Krakow: sightseeing. What to see in Krakow

Krakow ... The sights of this city, perhaps, are known to every modern person. And even if for some reason it was not possible to visit him personally, it's simply impossible not to pay attention to the numerous postcards and booklets with the views of this amazing place.

General description of the former Polish capital

The question of what to see in Krakow disappears, it is only to find its streets. So I want to say: "What to see?" "Everything! In fact, everything! Every corner!"

The city is one of the oldest in Poland. Therefore, the museums of Krakow are interesting not only to local residents, but also to travelers who want to get to know this amazing country better.

In the 11th and 16th centuries, it was here that the capital and residence of monarchs were located. In this city, coronations and burials of kings were held. The history of the region was long and interesting. Knowingly experts consider the city the heart of the whole state.

Ancient Krakow ... Sightseeing as a modest, local, and widely known, bear the traces of the works of the great masters of the past centuries. Here you can find and Baroque, and Renaissance, and Art Nouveau.

Despite the numerous wars, for its long existence the city was not severely destroyed and therefore preserved monuments of architecture, fortifications, narrow streets. In them all the charm and mystery of the past centuries. The castle in Krakow, by the way, has also remained virtually untouched since its construction.

And in general, if to be completely frank, the city attracts tourists not only with beautiful architecture, but also with a variety of cultural events and entertainment programs.

National pride of Poland

Not everyone knows that in 1978 the Old Krakow city was added by UNESCO to the list of the most valuable monuments of world heritage, because it preserved a large number of architectural monuments. So there is something to see here.

Experienced travelers note that the sights of Krakow on the map can be found at all. However, one should take into account the fact that it is better to purchase a bilingual scheme in the city - in Polish and in English. Otherwise, you will simply get confused by reading and comparing the names of streets, squares and parks.

A short guide to the ancient city

They say that Krakow shows its attractions willingly and even with some pleasure. Here, in almost any weather, you can make stunning shots, since light, as professional photographers believe, is simply ideal. The climate allows for long walks. Neither exhausting heat nor penetrating cold to tourists, as a rule, does not threaten tourists.

Look around. You see, on the left bank of the Vistula the hill, on which there is a castle, rises? From this place, perhaps, it is worth starting to get acquainted with the city. By the way, in the premises of this ancient shelter of Polish rulers there are still rich collections of works of art and tapestries.

It should be noted that in the cathedral, standing nearby, there were coronations, burial places of kings and outstanding cultural figures and statesmen. It is considered a treasury of Polish culture.

Surprising and unique Poland ... Krakow, whose attractions are, mainly in the center of the Old City, perhaps, it is difficult to compare with another city on Polish soil.

Kraków today

Every hour on the central square the trumpeter performs the so-called "geynal", which suddenly breaks off in memory of the musician who died during the siege of Krakow by the troops of the Tatars.

In the center of the market there is a building of the oldest trading rows - Sukennice. In it it is possible to get various souvenirs.

On the market square, festive performances, festivals and concerts are organized. Immediately there is a huge number of cafes and restaurants, cabarets, theaters and galleries.

The city has its own emblem - these are dachshunds and peacocks. Throughout the city you can see wooden, glass, painted and live dachshunds.

If a locality in Poland is still able to surprise a modern and sufficiently sophisticated traveler, it's Krakow. Attractions are enthralled from the very first minute and remain in your memory for a long time.

The majestic Wawel Castle

The building was built by order of Casimir the Great. Initially it was Gothic, but after the fire that happened in 1499, King Alexander and his brother Sigmund Old restored it in the Renaissance style.

Wawel Castle is a fine example of the Italian Renaissance style. The courtyard is surrounded by a triple garland of galleries, separated by pillars, arches and balustrades. The columns of the two lower tiers smoothly pass into the vaults, and the more subtle constructions of the upper support the canopy. The walls of the galleries are decorated with fragments of paintings from the 16th century.

Museum "Galicia" - a place that can not be forgotten

The exposition "Galicia" in Krakow is dedicated to Jewish culture. It is located in the Kazimierz quarter, where Jews used to live. Its founders are British photojournalist Chris Schwartz and professor Jonathan Weber.

