Things to see and do Krakow

The city's stained glass museum is housed in the workshop of master glassmaker S. G. Żeleński and offers a unique opportunity to see the craftsmen at work. Exciting guided tours are offered of Central Europe's largest workshop, which has worked for many of the city's monuments and churches since the early ^20th century. The entire production process is explained chronologically, from design to firing. At the end of the tour, an exhibition area is also open to the public.

Located on the second floor of the Cloth Hall, this museum, a branch of the National Museum, boasts a fine collection of ^19th-century Polish paintings, including works by Jan Matejko, the national Romantic painter, and Piotr Michałowski, the great painter of horses and riders. There are also paintings by Malczewski, Gierymski, Witkacy and Chełmoński, representing the realist and impressionist currents. A café is located on the panoramic terrace.

Here you will find all the necessary information to visit the Wieliczka salt mines including accomplishing therapeutic stays here. You can also buy the entrance tickets at mine in advance.

Built in 1640, the Kupa synagogue was the last to be built for the Jews of Kazimierz. It owes its current appearance to renovation work in the 1930s and to the restoration undertaken in the years 1990-2000. The impressive polychromy of the ceiling with representations of the cities of the Holy Land, and the paintings with the signs of the zodiac decorating the balustrade of the gallery are noteworthy. A fragment of the old medieval ghetto wall can be seen in the inner courtyard on the Warschauera Street side.

Built in 1860-1862 in the neo-Romanesque style with interiors inspired by Moorish art, it is, along with the Remu'h synagogue, one of the two synagogues still active in Krakow. Also called the "progressive synagogue", it was attended by maskilim Jews, "enlightened" in the sense of "opposed to the precepts of the ultra-Orthodox Hasidic" who, at the time, were linked to the Remu'h synagogue. A ritual bath, the mikva, was located behind the synagogue and remained in operation until the late 1960s.

At the end of Grodzka Street, before arriving in front of the Wawel, this wooden cross, installed in 1990, commemorates the victims of the Katyn massacre in 1940, when 22,000 Polish officers and managers were murdered on Stalin's orders and their families deported to Kazakhstan. Despite the evidence, the Communist authorities believe that it was a Nazi atrocity and it was not until the fall of the USSR that Boris Yeltsin acknowledged Moscow's responsibility.

This museum traces the life of Józef Czapski, an exiled Polish painter and writer whose biography is emblematic of an entire generation of patriotic intellectuals who fell victim to both the Nazis and the Soviets. Archival footage, video interviews, archive documents and his personal effects explain the changing geopolitical situation in Europe during the life of Czapski, survivor of the Katyń massacre. Personal objects include a superb collection of coins, medals and banknotes.

In the castle's basement kitchens, you'll find an astonishing exhibition that aims to reconstruct what Wawel Hill looked like a thousand years ago. Models and computer representations illustrate parts of buildings that no longer exist, hence the unusual name of this museum. Also on display are the reconstructed foundations of the Rotunda of the Virgin Mary, the oldest stone church built on the hill in the early ^11th century.

The first floor boasts a magnificent collection of Orthodox art from the Czech Republic, including icons and cult objects from the ^16th-17th centuries and an ^18th-century iconostasis. The collections on the second floor are devoted to Polish art from the ^12th to the ^18th centuries. Enthusiasts can really spend hours in this museum, while the more layperson will come away impressed. A must-see in Krakow.

This small and unusual museum offers an interesting collection of old objects used by pharmacists, some of which date back to the 16th century. Founded in 1946, it is located in a magnificent 15th century building. Among other things, it houses a reconstruction of a 17th century pharmacy and an apothecary's cellar. It is ideal for pharmacy enthusiasts who wish to discover the history of pharmacy from the Middle Ages to the present day. The others, you can pass your way without regrets, there is nothing here that is absolutely necessary to see.

It is the newest mound in Krakow as well as the highest in Poland. It was erected in honor of Marshal Józef Piłsudski after his death in 1935 using soil from World War I battlefields. It is located 1 kilometer north of the zoo. It can also be reached by following the marked trail from the Kościuszko Mound. It was the subject of a real memorial battle: the Nazis thought of razing it in 1941 and the communists removed the cross from its top.

