Leigh Travel Club

KRAKOW

   This Polish city is a treasure trove of Gothic and Renaissance architecture

   and artwork.

               Local Time: GMT + 1     Flight time from U.K. to Krakow: 2.5 hrs.

  Cur       Currency: Zloty.      

 

IN AND AROUND THE SQUARE

 

   Town Square (Rynek Glowny) - This is Europe's largest medieval Square, the

   size of four football pitches.

 

   Textile Warehouse (Sukiennice) - Slap bang in the middle of the Market Square. 

   This has been enlarged since 1257 when Krakow received city status. The upper

   floor houses part of the National Museum of Polish Art.

 

            Town Hall Tower - This is the remains of Krakow's old town hall and houses

a b        a branch of the Museum of Krakow.   

 

   Cloth Hall - Full of craft stalls laden with amber jewellery, leather and mountains

   of sweets.

 

   The Church of the Virgin Mary - Main parish church - magnificent inside.

 

   St. Adalbert's Church - One of Krakow's oldest churches - very interesting inside

   particularly the crypt and dome ceiling.

 

   Statue of Adam Mickiewicz - The monument to the greatest Polish romantic poet

   and a popular meeting place for the locals.

 

   Europes largest underground museum - Due to be opened in June 2010, this is

   a site of an archaeological dig, which will reveal medieval streets and market stalls,

   houses and relics.

 

   Wavel Hill -  Here you will find a the Castle, a Renaissance Palace, Krakow's

   Gothic Cathedral, museums and The Dragons Lair. The Cathedral is the location

   of coronations and burial of Kings.

 

   Kaziemierz - Enclosed by a bend in of the river Vistula, from the 14^th century until  

t  the Second World War it was home to the Jewish population of Krakow. This is

   the Jewish district where Schindler's List was filmed.

 

   Grodzka Street - One of the oldest streets in Krakow and part of the Royal

   Route.  

 

   Shindler's Emila Factory - This is where the rescued Jews worked and the

   factory is to be opened as a museum in Spring 2010.

 

   Podgorze - One of the city's most vibrant cultural spaces: many of the

   synagogues have been transformed into art galleries, bookstores and

   a cultural centre. In Podgorze you will find  Hero's Square  and

  The Eagle Pharmacy, where there is an exhibition that portrays life

i  in the ghetto.

 

   Wieliczka Salt Mines - A well deserved place on the UNESCO world

   Heritage List. Don't miss the Chapel of Salt.

 

   Auschwitz-Birkenau - This former concentration camp is now a

   poignant museum.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.cracow-life.com   - Leading English- language web site for Krakow   

 

 

                          RECOMMENDED HOTELS  AND GUESTHOUSES

 

HOTEL AMBER - Where we stayed, and less than five minutes from centre

of the Old Town.    

www.hotel-amber.pl/  from £80

 

TRECIUS GUESTHOUSE -    Located in a distinguished old burgher house

in the Old Town, this has bright rooms and friendly service.  The location

couldn't be better.

www.trecius.krakow.pl  from £44

 

HOTEL SASKI KRAKOW - Near the main square in the Old Town and in

a lovely historic building, the Saski has spacious rooms that range from the simple

to elegant suites.

www.hotelsaski.com.pl   from £45

 

HOTEL AMADEUS - With its Mozartian flair, this is one of Krakows most

refined hotels.  Its 22 rooms are tastefully furnished, there's a sauna and well

regarded restaurant.

www.hotel-amadeus.pl from £67.00

 

GRAND HOTEL - More than a century old and ageing gracefully, Krakow's

Grand is a luxurious choice. The rooms are a mix of antique furniture and

modern touches.

www.gran.pl  from £87.00

 

HOTEL WENTZL - An18th-century building over looking the main Town

square, this is a premier Krakow address.  Spacious and supremely comfortable

rooms have dark wood beam ceilings and huge windows giving panoramic views.

www.wentz.pl From £147.00 

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