Things to see and do Little Poland

Built in the sixteenth century in Renaissance style, it was one of the country's largest and finest. Swedish invasions and twentieth century wars severely damaged it. Today there are only a few rooms and a beautiful eighteenth century manor house. Exhibitions are organized around the history of the castle, its various owners and the life of the time. There are many objects in everyday life. The panorama on Vistule and the small village is magnificent from the small butte on which the site is located.

The Rynek, the historic center of Lublin, shows the traces left by the passage of time, but also the effects of human genius when it comes to restoring its heritage. It is not difficult to find in the cracked facades and faded decorations of its magnificent buildings the Lublin of yesteryear. Especially since the center was hardly touched by the ravages of war. Despite the poor state of rehabilitation, the charm of the Rynek is already intoxicating. All around, beautiful and richly decorated houses. At no. 12, the facade and windows of the Konopnic family house (1512) are decorated with sculptures in the form of masks, dragon heads and male and female bodies. The Klonowicz house at No. 2 was inhabited in the 16th century by the poet mayor of Lublin, who gave it his name. In the 18th century it was remodeled in the neoclassical style. The central square is dominated by the Royal Court, whose size is disproportionate to that of the square. Before, it was the town hall (1578).

Today it is the starting point for a tour of the Lublin Underground (Lubelskie Podzemia, from May to October visits from Tuesday to Friday at 10-12-14-16h, weekends from noon to 5pm every hour, Mondays at 10am and 2pm, 10 zl). The tour lasts about 45 minutes and the temperature varies between 7 and 12°C. The underground route is about 300 meters long and consists of corridors and 14 rooms in which, in the 16th century, goods were kept.

The building takes its atypical form from its origin as a simple (though rather massive) Jesuit church built in an effort to convert the Orthodox East at the time of the Catholic Counter-Reformation movement that the Jesuits led. While the exterior facade is austere, the interior decorations are superb, especially the paintings that adorn the walls and vaults, done in the second half of the 18th century by Josef Mayer, following a fire. The richness of the decorations testifies to the opulence of the bishopric and the city at that time.

During the Second World War, this building housed the Krakow Gestapo offices. The first and second floors were used as interrogation rooms, and the basements as cells. The permanent exhibition traces the lives of Polish resistance fighters and Jews in Krakow during the Occupation. The basement cells feature some 600 inscriptions left by prisoners between 1943 and 1945. A museum that pays tribute to the suffering and endurance of the Polish people.

In 1587, Jan Zbigniew Ossoliński, a powerful Polish nobleman, gave the Ujazd estate to his son Krzysztof as a wedding present. The latter decided to build the most beautiful fortified residence in Poland. Today, all that remains of this beautiful star-shaped palace, built in the early ^17th century, are majestic ruins testifying to its lost grandeur. The site remains quite interesting, all the more so as it is possible to camp directly around the castle and also build a fire to liven up the evening.

Tyniec is one of the oldest monasteries in Poland still active today. Founded on a rocky promontory overlooking the Vistula River in the mid-11th century by Benedictine monks from France, the abbey has the characteristics of a baroque fortified church with Gothic elements. Only the church can be visited because the convent still houses a religious community. The abbey is part of the congregation of the Annunciation and the federation of sites of the Order of Cluny. Inside, one can admire the baroque pulpit in the shape of a ship's bow and the black marble altar contrasting with the golden statues that decorate it. Entering the courtyard, it is possible to discover portions of old walls and a well dating from the seventeenth century. Within the abbey grounds there is also a museum that tells the history of the abbey. In Tyniec, the monks' choir still performs beautiful Gregorian chants. The monastery store, open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. sells honey, beer, jams, cheeses and other delicacies made by the monks. The convent also has a magnificent panoramic terrace with a peaceful view of the Vistula River and its green landscape. Far from the crowds, you can meditate in the midst of beautiful nature and on the banks of the Vistula.

If you go there on a sunny day, take a gondola cab (only one boat per day with only 12 seats).

