Things to see and do Little Poland

A ruin with romantic silhouette in a bucolic landscape. This castle was built by Casimir the Great in the th century, probably on an ancient wooden construction. A legend speaks of a beautiful treasure hidden by the knights… today, it remains the ruins of the residential part and a fragment of the tower. The castle underwent numerous destruction, the last in 1657 is due to the Swedes. He was in a state such as Jan II Sobieski, during his visit to the castle in 1683, had to sleep under a tent.

When it was set up in October 1941, Majdanek was a labor camp, controlled by the SS, in which Polish and Russian prisoners of war and Jews worked in armaments factories. From April 1942, it became an extermination camp. From 1942 until July 1943, when the Red Army liberated the camp, over 350,000 people were killed here, including 100,000 Jews. Today, this grim site is home to a highly impressive reconstructed camp. Admission is free, but under 14s are not permitted.

This magnificent baroque building, built between 1637 and 1641, now houses the National Museum (Muzeum narodowe). A visit to the museum is a good excuse to see the interiors with their polychrome-covered ceilings and walls, which are just as beautiful as the exterior façade. The museum contains one of the richest galleries of Polish paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, paintings, furniture and gobelins from the 17th and 18th centuries. You can also see the shrine of Marshal Piłsudski here.

Entering Guciów Farm is like taking a trip back in time. In an idyllic setting, in the middle of the countryside, this charming old farmhouse consists of wooden buildings from the 18th century, in the traditional style of the region, with thatched roofs. There is an ethnographic museum with traditional tools of the region, minerals and fossils. One of the buildings has been converted into a tavern where you can taste traditional Polish home cooking, which is simply exquisite and prepared in the old-fashioned way on the stove. The farm also offers old-fashioned guest rooms (170 zl per double room, including breakfast), with a shared fireplace and bathroom, or it is possible to rent an independent house. The hosts also offer various activities: mineral searches, excursions in the surroundings, concerts, musical activities, parties. In the village, there are many activities: weaving workshops and artisanal pottery workshops where each time the participants have the possibility to make their own masterpiece that they can take home as a souvenir; butter and artisanal bread workshops (especially for children). In short, it's a bit of a Disneyland for kids and adults alike and a magical place not to be missed if you're not afraid of the language barrier: indeed, for the moment the park doesn't attract enough tourists to justify speaking English.

The Wieliczka-Bochnia rock salt deposit has been in existence since the 13th century. The extraction of "white gold", a block of salt worth several years of crops of a large estate, was one of the main sources of wealth of the Polish kings, allowing, among other things, the construction of the Jagiellonian University. A wooden staircase will lead you to a depth of 64 meters. Only the first three levels, located between 64 and 135 meters deep, can be visited. A section of about 3 kilometers allows you to walk through the different tunnels that connect the rooms. Sculptures, bas-reliefs, artificial salt lakes and shafts await the visitor. The unvisited part of the mine, entirely underground, is much larger and extends over 9 levels for a total of 300 kilometers of galleries, the deepest of which reaches 327 meters.

The visit allows to see underground lakes, galleries, and especially a chapel cut in the salt, that of the blessed Kinga (Kaplica Blogoslawionej Kingi), whose legend will be told to you. The galleries that can be visited were drilled by hand between the 17th and 19th centuries. During the visit you will pass through several thematic rooms: Nicholas Copernicus, the Dwarfs' Cave, legends and chapels decorated with hand-carved statues. The chapel of St. Kinga, patron saint of miners, is undoubtedly the highlight of the visit. Excavated between 1895 and 1927, this incredible underground cathedral of 54 meters long and 12 meters high is decorated with salt crystal chandeliers and numerous bas-reliefs and sculpted altars. The finesse of the sculptures is remarkable. This incredible work required the extraction of 20,000 tons of salt blocks. Its exceptional acoustics allow the organization of concerts. Renowned for its microclimate, the mine has a sanatorium to treat respiratory diseases, located at a depth of 211 meters.

In addition to the classic tour, there is also the "mining tour", a real expedition in which visitors, accompanied by a guide and dressed and equipped as miners, descend into the mine through the Regis shaft, the oldest of the existing shafts.

The visit is exhausting and you don't really enjoy it, squeezed between two groups in a small tunnel for 3 hours. For a truly authentic experience, go to mass in the main chapel every Sunday.

