Car Hire Kraków - Mini guide to Kraków
Krakow is Poland's cultural gem. A former capital, it boasts a medieval university, royal castle,and an historic Jewish quarter. The royal capital for half a millennium, Kraków has witnessed and absorbed more history than any other Polish city.
Ringed by parkland, the Old Town is compact and utterly charming. The main market square is flanked by historic buildings, museums and churches.
Laid out in 1257, the Rynek Glowny (main market square) is one of the largest medieval market squares in Europe - and a remarkable set piece fronted by elegant façades. It is dominated by the sixteenth-century Sukiennice (cloth hall), which continues to perform its role as a trading centre with lively market stalls and pavement cafés in and around the building.
St Adalbert's Church is one of the oldest, dating back to the 10th century. Enthusiastic priests have been known to open the coffins in the Church of the Reformed Franciscans, enabling persistent tourists a morbidly fascinating glimpse of some of the mummified bodies.
It’s not surprising that one third of tourists visit Krakow to see the concentration camps an hour's drive away. Although the former ghetto had largely fallen into decline since World War II, the area is rapidly changing in response to the renewed interest brought about by the film, Schindler's List and the Jewish culture. Trace the steps of Oscar Schindler's stamping ground, or movie buffs can admire some of Mr Spielberg's film locations.
The memories of the Jewish community who lived in the Kazimierz district for centuries (up until the Holocaust) are collected in physical form at the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow, and the Old Synagogue which houses a permanent exhibit, Tradition and Culture of Polish Jews, to round off the historical tour.
There are direct flights to Warsaw from major European destinations, as well as from US cities such as New York and Chicago. There are also train and buses from many European destinations. Road connections with Poland are good but beware of border delays, especially when crossing from other eastern European countries.