Built in the 16th century by the merchant Isserl ben Jozef as a gift for his son Moses Isserles (1520-1572), known as Remu'h, the famous Krakow scholar, philosopher and Talmudist, it is the only synagogue in Krakow that offers regular religious functions. Originally, it was a very small synagogue for the close circle of its founder. It is sometimes referred to as the "new" synagogue in comparison to the Old Synagogue. Behind the synagogue, the cemetery is the oldest in Krakow's Jewish community and one of the oldest in Europe. Established in 1551, it was closed by the Austrians in 1800 for sanitary reasons and vandalized by the Nazis during World War II. In 1959-1960, excavations brought to light several layers of burials, in total more than 700 stelae, most of which date back to the 16th century. The most impressive sarcophagi of the complex, decorated with enigmatic and mystical inscriptions, are gradually being renovated and exhibited. The greatest cult is dedicated to the tomb of Rabbi Remu'h, which is adjacent to the western wall of the synagogue. His tomb was miraculously spared by the Nazis, a fact interpreted by Orthodox Jews as a sign of his holiness, even though it was already a place of pilgrimage for Hasidic Jews. Today, visits by groups from Israel show that the site retains its roots. The graves that could not be preserved were used to build a wall of remembrance near the entrance.

Located in the center of the Rynek, this imposing 14th-century Gothic tower is all that remains of the old medieval town hall, which was destroyed in 1820. You can go up to the tower at different times of the year, and on the way up you learn more about the building and its importance at the time. The visit ends at the clock mechanism from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the church of Our Lady.

Built in the 11th century, this massive church is the best preserved example of Romanesque architecture not only in Krakow, but in all of Poland. The facade is dominated by two octagonal towers with narrow geminated windows with a small central column, which testify to its defensive purpose. In fact, it is the only church in the city to have survived the Tatar assault in 1241. The interior, of baroque style, transformed in the XVIIIth century, is superb.

Opened since September 2010, this museum created under the Rynek is the rebuilding of the square and the town in the Middle Ages. The work began in 2005 and excavations provided an opportunity to enlarge the exceptional collection of pieces and objects from this exposed era… walls and pavés of the time were also conserved. The market atmosphere and merchants from all countries are complemented by an original soundtrack. Educational spaces and conference rooms feature films on the living conditions of the 13 th century. 

This former 17th century warehouse was once used to store wheat. Now it houses another type of resource: European paintings and sculptures from the collection of the National Museum in Krakow, including paintings by Paolo Veneziano and Lorenzo Lotto or sculptures by Bertel Thorvaldsen, Antonio Canova and Gustav Vigeland. The majority of the collection comes from the Middle Ages and sometimes great names join the temporary exhibition.

This cave, the most interesting in the area, covers about 1,000 meters of underground labyrinths and is divided into several rooms with evocative names, such as the Ossuary where the remains of a bear were found. Evidence of Neolithic life has also been discovered here. Today it hosts a community of bats and cave spiders. Don't worry, no one has disappeared yet to be nibbled by the creatures of the night. The visit is well supervised and safe, even with children (they will love it).

In operation since 1905, this museum is Częstochowa's main cultural institution. It features a rich collection of Polish art, including paintings, sacred and folk art, natural history, weapons and an archaeological section. Exhibitions are housed in several buildings:

The Ratusz (Al. Najświętszej Maryi Panny 45a, ✆ +48 34 366 80 50) offers perhaps the most interesting part for a foreign visitor. Built in neoclassical style in 1826, it has housed an exhibition tracing the city's history since 1967.

The pavilions in the Stanisław Staszic Park (Park im. S. Staszica) were built in 1909 for the National Exhibition of Industry and Agriculture and house an ethnographic exhibition, a peasant house built for the same exhibition and a museum on iron mining.

The Archaeological Reserve (ul. Łukasińskiego 20, ✆ +48 34 323 19 51) presents a collection unique in Poland on the funerary culture present in the Lusatian region.

The Pilgrimage Museum (Al. Najświętszej Maryi Panny 47, ✆ +48 34 368 21 64) presents an exhibition on the tradition of pilgrimage to Jasna Góra.

The House of Poetry, also known as the Halina Poświatowska Museum (ul. Jasnogórska 23, ✆ + 48 34 368 16 17), is dedicated to the life and work of this Polish poet. Literary meetings are organized here.