Located in the heart of the old city, the point of convergence of all the tourist arteries, this vast quadrilateral of 200 meters on each side is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Dating back to 1257, it is a rare example of a preserved medieval urban layout (if we exclude the many shanties, stores, cemeteries and other facilities that were jumbled together in the square and have since been destroyed). In the summer, an incredible crowd enjoys the numerous café terraces, which compete for the spotlight, and the street animations. In winter, life goes on and the crowds gather for its superb Christmas market or the various ceremonies that punctuate the city's calendar. 47 houses now frame the square, built in the 14th and 15th centuries, they were remodeled in the mid-19th century in a neoclassical style that ensures an architectural homogeneity to the whole. Most of the buildings that encircle the square have their own history. No. 6, "the gray house", housed the first elected king of Poland, Henry of Valois. No. 7, called the Montelupi Palace, became the first post office of Poland under King Sigismund. At No. 9 the Gothic Bonerowska Palace was the home of the painter Stanislas Wispański. At no. 20 the Potocki Palace with its loggia-lined courtyard is a model of classical Krakow architecture, as is the 16th-century Pod Baranami Palace at no. 27, which today houses a cultural center.

A symbol of Polish national pride and unity, Wawel Hill and its architectural ensemble overlooking the Vistula River are the historical and cultural heart of Poland. Among the tourists, you'll see classes from all over Poland reconnecting with their heritage. With its Christian sanctuary and castle, Wawel has symbolized the union of religious and secular power since the ^11th century, centered around the cathedral building, which was both the coronation and burial place of Polish kings, and is now also the site of the pantheon of Poland's most illustrious men. The last ones to be installed there, Lech Kaczińsky and his wife, caused a great deal of controversy.
The complex has two entrances, on either side of the Planty (logical, given that the Planty follows the trace of the old walls). The first, opposite rue Kanonicza, is the most authentic. It takes you up a short series of steps, past the wall on which the main contributors to the ^20th-century renovation are commemorated, past the site's secondary ticket office and through the cathedral door. The second, opposite Grodzka Street, is longer but less crowded, and offers superb views of the Vistula River.

Practical advice before starting your visit: the site is divided into numerous exhibitions, each with its own admission ticket (the cathedral has a separate ticket office). We advise you to keep things simple and buy your tickets online: there's no need to queue at the ticket office to find out that the day's stock is sold out. As the site is not always accessible, we recommend that you head for the main ticket office inside the venue, where the flow is faster and you'll get much more information. We also recommend taking a guided tour of the castle's interior. Make sure you don't arrive too late (especially in the afternoon), or you'll be forced to turn back rather quickly.

Wawel Esplanade. In the center, you can see the foundations of the ^14th-century churches of St. Michael and St. George, which were destroyed by the Austrians to build an arsenal. If you face the castle, you'll see the entrance to the main ticket office on your right, and to its right a small café terrace overlooking the city. On your left is the cathedral, facing the ticket office and the ecclesiastical apartments. Behind you, the surviving Austrian barracks, which include a café.

Lost Wawel(Wawel Zaginiony). Before rushing off to the royal apartments, we strongly recommend you visit this small, modern exhibition in the castle's basement kitchens. It traces the eventful history of the site and, above all, the enormous efforts made by the Poles to reclaim and restore their heritage. The exhibition is enhanced by archival images and videos, models and computer representations illustrating the parts of the building that have now disappeared. Understanding what the Wawel means to Poles makes the visit all the more enjoyable.

Royal Castle(Zamek królewski). The estate's main building boasts a splendid Renaissance courtyard. Its three superimposed galleries with columns and arcades give it the appearance of a fairy-tale palace. The present building dates from the ^16th century, commissioned by Sigismund I the Elder to the Italian architects Francesco Florentino and Bartolomeo Berecci. The castle marked the start of the Renaissance in Poland and symbolized royal authority for six centuries, before it burned down and the Court moved to Warsaw in 1596. First plundered in 1655 by the Swedes, then successively by the Russians and Prussians, it was already in a poor state of repair when it passed into Austrian hands in 1796. After the Krakow uprising, the castle was militarized by the Habsburgs in the ^19th century, who turned it into barracks and destroyed several buildings in the complex. The Austrian Poles obtained the right to buy it back and renovate it by raising a large national subscription in 1905, but restoration work didn't really get underway until 1918, when the country became independent. In 1939, Hans Frank, the bloodthirsty Nazi governor of Krakow, made it his residence.

