Tadeusz Pankiewicz. He was a Pole, the only non-Jewish inhabitant of the ghetto who was helping the others as much as he could. Every day he would risk his life in order to help people who were forced to live in horrible conditions of the ghetto.
It is also possible to see two fragments of the wall which surrounded the area of the ghetto and Schindler's factory, located nearby.

But we can't associate Podgórze only with World War II and the tragedy that happened there.
Podgórze is a special city, full of un-revealed mysteries and not very well known even by the citizens of Krakow. It's enough to mention the Krakus Mound which is the witness to the pagan history of Poland, to make this place sound very interesting. There is also a nice city park known under the name of Bednarski or Saint Joseph's Church in Rynek Podgórski, which is a beautiful example of the neo-gothic style of the 19th century.
It's also impossible to forget about the Sanctuary of Mercy in Łagiewniki which was consecrated by Pope John Paul II.

The magical atmosphere of Kazimierz and Podgórze should not be overlooked. We will show you how to find it.

 

The Ideal Town - Nowa Huta

Howa Huta is now the part of Krakow but it was supposed to be a separate town - an ideal town built according to the socialist ideas.

It was supposed to be the contradistinction to Krakow. It was built by simple workers who, at the same time, were building both the steal mill and the blocks of flats.

The works started right after the second world war.

On the 23rd June 1949 the people started building the first block of flat and less than a year later, on the 26th April 1950, the construction of the steal mill begun.

For the citizens of Krakow Nowa Huta has always been the visible sign of communism and that's why for many years they treated it with contempt. 
Today they discover with surprise that Nowa Huta is a perfectly designed town full of mysteries.

When you look at Nowa Huta from the bird's eye view it is easy to figure out that it looks like sun: in the middle you can find Central Square and the streets which start at this square are the sun's rays.

Separate housing estates of Nowa Huta look like bastions when you give them a better look. They are built in a way that it is enough to block the entrances leading to the courtyards and you can defend yourself as in a barbacan.
This was the result of the political situation in Europe at that time.

But the housing estates of Nowa Huta until today are very pleasant places. They are full of trees and flowers and very spacious - they were designed in a special way and they recall renaissance and baroque forms.

It is important to distinguish the city of Nowa Huta from its citizens. The city was supposed to be atheistic - in contrary - its citizens were very very religious. They would stand up and fight for the cross even if it meant to be against the communist government.

The history of Nowa Huta it is not only the steal mill which would produce the record quantity of steal, the government was very proud of, but it is also the fighting of the citizens of Nowa Huta for their own identity an for freedom.

This stand up against the government started when people wanted to build churches in Nowa Huta and the government would not let them do that.
For simple people, the citizens of Nowa Huta, who would mostly come from small villages, it was a natural thing to have a church built - in contrary - for the government Nowa Huta was supposed to be the ideal city which would mean, first of all, "without God".
The government even wanted to convince people to celebrate traditions which would have their origins in the pagan history of Poland. In this way they wanted to make people forget about faith and God. It was not very succesfull as one can learn from the Polish history.

Over the years Nowa Huta became also the "bastion of Solidarity". This fact can be another proof that the communist government and the citizens of Nowa Huta had completely different ideas about this place.

It is here, in the church in Mistrzejowice, that the famous "Thursday Masses in the intention of the Country" were taking place. They were conducted by priests: Kazimierz Jancarz and Tadeusz Zalewski and they would gather crowds of people.

It is also here that the Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who later became Pope John Paul II, would stand up against the communist government. Among others, thanks to the Cardinal, the citizens managed to build the first church in Nowa Huta - the Ark in Bienczyce.

But Nowa Huta these are not only times after the second world war.

The city and the steal mill was built on the lands belonging to the village called Mogila. In this village you can still find the church and the monastery built by the Cystersian order who came here at the beginnig of the 13th century.
This church and the monastery are among the most precious monuments in Malopolska.

Right next to the Cystersian church there is a beautiful example of the wooden architecture in Poland. It is the church of St. Bartlomiej which was built in the 15th century.

In Nowa Huta we can also find a museum which is connected with Jan Matejko. He was one of the greatest Polish historical painters. The painter had his country house here where he liked to relax and also his atelier where he used to paint quite a lot.

It is easy to see that Nowa Huta is an unusual part of Krakow which invites you to get to know its history - so changeable and unpredictible. It became a big industrial and well designed city out of a small village.

The feeling of dislike is now passing away - more and more people start to admire Nowa Huta now.

Everyone has to discover for themselves that Nowa Huta has a lot to offer - without doubt it played an important role in changes that happened in the whole Poland.

That's why it should be on top places on the lists of places which are worth visiting.

We invite you to discover Nowa Huta and to help us change bad stereotypes which "hurt" this part of Krakow.

Book your trips at http://www.memoria.travel.pl/

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