Finally, the exhibition at the Art Gallery (ul. Katedralna 8, ✆ +48 34 324 99 93) includes paintings and sculptures from the Młoda Polska artistic movement.

In the heart of the city, the Bochnia Museum tells the story of the city through the lives of its miners. It is a historical and ethnographic museum, but it also works to popularize the learning of history and archaeology. The museum houses one of the best collections of paintings from the Young Poland period. The collections contain paintings by, among others, Jacek Malczewski, Józef Pankiewicz, Włodzimierz Tetmajer, Leon Wyczółkowski, Julian Fałat, Olga Boznańska and Tadeusz Makowski.

You can see their flashy yellow minibuses cluttering the adjoining downtown streets. Their small electric vehicles that circulate around the Rynek and offer guided tours of the city center, Wawel Hill, the Kazimierz district and Podgorze are still very practical. The price for a vehicle accommodating 1 to 5 people is 500 zł for 1h30 (105 zł per person). The price includes audio commentary, obviously available in French.

Located in the Old Town, this rental agency offers good-quality bicycles, and in summer also has a rental point on plac Nowy, in the Kazimierz district. The agency organizes guided bike, Segway and walking tours, taking in the city's best sights with "a touch of local entertainment". A valid ID card and deposit are required at the time of rental. You are accompanied by a professional guide. They also offer themed tours.

This magnificent museum extends beneath a large part of the square. It is the result of archaeological research carried out under the Rynek from 2005 to 2007. Using state-of-the-art technology and know-how, it traces the history of the town from its very beginnings. The remains of the city, including an ^11th-century cemetery, are presented in the form of models and reconstructions of medieval buildings, 3D representations, documentary films, etc., enabling visitors to discover Krakow in the Middle Ages. A visit that's even better with a guide.

It is a small nature reserve located on a hill where there is also a baroque church and a monastery, both dating from the 17th century

monastery, both dating from the 17th century. The environment is wild and you can enjoy a beautiful view of Kielce and its surroundings. It is not really a park that lends itself well to hikes of several days, nor even really a park that can be visited for hours. We recommend it for a break in the green and to admire the sunset from its top.

Rare limestone rocks, caves, plants and a former quarry transformed into amphitheatre that, during the summer, concerts and festivals.

The central square was the heart of the city. From here, five wide avenues radiated out in the shape of a pentagon, leading to residential areas called sectors and indicated by letters of the alphabet. It was to be surrounded by housing estates, party buildings, a theater to the south and the city hall to the north. But the project could not be fully realized because of its enormous cost and the death of Stalin in 1953, which put a stop to the architectural madness. As a result, the city hall, which was supposed to compete with the Empire State Building, never saw the light of day (but the gardens of the city hall do exist) and the project of an obelisk worthy of the one in Washington remained forever in the cards. Instead, on the adjacent Rose Street, there was a 7 t statue of Stalin, the object of many riots during the socialist era. In reality, Nowa Huta exudes a real charm, that of the utopia of the perfect city, and a kind of melancholy towards the failed socialist dream.

If from Centralny Square one walks along Solidarności Avenue all the way to the end, one will arrive at the Sendzimir steel mill (Huta im. Sendzimira, ul. Ujastek 1). The visit is forbidden to the public, but it is worth going there to see its huge sign and the building of the Administrative Center of the steel plant. It is the best example of social realist architecture in Poland. Because of its architectural appearance, the Center is nicknamed Vatican and Doge's Palace.

The construction of the Ark of the Lord was the result of an intense struggle by the inhabitants against the communist regime, which wanted a "city without God". Unfortunately, the workers of Nowa Huta, often from the countryside, won. It was the future Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyła, then archbishop of Krakow, who laid the foundation stone of the church in 1969, in this case a fragment of the tomb of St. Peter sent by the Vatican.

