Krakow – Medieval centre with a modern spirit

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Krakow – Medieval centre with a modern spirit

Once the royal capital of Poland, Krakow is now its cultural heart. Art, music, film and literary events fill the calendar in Krakow's open-air celebrations and glittering theatres. Its diverse architecture gives a glimpse of Krakow's storied history, from the Gothic towers of St. Mary's Basilica to the Renaissance splendour of the Cloth Hall. Art nouveau cafés rub shoulders with renovated industrial warehouse spaces in this lively university city. The medieval Old Town is one of central Europe's best-preserved, escaping destruction during WWII. Here, colourful gabled houses give way to music concerts, poetry readings and karaoke nights behind their heavy wooden doors. The Royal Castle sits above it all from its vantage point on Wawel Hill overlooking Krakow. It hosts multiple exhibition spaces within its fortressed walls alongside a 14th century cathedral – the site for many Royal Coronations.

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Top Attractions in Krakow

Rynek Glowny – Krakow's Central Square

Rynek Glowny Central Square sits at the heart of Krakow's medieval Old Town. The square exudes a non-stop buzz both day and night, ringed with open-air cafés, restaurants, pubs, and live music venues. St. Mary's Basilica looms over the square at one end, the 13th-century Town Hall Tower at the other. The 16th-century Cloth Hall sits at the square's centre, dividing it neatly in two with its rectangular shape. Long a hub for European trade, today the hall heaves with bustling stalls vending artisan handicrafts and souvenirs.
Kazimierz – the former Jewish district

Positioned just south of the Old Town, the Kazimierz district was once a powerful city of its own. Founded by King Kazimierz the Great in 1335, it grew over the centuries to become a thriving centre of commerce and hub for Jewish life in Poland. You can gain greater understanding of its history by visiting historic synagogues, the Jewish ghetto wall and Schindler's Factory. Today, Kazimierz is Krakow's bohemian neighbourhood. Alternative art galleries, trendy cafés and antique shops nestle inside its hidden garden courtyards and crumbling façades, and music fills the streets during the Jewish Culture Festival.
St. Mary's Basilica – A marvel of architecture

With two towers and a sturdy brick façade, St. Mary's Basilica is hard to miss, nestled at one end of Krakow's Central Square. Gloriously Gothic in construction, the taller of the two towers was used as a watchtower during the Middle Ages. Climb to the top to admire the view; and listen for the bugle call which still rings out on the hour. The basilica's interior is marked with an exquisitely carved wooden altarpiece and blue vaulted ceiling dotted with stars. Tinted light filters through the abundance of stained glass, creating a warm glow throughout.
Wawel Royal Castle – Krakow's crown jewel

Wawel Royal Castle is Poland's former seat of power, today a magnificent national museum. Although a castle has stood on these grounds since the 11th century, the Wawel you now see was constructed five centuries later in the Italian Renaissance style. Its wealth of cultural treasures is divided into five separate museums. Explore the opulent State Rooms and Royal Private Apartments, admire the glittering crown jewels inside the Treasury, or simply wander around the sprawling castle grounds at your leisure. Perched on a hilltop, it affords sweeping views over Krakow's Old Town.

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