Nice bike ride through the old town, Kazimierz and Podgórze. The tour is in English and really good quality. The guides alternate a description of the history of the city with amusing anecdotes and practical tips for enjoying it. The average group size is 8 to 12 people, which is more intimate and allows you to feel comfortable asking questions. Beware, the tour lasts about 3h30, which can be a bit long! A perfect tone for a relaxed and fun tour!

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

It's one of Poland's most beautiful neo-Gothic buildings. Delicate, sublime, romantic, this church captivates with its architectural harmony. It took five years to build this masterpiece, consecrated on October 24, 1909. More beautiful on the outside than on the inside, it nevertheless boasts a number of marvels, including a relief by Vit Wisz and Marian Krzyk, depicting The Marriage of St. Joseph and the Mother of God. Behind the main altar, you can also admire Sigismund Langman's image of Christ crucified in 1909.

From Rękawka Street to the left of house n. 22, a small trail leads towards a wooded hill with a rather bucolic framework. Here, the little church of Saint Benedict, one of the oldest in Krakow. Its construction, dated by archeologists in the twelfth century, remains wrapped in mystery. This Romanesque church, redesigned several times, especially in the sixteenth century, may have been founded by the Benedictine Benedictines, as suggested by the name of the saint to whom it is devoted. The fort of Saint Benedict was built in 1850 by the Austrians to reinforce the defense of the bridge on Vistule. If we continue south, we arrive at the old cemetery of Podgórze, located at the intersection of the streets Limanowskiego and Powstańców Śląskich. Probably created in 1790, it is the oldest cemetery in Krakow, where the heroes of the 1846 insurgency against the Austrians, as well as many Polish artists, are resting. South of the cemetery, a pedestrian bridge crosses the Powstańców Śląskich Street, along which there is a huge fresco on the history of Krakow. Once crossing the bridge, we arrive at Krak's tertre and, behind, at the camp of Płaszów.

Built by King Casimir the Great on the model of the Church of Our Lady on the Rynek, this church remains, despite its troubled history, one of the finest examples of Gothic style in Krakow. From the mid-15th to the mid-18th century, earthquakes, floods and fires followed one another until, in the first half of the 19th century, it was converted into an arsenal by the Austrians. This explains its bare interior. It has excellent acoustics and is therefore often used for concerts.

Located on the banks of the Vistula, this fortified monastery town dates from the 13th century. It was here that the "Dames of Zwierzyniec", also known as the Norbertine sisters, settled. At that time, the convent welcomed young noble girls and was often run by superiors from princely families. Every year, on Easter Monday, a big fair, called Emaus, is held in the vicinity of the monastery. It is also the starting point for the famous Lajkonik festival.

The Plaszów camp was built in 1942 on top of two Jewish cemeteries whose gravestones(matzevahs) were used by the Nazis to make roads. In 1944 it became an extermination camp and more than 50,000 prisoners are believed to have disappeared there. At ul. Jerozolimska n. 3, you can see the house that housed a prison and torture rooms. In ul. Heltmana n. 22, was the residence of Amon Goeth, the SS officer in charge of the camp, known for his cruelty and executed in 1946.

The Cricoteka, one of the city's major cultural centers, occupies the buildings of the former Podgórze power plant. The permanent exhibition presents the work of Tadeusz Kantor (1915-1990), one of the greatest theater artists and reformers of the 20th century. Sets, props, sketches, photographs and recordings of his performances show the successive stages of his theater's development. The café on the top floor offers a superb panoramic view of this stunning post-industrial complex.

Built in 1644 by the rich merchant Isaac Jakubowicz, it is the most beautiful of the Kazimierz synagogues. In 1924, a double staircase was added to the façade to allow women to reach the gallery reserved for them. Today there is also a kosher restaurant. Every Monday, Thursday and Sunday at 6 pm, klezmer music concerts are held here. Tickets can be purchased in the synagogue or in tourist offices (around 60 zl).

This ^17th-century building, once a convent and then a prison, features a presentation of Little Poland from the Paleolithic to the early Middle Ages, as well as archaeological excavations at the Nowa Huta site before the industrial revolution. Another unusual object, and the museum's centerpiece, is the unique statue of a Slavic pagan god known as "Swiatowid Zbruczanski". This four-sided stone sculpture measures 2.50 meters and was found in the river Zbrucz, Ukraine, in 1848. The museum has a beautiful rose garden.