The temple resembles Noah's Ark, stranded on Mount Ararat, with its 70 m high mast in the shape of a cross surrounded by a crown. It should be seen as a metaphor that Christianity will survive communism. Inside the church, there is a gigantic bronze Christ, 8 m high, crucified but without a cross. In the months following the opening of the church, masses were celebrated every 30 minutes on Sundays to cope with the crowds. From December 13, 1981 to July 22, 1983, during the Martial Law, on the 13th of each month in this church, the "Mass for the Fatherland" was celebrated, for social justice and respect for human rights. These masses were followed by demonstrations against the violation of civil rights by the authorities, which were severely repressed by the police. The most famous victim of these riots was Bogdan Włosik, a 19-year-old student working at the steel mill. In front of the church is the monument commemorating the place where Włosik was killed by a secret police agent in 1982.

This monastery, inhabited by Cistercian monks since 1222, is the mother house of the order in the country. Within its walls stands the Gothic Church of the Virgin Mary and St. Wenceslas, one of the oldest in Poland. Its Chapel of the Holy Cross contains the miraculous crucifix of Mogiła: its faithful go around its altar on their knees. Opposite the monastery is the small wooden church of St. Bartholomew, one of the oldest wooden churches in Poland.

This church, among the oldest in Krakow, was built by Piotr Wlast. The bishop of Krakow predicted that he would regain his sight if he founded 7 churches and 3 cloisters. His pride led him to build 70 churches and 30 cloisters. The promise was not fulfilled. After realizing his sin, he rebuilt 7 churches and 3 cloisters, including the Church of the Holy Savior... and recovered his sight. The most interesting element of the church's interior is a painting of Christ on the Cross with a musician (1605) by Kasper Kurcz.

Kanonicza Street, which runs parallel to Grodzka Street and leads to Wawel Hill, is probably the best preserved street in the Old Town and one of the most beautiful and picturesque in Krakow. Spared from the fire that destroyed much of the city in 1850, it has preserved its original medieval atmosphere.

The Długosz House (dom Jana Długosza)is located at no. 25. Jan Długosz, the first great historian of Poland and tutor of the children of King Casimir who lived there from 1450 to 1480, and its magnificent portal says "Nothing is better in man than his spirit". A bas-relief of 1480 representing the Virgin with the Child is also remarkable. Today it is the seat of the Pontifical Academy of Theology.

At No. 21 is the Dean's House(Dom Dziekański), by Santi Gucci, the architect of Sulkennice. Residence of the bishops of Krakow, the future Pope John Paul II stayed from 1963 to 1967. Its portal hides a beautiful Renaissance-style arcaded courtyard with an 18th-century statue of St. Stanislaus.

The palace ofBishop Florian of Mokrsko, at no. 18, also has a beautiful arcaded courtyard and a Renaissance portal. At No. 17 is the palace of Bishop Erazm Ciołek. The palace of Bishop Samuel Maciejowski at no. 1, built in 1531-1532, was converted into a court and prison in the early 19th century. It was used as a court and prison until 1970. The baroque portal still reads "Office of the Royal Inquisition Court".

Founded in 1783, the botanical gardens of Jagiellonian University comprise over 10 hectares of greenery and flowers. They house some 5,000 species of plants and flowers from all over the world, including a magnificent collection of orchids dating from 1860, and several interesting exhibits, including plants described in the Bible and medicinal plants. Just a stone's throw from the old town, it's an oasis of freshness and clean air in a magnificent natural setting. Little frequented by foreign tourists, it's an ideal place to stop and stroll between two visits.

Before it became the symbol of the Holocaust, Oświęcim was a peaceful Polish town where the majority of the inhabitants were Jews. Established in 1995, this Jewish cultural center aims to capture the life of the town's former Jewish community. It occupies the only surviving Jewish building in the city, the Synagogue for the Study of the Mishnah, a center for Talmudic studies and synagogue built in 1913. Ransacked by the Nazis in 1941, this synagogue was the first building in Poland to be returned to Jews in 1998.

Less spectacular than the Wieliczka mine, the Bochnia mine is the oldest in Poland. Its origin dates back to 1248, when the gem was found in the country. Built on 16 levels, the deepest of which is 468 m, it is operated until 1992 and has been designed to accommodate tourists and a spa. There are ancient chapels, salt rooms, mining machinery for mining as well as altars cut in the rock with beautiful statues and paintings.