The main languages of the museum are Polish and English. Annually the institution visits about 30 000 visitors.

The main exhibition is called "Traces of Memory". It is dedicated to the flowering of Jewish culture in Southern Poland. For 12 years, Weber and Schwartz collected photos of synagogues, cemeteries and various objects of Jewish life.

The museum consists of 5 departments, which give an idea of the different stages of the past Jewish people. In 2008, the exhibition "Polish Heroes" was opened, in which you can learn about the righteous people of the world.

Aquapark - summer all year round

Note that this is the largest park of this kind in Eastern Europe. In total there are 8 roller coasters in it. The longest slide is a black pipe. It has a length of 201 m, a height of 18.5 m and an electronic illumination.

In the water park there are hydromassages, fountains, jacuzzi, grottos, rumbling river, geysers and climbing walls. The total area of the basins is 1586 sq. M. There is also a gym, a solarium, a fitness club, saunas, cafes, restaurants, bars, beauty salons.

And again her majesty the Gothic - the Cathedral of St. Mary

It was built in 1397 in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It is the main cathedral in the city. It has two towers: one is decorated with a high spire in the Gothic style, and the other is a low helmet in the Renaissance style.

Inside, it is richly decorated with sculptures, works of art and stained glass windows. The most important treasure of the Cathedral of Mary is the main altar performed by Vitus Stvos in the second half of the 15th century. This polyptych, carved from lime, is a recognized masterpiece of the Gothic era with elements of the Renaissance.

History of the Benedictine Monastery

It is located near the Polish town of Tynz, 13 km from Kraków. The monastery stands on the right bank of the Vistula, on a limestone cliff. It was built in 1044 by the order of Casimir I. The first abbot of the abbey Aaron contributed to the reform of the church structure in Poland. Later, additional monastic buildings were built. This monastery has become one of the largest and richest monasteries in Poland.

In the 12th and 13th centuries Tatars and Czechs raided the abbey. In the following centuries, it was repeatedly reconstructed: first in the Gothic style, then - in baroque and rococo. In the 16th century the abbey succeeded in economic and cultural spheres.

In 1816, it was closed for some time after the war between France and Russia. The abbey was also badly damaged after the Second World War. In 1947 the reconstruction works began.

Former main shopping street of Krakow

Grodskaya Street stretches from the Market Square in a southerly direction. Once upon a time, it was a segment of the trade route. Its name is found in city documents from the 13th century.

On this street you can walk to the most important attractions of Krakow: the squares of All Saints and the Dominican, the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

Until 1850, Grodskaya Street was narrow, which caused difficulties for traffic, but after the fire it was significantly expanded. Many of the houses that stand on it have historical significance.

Tips for tourists

• In cafes and restaurants in Poland it is customary to leave a tip at the rate of 10% of the order, but in Krakow it is not shameful to leave less.
• Students are advised to take care of the availability of an international student ID of ISIC. With this certificate, you can get a 50% discount on tickets to all museums in the city.
• Basically, all hotels in Krakow are quite expensive, finding cheap is difficult. The average cost of a single room in a hotel is about $ 40, the most budgetary option is $ 25. During summer student holidays, many hostels work as hotels. The cost of the room in the hostel will be $ 4.5-18, but the amenities here are minimal (shower for 2-3 rooms, kitchen for 1-2 floors).
• Currency exchange points here are called Kantorwymianywalut. Near each item is a list of accepted currencies. In such offices, changing money is more profitable, since banks charge a certain percentage for exchange. However, it should be borne in mind that they do not accept the currency of the CIS countries.
• It should be noted that it is forbidden to smoke on railway platforms. For violation of the ban, a policeman without a warning will write a fine.
• How beautiful Krakow is! The photo "Sights of the city" forever becomes an ornament of any family archive. However, you should know about some shooting moments. Polish police do not like to be photographed while in the service. In order not to run into trouble, you should ask permission from them. Although if the policeman accidentally gets into the frame, it's okay.
• Usually in museums, photo and video shooting is required to purchase individual tickets. Some churches also need to pay for the right to take photographs. Pay attention to the prohibitory signs, as in some temples you can take pictures, but only without a flash.