Located between the steel mill and Mogiła, this mound was probably built in the 8th century. It is connected with the legend of Princess Wanda, daughter of King Krak. According to the legend, the German prince Rytgier threatened to attack Kraków if she refused to become his wife. Wanda chose to throw herself into the Vistula River rather than give in, thus becoming a symbol of national independence. At the top of the mound stands a monument designed by the painter Jan Matejko.

The old market square of the city is the heart of the district. Lined with houses dating from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries is dominated by the church of St. Joseph, with its majestic octagonal tower of 74 meters. In the square is also the old town hall dating from the mid-nineteenth century with its richly decorated facade. This square is gradually becoming the trendy heart of Krakow, as residents migrate to this new district.

An interactive and educational park named Stanisław Lem, famous Polish author of science fiction. Several optical illusion games involving the use of the laws of physics. Possibility of guided tours in English for 25 zl, to book three days in advance.

Built between 1556 and 1563, it takes its name from the location of the prayer room, which was high above the street. Destroyed during the Second World War, it was used for a long time as a warehouse. Since 2005, an exhibition on Jewish history and culture and a well-stocked Jewish bookstore can be visited. Its austere façade has been preserved, with three large semicircular windows framed by four large buttresses.

Spread over 422 hectares, the Wolski forest estate is a real forest at the gateway to the city. A number of trails, a bike path and a cross-country ski trail have been laid out among beech, oak and birch trees. A popular destination for Sunday hikers, the Wolski estate is also well known for its Ogród Zoologiczny (Zoological Park) in the heart of nature. The zoo is home to 250 different species and a total of 1,500 animals, including Przewalski horses, wallabies, hippopotamuses and more... (admission: 40 zl).

Opened in 1993 and located in a former house of prayer built in 1880, the center is the headquarters of Fundacja Judaica, a foundation of secular origin whose goal is the preservation of the Jewish heritage of Kazimierz and of Jewish memory in Poland. It seeks to reconnect Polish Jews with their lost history and culture and to create a renewed dialogue between Jews and Poles. To this end, the center regularly organizes exhibitions, concerts and conferences. There is also a very pleasant café inside.

This superb museum, recently opened to the public, offers a very interesting and high quality collection of sacred art with an impressive collection of paintings and objects that belonged to the churches in the region.

However, what attracts the crowds is the pious reconstruction of the rooms in which Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II) lived between 1952 and 1963, with his office, his personal belongings, and even a pair of skis: the man, before being Pontiff, was a great fan of this sport. It is a place of pilgrimage for many believers.

A guide to Krakow that offers tours of the historic centre, Wawel Hill or the district of Kazimierz in French.

You will certainly have noticed the building of the theater. Built by the Cracow architect Jan Zawiejski, between 1891 and 1893, it reminds by its shape the Opera Garnier of Paris. Its facade, rather eclectic, combines Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque elements. Its construction caused a lot of controversy at the time, since it led to the demolition of the medieval complex of the monastery and the church of the Holy Spirit. In protest, the painter Jan Matejko renounced his title of honorary citizen of Krakow.

Opened in 1800, this cemetery, much larger than that of Remu'h and ransacked by the Nazis, is completely abandoned. Its overgrown alleys make the visit quite poignant. There are graves dating from the early 19th century, some with epitaphs in Polish or German, a sign of the increasing secularization and cultural assimilation of Krakow's Jews. Among the illustrious graves is that of the photographer Ignacy Krieger (1817-1889), whose photographs are a valuable record of Krakow's past.

The former Krakow ghetto extended between Lwowska Street, Rękawka Street and Podgórski Square, covering 20 hectares. Established by a decree of March 3, 1941, from March 20, 1941 all non-Jews residing in this area were forced to move to the other side of the Vistula River, while nearly 20,000 Jews were crowded here. The liquidation of the ghetto took place on March 13 and 14, 1943. Its population was deported to Auschwitz or the nearby Plaszów labor camp. In the central square, renamed Heroes' Square, was the Eagle Pharmacy. At that time, a streetcar passed through the ghetto without stopping. Passengers were not allowed to look out the window. There are still some fragments of the ghetto wall, one of which is located between Lwowska Street 25 and 29. It has a commemorative plaque and it is easy to recognize the shape of the arches, which are reminiscent of the Torah scrolls and Jewish tombstones.

