More than five million people visit Poland’s ‘second city’ each year, but take a look around and you come to realise that there is absolutely nothing second rate about the place.  As one of Poland’s oldest cities, Kraków’s past is impressively well preserved in its well-travelled streets and grand architecture.  Its museums and art galleries are filled with the finest renaissance art imaginable, making Kraków a cultural haven.
 
Old Town
 
Where ever you visit in Old Town, you’re bound to have a whale of a time.  Kraków commands an eye-catching skyline due to its many towers, the grandest of which is Old Town’s Town Hall Tower.  Despite having undergone several reconstructions over the years, the tower still retains much of its 13^th century gothic architecture.  Its lookout platform stands nearly 70 metres in the air, and gives visitors a spectacular view that reaches the Kraków horizon.
 
Next, take a trip back to the times of courageous princes and fire-breathing dragons, with a visit to Wawel castle.  The stronghold can be found on Wawel hill; said to be the lair of the ferocious Wawel dragon.  If you wish to get a better picture of this fiendish foe, visit the nearby Wawel cathedral, where you will find ‘authentic’ dragon bones hanging from the walls.  A menacing statue of the scaly monster sits on the hill; along with a plaque commemorating the slaying of the beast by Prince Krakus.  Don’t get too close, you may get burnt!
 
Finally, why not head out after dark and take a romantic stroll along Old Town’s cobbled streets, seeing each beautifully designed structure, illuminated by skyward spotlights.   
 
Kazimierz
 
Kraków’s Jewish district is a located near the Vistula River, and has been the home of Kraków’s main Jewish community since the 14^th century.  The thriving community remained in Kazimierzuntil they were forcefully relocated to the nearby Podgorze ghetto by the Nazis during the Second World War.  Unfortunately, the once lively town fell into ruin, and remained in a constant state of repair until Hollywood director Steven Spielberg chose the location for his World War II epic Schindler's List in 1993.  Spielberg chose the district for its authenticity, and the interest generated by the multi Oscar-winner led to its massive renovation. 
 
Today, Kazimierz is once again full of life.  Since the turn of the century, an innumerable amount of trendy bars and quaint cafes have sprung up throughout the district, contributing to its animated nightlife.  However, meandering through its enchanting narrow streets, you are still able to catch glimpses of the quarter’s colourful past.  The most striking reminder is undoubtedly Tempel Synagogue, which will leave you awe-struck thanks to its chalk-like neo-Renaissance facade.  You will undoubtedly be drawn to enter by the exquisite chandeliers which hang from the structure’s high ceilings, generating a welcoming glow.
 
If you’re keen to try some of the local cuisine, Kazimierz’s bustling outdoor market is a real find.  Inspect each wooden stall from the most delicious home-baked biscuits, mulled wine, and all kinds of whimsical ornaments and trinkets.
 
Nowa Huta
 
Nowa Huta is located on Kraków’s most eastwardly frontier, and is one of the city’s largest and most populous districts.  Translating into English as “The New Steel Mill”; the city has strong ties to Poland’s communist past.  However, Polish Socrealism isn’t the be all and end all of Nowa Huta’s illustrious history.  The Wanda mound is a monument erected to mark the final resting place of Princess Wanda.  The short climb to the top is filled with magnificent sights of the lush greenery that encircles the mound.  Wanda was the 8^th century daughter of dragon-slaying founder of Kraków Prince Krakus, and the story goes that Wanda took her own life to avoid the compulsory marriage of a brutal knight.
 
Fast-forward twelve centuries with a trip to the Kraków Historical Museum, which charts Nowa Huta’s existence since 1949.  So get an in-depth account of the Soviet Union’s occupation of the area after the war, and their construction of Europe’s biggest steel mill.  The city itself was designed around the mill, combining an array of architectural styles.  Walking its streets you are reminded of the city’s communist era with the egalitarian apartment buildings which are scattered throughout.  These social realism inspired designs are intertwined with classy, refined renaissance architecture, much of which is found in Nowa Huta’s centre square. 
 
Auschwitz
 
If you feel you’ve experienced Kraków to the full and have some spare time, why not travel a mere 30 miles west and visit Auschwitz?  You do not have to be a Second World War fanatic to appreciate a tour of this fascinated place, as expert guides will fill you in on all you need to know in an engaging manner.
 
To give a brief overview, Adolf Hitler began implementing his ‘final solution’ during 1942, which involved the building of many death camps such as this one.  What the Nazi Führer had planned was essentially mass genocide, with Auschwitz claiming the lives of more than a million Jews.  Pass underneath the ominous Nazi slogan ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ (‘Work Sets You Free’) as you enter through the camp’s notorious gates.  Pay a moving visit to its murderous gas chambers, placing you in the shoes of the innocent victims who were put to death in these dark and ghastly enclosures.  Finally, make your way over to the museum.  Inside you will find an astonishing glass case, designed to represent a day’s worth of gassings, exhibiting around 25,000 pairs of shoes.  A visit to Auschwitz may stir your emotions, yet it is an experience you will remember for the rest of your life.
 
Round Up

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