On the first floor of the Cloth Hall, this tourist office offers information about the Little Poland region. Among the services offered: guided tours, interpreting, hotel reservations, restaurants, cultural events, car rental. In particular, the office organizes tours to Wieliczka, Oświęcim, Częstochowa, Wadowice, Zakopane, and also tours of Kraków. It is a good starting point for those who want to venture outside the walls.

Located behind the Słowacki Theater, this 15th-century red-brick Gothic church, quite simple in appearance from the outside, is well worth a visit. The nave is topped by a Gothic star vault supported by a single central pillar symbolizing the new tree of life embodied by the cross of Christ, typical of the hospitable order of the Holy Spirit of Saxia to which the church belonged. The side walls are decorated with precious gothic frescoes.

The skansen of Tokarnia is one of the largest and most beautiful museums of outdoor in Poland. It traces the life in the region displaying the various habitats and country village, architecture and peerage-books of Kielce. In an area of 80 acres stand 30 wooden buildings, all dating from the 18th- 19th centuries and from different villages of the region. Each building has with countless details the trades and the richness of the interior architecture. At the entrance of skansen, the pharmacy displays pots porcelain, brass instruments, a microscope and test-tubes, in the 19th century it was in use in the village of Bieliny. A little further from the house Jan Bernasiewicz traces the work of this naive artist with photos and superb wooden statues, typical of the Polish naive art, religious or pagan. The manoir de Suchedniów strongly contrasts with the country's architecture that dominates the skansen. Built by a noble room in 1812, it is heated by beautiful tiled stove.

Stretching into the dark depths of the earth over 300 meters long, this cave gets its name from the huge, huge, noisy (and a bit stinky) colony of bats that live there. To see them, you have to follow the signs and get a guide. Unlike the other two caves, which belong to the Ojców National Park, this one belongs to an individual, Mr. Zygmunt Ferdek (in Jerzmanowice), whom you should call for visits.

Also called the Neanderthal House, it is certainly the pearl of the tourist attractions of the nature park. The reason is simple, this cave is among the most important archaeological sites in Poland and certainly the most important in the field of prehistoric studies. Traces of human occupation dating back several hundred thousand years have been found here. The rock formation is also of interest, not far from the entrance you can see massive stalagmites, with the most picturesque shapes, one of which looks like a lion.

It is one of the most famous caves in Poland. Sobre, without stalactites or stalagmites, attracts visitors by its location in the heart of Ojców Park, and by its legendary aura. According to the legend, Władyslaw Łokietek, king of Poland, pursued by the Czech king Wacław II, would have remained there hiding six weeks and owes his protection to a spider whose canvas had the entrance to the cave. That's why the entrance of the cave is closed by a grid whose motive reminds a spider web. The cave is 270 meters long.

A pretty little wooden chapel from 1901 stands above the Pradnik River. In the time of Tsar Nicholas II, the inhabitants of Ojców, not being allowed to build religious buildings on land, circumvented this ban by installing the chapel on the water. This great gesture that mixes rebellion and faith is a story that Poles like to tell themselves, but in reality, the construction was of little consequence in this remote region. The result is still delightful and makes for great photo memories!

This picturesque stone castle was built by Casimir the Great in the 14th^century , probably on the site of a former^13th-century fortress, which is said to have served as a refuge for his father, Władysław Łokietek during the struggles for the Krakow throne. To honor his father's memory, Casimir named the castle "Ojców", a name derived from the word father: ojciec. Destroyed and looted during the Swedish invasion, it subsequently had several owners.

The ruins stand on a rocky spur that dominates the surrounding countryside.

This rocky escarpment at the edge of the road stands out in the rather irregular landscape of the national park. It was placed there by chance, as if by design, at the foot of the Pieskowa Skała castle, and it seems to serve an obscure purpose. According to the legend, the club was placed there by a supernatural force: it owes its name to a sorcerer who challenged the devil to knock over a rock. Obviously, the devil had no difficulty in accomplishing this feat with this specimen, which is nearly 25 m high.