Józefińska Street : it is in the main artery of the ghetto that the "path of memory" begins. At No. 10, the agency of the German Employment Office, where Jews were given a "job" without pay. At number 12, the orphanage. No. 14 was the hospital, from which all the wounded who were unable to reach the rally in the central square were shot dead one by one in March 1943. No. 18 was the welfare center for Jews, with a school for 6-14 year olds. Again, all the children were killed during the liquidation of the ghetto.

The beautiful 17th-century house of the Szołayski family is home to the works of Stanisław Wyspiański (1869-1907), a local and also one of the most original artists of the early 20th century. A true jack-of-all-trades, he was a writer, playwright, painter, photographer and cabinetmaker. Among his drawings, canvases or pastels, are portraits, especially of children or peasant women, landscapes or flowers. A true prodigy, he produced numerous stained glass windows, notably for the Church of Our Lady, the Franciscan Church and the Wawel Cathedral.

Located in the southern part of the Jewish Quarter, in the former town hall of Kazimierz built in the 14th century, this museum is the largest of its kind in Poland. The museum exhibits life in the countryside in the past, pieces of Polish folk art, especially wood carvings, and a collection of traditional crafts and costumes. It also features reconstructions of rustic domestic interiors, especially from the southern regions of Poland. The annex located at ul. Krakowska 46 houses temporary exhibitions.

This museum is a branch of the Historical Museum. It takes its name from the merchant family who lived in this 14th century house from 1599. Often called the "bourgeois house", it presents the reconstruction of the interiors of a typical Krakow bourgeois house, from the 17th to the 19th century. The interior is perfectly reconstructed and is worth a visit: you really feel transported to another universe with logic and rules completely different from our world. A large number of period furnishings surprise and fascinate.

Historian training, Zofia is a very good french guide of Krakow.

This small octagonal wooden church dates back to the xvii^e century. It is covered with shingles and topped by a lantern. In his little cemetery, one buried of the plague victims during the epidemics, including that of cholera, in 1707, which decimated residents.

Belonging to the Jordan Group, one of the city's leading tourist agencies, this classic sightseeing bus offers a comprehensive guided tour of the city through the Old Town, Kazimierz and Podgorze, to the Kosciuszko Mound. The 24 or 48 hour ticket option is very convenient as you can get off and then get back on at any of the 11 stops marked by the bus. Using the same ticket, you can also take a 30-minute gondola ride, leaving from Wawel Hill every 30 minutes from 10am to 5pm.

This company offers all kinds of services, from airport transfers, to accommodation reservations, to the organization of all kinds of activities and tours (such as karting, paintball, hiking... ask and you'll find out) to classic excursions to Zakopane, Auschwitz, or further to Warsaw, and everywhere in Malopolska. Very professional service and incredibly rich offer. The main asset of this agency is its national network, which is very useful if you want to venture into the unknown outside Krakow.

This pedestrian avenue was once lined with roses, the symbol of the socialist regime, and served as a showcase and parade ground for the communist authorities. Until 1989, a 7 t statue of Lenin stood in the middle of the avenue. In order to realize the project, the management of the steel plant deprived the employees of the thirteenth month and the quarterly bonus, and the statue became the focal point of the popular revolts. In April 1979, a bomb was even placed under the statue, without success.

In the basement of the theater, the Interactive Theater Museum allows visitors to experience the main techniques of theatrical production. This is arguably the most technological museum in Krakow, with the tour taking place through interactive apps, touch screens, tablets and other digital exhibits. You can compose your own music for a production, change the lighting, sound and music on a stage, explore a "virtual dressing room" to learn about costumes. Amazing.

This street, which runs from the Słowacki theater to the center of the Old Town (Mały Rynek), has an old-fashioned charm. Much quieter and less frequented by tourists, the stores and restaurants here are generally more luxurious. At no. 24, you'll find a former synagogue that was converted to Orthodox worship after the Second World War. The Byzantine-inspired interior decorations are well worth a visit, though only during services.

Beautiful 19th century building is only temporary exhibitions, engravings, paintings, but also of photos, all eras and all countries.