The royal apartments(Prywatne Apartamenty Królewskie) include rooms from all periods, intended for the country's leaders. Several rooms have retained their Renaissance architecture and ceilings, while others with marble floors copy Versailles. The apartments also recreate the presidential suite, last occupied in 1938. The highlight of the visit is the collection of ^16th-century Flanders tapestries adorning the walls of the apartments of King Sigismund the Old and the state apartments on the^2nd floor. These tapestries, from the workshop of Brussels artist Michiel van Coxcie, were evacuated to Canada and only returned to Poland in 1962.

The State Apartments(Komnaty Królewskie). These enfilade rooms are a less lively, more solemn mirror image of the royal apartments. Luxurious styles from all eras can be found here, in former ceremonial and meeting rooms that once hosted foreign ambassadors, balls and weddings, and several throne rooms. The most surprising room is the Poselska Room, with its ceiling featuring thirty sculpted heads watching you. The most impressive and symbolic room is the Senatorska Hall, where Szczerbiec, the sword of the kings of Poland, is displayed in all its splendor.

The exhibition of oriental art(Sztuka wschodu) features trophies brought back from the legendary Battle of Vienna (1683) by John III Sobieski. The ^17th-century Turkish banners and tents were impressive works of art, marking the power and might of the Ottomans in the face of their enemies. The exceptionally rich tents could be worth several years' rent for small kingdoms. After this victory and the parade of the finest Ottoman artefacts, the Polish aristocracy adopted orientalist "Sarmatian" fashions in clothing, objects and furniture. If you're short of time, you'll have to pass: better preserved and presented pieces can be found in the Czartoryski Museum.

The Crown Jewels and the Armory. The Armory has some superb pieces, but they are interchangeable with those in the National Museum or the Czartoryski Museum. It's also not very entertaining, and we marvel at the craftsmanship of the weapons and the exoticism of the hussar armor without knowing what they represent. The crown jewels suffer a similar fate. Unique and with a strong symbolic value, they're more than worth a visit, but then again, without having done your research, it's hard to understand the emotion of the Poles around you.

The Sandomierska Tower(Baszta Sandomierska). This artillery tower was built around 1460, during the reign of Casimir IV Jagellon, to reinforce the castle's defences. In times of peace, it was used as a prison. From its summit, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the city.

The Dragon's Cave(Somcza Jama). Legend has it that the Krakow dragon once lived here. Accessed from the top of the citadel via a small tower set against the surrounding wall, a 135-step staircase leads down into the bowels of the hill, before emerging 70 meters further on the Vistula quays. The little ones will be fascinated by the fire-breathing bronze dragon (every 5 minutes) installed at the exit (no need to pay a visit to the cave to see it), erected in 1972 by sculptor Bronisław Chromy. We recommend ending your visit to Wawel Hill with the Dragon's Grotto, which will take you straight to the banks of the Vistula.

A true symbol of the city, the Cloth Hall stands in the center of the Rynek. Built in the 14th century, it was destroyed by fire in 1555 and then remodeled during the Renaissance by the Italian Giovanni il Mosca. The building has since retained this appearance except for the neo-Gothic side arcades, added between 1875 and 1879. On the second floor there is the Gallery of Polish painting of the nineteenth century and a bar perfectly located to admire the view of the basilica.

Throughout the year, crowds of pilgrims flock to the entrance of the house where Karol Wojtiła lived with his family. The house is located on the rynek and the main entrance, right next to the statue made in his honor. His birthplace unveils a state-of-the-art, four-story exhibition tracing Wojtiła's life and work in Poland until his departure in 1978. On display are photos, documents, personal items as well as clothing worn during his pontificate.

This square is located on the other side of St. Barbara's Church and behind the Church of Our Lady. Although it is close to the main square, it is surprisingly quiet here. In the past, it was used for the trade of products that did not "smell good", mainly meat and fish. The construction of the tramway lines in 1902 marked the end of its commercial vocation. It was here that the Merkuriusz Polski, the oldest Polish newspaper, began to be printed in 1661.

This agency organizes thematic excursions in French and in most European languages throughout the city, according to the client's wishes. Its main activity remains the logistical organization of transfers and transportation: whether you want to go from the airport to the city, visit the salt mine or Auschwitz, go to Zakopane, this agency takes care of the reservation of accommodation, train and bus tickets, etc. The team is very professional and is available by phone 7 days a week and 24 hours a day.