Krakow Holiday - the Heart of Poland

Poland is not the first destination that spring to the minds of many British travellers seeking holidays, but the ancient city of Krakow is certainly worth a visit for the curious.

Situated in the south of the country in the “Little Poland” region, Krakow is felt by many to be the real heart of this proud and historic nation.

Unlike the capital city, Warsaw, which suffered horribly during the Second World War and under Soviet domination, Krakow has remained remarkably unscathed by Poland’s troubled 20th Century history.

Krakow is instantly striking in its appearance, its centre dominated by brightly-coloured Renaissance architecture. There are well located hotels in the area.

Its beautiful Market Square is a vast, central focus for the city, which measures 200 metres or more on every side, making it the second largest in Europe after St Mark’s square in Venice.

In the centre of the square is the Cloth Hall, a well-preserved medieval exchange, which now plays home to an arcade of boutiques. The exterior of the Cloth Hall comprises numerous cafes and galleries.

Dominating the square is the famed St Mary’s church – or the Basilica of the Ascension of the Holy Virgin Mary, to give it its full name - with its two towers – perhaps the most well-known icon of Krakow.

Every hour for the last 600 years, a bugle has been played from the basilica’s spire, and the tradition continues to this day.

In a tiny room, 54 metres up one of the towers is the “Highest Post” in Poland, from which it is said that all of the former Polish lands can be seen – even to the Baltic sea.

Inside the 14th century building is an atmosphere of great calm and peace. The windows are tiny compared, and the darkness that lies upon the church’s magnificent wooden High Altar, carved by Veit Stoss, serves only to emphasise its splendour.

Krakow’s old centre is surrounded by an area of parkland, known as the Planty, serving as a green city wall.

Krakow’s other historic monuments include the Barbican, the Royal Castle on Wawel hill, and the Kazimierz Jewish district. It is also home to numerous galleries, museums and other places of interest – making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a European Capital of Culture in 2000.

Krakow has, since the 14th century, been a centre of learning – and today it is home to 18 universities. It is also home to Poland’s oldest football team, Cracowia Krakow – established in 1906 – and 2005’s league champions, Wisla Krakow.

The city has good transport connections and its easy to find flights there, and offers day trips along the Vistula which can enhance your holiday, , into the Tatra mountains, to the salt mines of Wieliczka, and, of course, to the neighbouring town of Oscwiecim – home to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps and memorials.

Krakow has its own airport, named after its most famous son, Karol Wojtyla. Pope John Paul II International Airport has good connections to other major European cities.

But Krakow is not just a city of memories. It is a lively, modern, youthful city as well, with some of the best night life Poland has to offer, particularly in Kazimierz.

However, even the night life can be historic: Krakow is home to Poland’s oldest restaurant, Wierzynek, which opened in 1364.