The origin of this castle is also due to Casimir the Great, in the 14th century. Initially Gothic, it took on a Renaissance appearance in the 16th century thanks to its owners, the Szafraniec family, who wanted to turn it into a small Wawel. It has undergone many destructions, but each time it was restored, and today it is close to its original state.

It is home to a museum, which presents numerous objects, paintings and furniture from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.

Created in the th century, this beautiful green area has many pavilions that host temporary exhibitions in summer, or classical music concerts. The place is enchanting.

A veritable network of cellars was dug beneath the merchant houses surrounding the Rynek between the ^15th and ^17th centuries, with the dual aim of linking the houses and shops to provide an escape route in the event of invasion and to store goods. The 500-metre labyrinth was forgotten and rediscovered by chance in the 1960s. Today, part of the old network is open to visitors. Its rooms house various small exhibitions.

The "wide street" is actually an old market place that was the center of commercial and religious life in Jewish Kazimierz. Bordered by synagogues (the Popper, Remuh and Old Synagogue) and 16th-18th century houses, it retains its original organic appearance. The imposing Landau House, often misidentified as the Jordan Palace, closes the square on the north side and today houses the famous Jewish bookstore Jarden.

Facing Notre Dame Square, this 14th century church was once the chapel of the parish cemetery that occupied the square and was used until 1796. Its interior is baroque and there is a small chapel from the end of the 15th century with sculptures of Jesus surrounded by three apostles praying in the Garden of Olives. The Jesuit convent, adjacent to the church, communicates with the Mały Rynek square. After 1780, it became a hospital and it was here that Dr. Rafał Józef Czerwiakowski performed the first autopsy in Kraków.

Located on the Rynek, south of the Cloth Hall, this small church, built in the ^10th century, is the oldest in the city. The original wooden structure was replaced by a Romanesque church in the ^12th century. In the ^17th century, the latter was further modified to take on a Baroque appearance. Fragments of the Romanesque walls, on display in the church, represent the oldest architectural features of the Rynek. From June¹ to September 30, an exhibition on the history of Saint Adalbert and the church can be viewed in the superb basement crypt.

On the Rynek, between the Cloth Hall and the Church of Our Lady, stands this bronze statue of the Romantic poet, the work of Teodor Rygier, unveiled for the centenary of Mickiewicz's birth in 1898. Perched on a pedestal, it is surrounded by four allegorical figures, symbolizing poetry, patriotism, education and heroism. It is a favorite meeting place of Krakow's citizens and the focal point of the Christmas market.

This church was built in the ^17th century on the site of an earlier church destroyed during the Swedish invasion of 1655. The crypt contains the mummified remains of monks and donors. From 166 onwards, the monks' bodies were kept here without coffins. A rather eerie curiosity that can only be visited once a year, on November 2. The church itself is quite pretty, but doesn't measure up to the competition.

Located near the Collegium Maius, this charming 18th-century Gothic church has served since 1698 as the university chapel, where all official ceremonies were celebrated. In the right transept one can admire the sarcophagus containing the relics of the saint Jan Kanty carried by four allegorical figures symbolizing the four main faculties of the university: medicine, law, philosophy and theology. On the opposite side of the transept there is a monument dedicated to Nicolaus Copernicus, a former student of the university.

Beautiful gallery of contemporary art, paintings and ceramics.

The monastery complex stands in an enchanting bucolic setting on Srebrna Góra in the Wolski Forest. The Camaldolese monks live in seclusion, meeting only at prayer time. Contemplative and constantly meditating on death, they meditate before the skulls of their predecessors. Only men are allowed to visit the place and to cross paths with the hermits in their meditation, while women are only allowed to visit 12 specific days a year (for feasts).

Wacky tour operators who organize both cultural and ironic tours of Nowa Huta. Their Communism Tours take you on a delirious "authentic" tour of the planned Stalinist city in

Trabant, an East German car. They also offer tours of Krakow in its communist guise or of a nearby kolkhoz. Their young guides are very friendly and work in a good mood, you will taste a bit of Polish humor. This modern service has become very popular in recent years.

Playground for children, rental of boats, canoes and bicycles.

Offers information about the city and the region, as well as residential addresses at home, hotels, or the agroturystyka signs.