2. Cracow's location
Cracow is in southern Poland, in the
central-western part of the Lesser
Poland Voivodeship, on the Vistula
River. Krakow is located at the
junction of several geographical
areas: the Krakow Gate, the
Oświęcim Valley, the Sandomierska
Valley, the foothills of the Western
Beskids and the Cracowow-
Częstochowa Upland. Its territory
also includes the mouths of the
Vistula tributaries. Krakow's location
makes it a base for trips to the
Polish mountains or trips to the
picturesque Cracow-Częstochowa
Upland.
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Picture: http://www.e-tapetki.pl/286103,domy-tatry-polska-dachy-krakow-gory.php
3. General information about Cracow
Located in southern Poland on the Vistula River, it is
the second city in terms of population and the second
in terms of area. The official capital of Poland until
1795 and the coronation city with the cemetery of
Polish kings at Wawel. Since 1000, it has been the
capital of the Krakow diocese (one of five in Poland at
that time), and since 1925 the capital of the
archdiocese and metropolis. After gaining
independence in 1918, the provincial city is also the
center of the Krakow agglomeration and the Krakow
metropolis. Krakow is the capital of historic Lesser
Poland. It is located at the foot of the Krakowska
Gate, the Nidziańska Valley and the Western Beskids.
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Picture: https://blog.noclegi.pl/zabytki-krakowa/
4. CRACOW' S POPULATION
In 2023, it was recorded that Cracow is inhabited by over
804,000 people and this number is constantly growing.
Cracow is one of the few cities that accepts a larger
number of refugees from different countries for the
duration of their studies.
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Picture: https://polskazachwyca.pl/top-10/zabytki-krakowa-poznaj-7-flagowych-atrakcji/
5. History of
Cracow
Cracow is one of the oldest cities in Poland
and can boast many valuable architectural
structures. There are many institutions and
cultural institutions collecting valuable
monuments. In the past, the city belonged to
the Hanseatic League, which united the most
important trade centers in Europe. Until
1795, Craców was formally the capital of
Poland, and until 1611 the seat of the rulers
of the Polish state. It was a royal city of the
Kingdom of Poland. The city had the right to
actively participate in the election of the king.
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Picture: https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/126171227031421394/
6. Cracow's tourist
infrastructure
In 2000, Cracow was the first city in Poland and Central and
Eastern Europe to become the European Capital of Culture. In
the second decade of the 21st century, it was also awarded the
title of European City of Sports 2014 and UNESCO City of
Literature. In 2019, Cracow was visited by over 14 million
tourists, i.e., 550,000 more than more than in the previous
year. Visitors spent almost PLN 7.5 billion in the city, which is
over a billion more than in 2018. This year, Cracow was visited
by almost 10.8 million domestic tourists and 3.3 million
foreigners. Most foreign guests came from Great Britain,
Germany, Italy, France and Spain. Respondents traditionally
mentioned the main purposes of coming to Krakow:
monuments, holidays, entertainment, meetings with friends
and family, communication and business purposes.
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Picture: https://krakowdirect.com/krakow-map/
7. About
monuments
Cracow is one of the most beautiful
and historically valuable cities in
Poland. It gained city rights at the
beginning of the 13th century, and
until 1795 it was the capital and
most important city in the country.
Currently, this huge metropolis is
an important educational, tourist
and cultural center visited by
tourists from all over Europe.
Cracow is the largest city in Poland
in terms of the number of UNESCO
Heritage Sites.
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Picture: http://www.mykrakow.com.pl/
8. The Wawel
Royal Castle
The Wawel Royal Castle is one of the most
important monuments in Krakow. The
beautiful, monumental building currently
houses an extensive museum with over 70
exhibition rooms, covering a total area of
over 7,000 square meters. The building was
completed in the 15th century, although its
commencement dates to over 200 years
earlier. For centuries, the castle was the most
important residence of rulers and kings in
Poland: it was here that royal insignia, huge
collections of works of art and the most
valuable family memorabilia were kept, and
the Royal Castle itself was an official and
defensive place. Currently, inside you can
admire a rich collection of paintings, the
Royal Chambers and Apartments, the
Treasury and the Armory, as well as a
wonderful collection of oriental art.
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Picture: https://lokalee.app/items/wawel-castle-and-wawel-hill-audioguided-tour
9. Cracow's Barbican
Cracow's Barbican is one of the best-preserved defensive
parts of the former city. Its construction was completed in the
15th century, and the fortification itself boasts 3-meter-thick
walls and many defensive towers. The barbican was built in
response to the threat of attacks from Turkish and
Wallachian invaders by King John Albert. Currently, the
facility is one of the parts of the Cracow Historical Museum,
which houses permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Interestingly, the Barbican is also used as a sports arena,
where, among others, martial arts competitions, fencing
championships and dance and court art competitions.
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Picture: https://positivitrip.com/cracovia-cosa-vedere-nella-capitale-europea-della-cultura-gastronomica-2019/
10. St. Mary's Basilica
St. Mary's Basilica (commonly called St. Mary's Church) is
the most important Christian temple in Krakow. The first
brick church in the place of today's basilica was built at the
beginning of the 13th century, but even earlier there was a
wooden Christian temple here. The basilica is appreciated
primarily by lovers of sacred art. Here you can see the
wonderful Veit Stoss Altar, polychrome wall works by Jan
Matejko as well as paintings, side altars and pulpits. On
one of the towers of St. Mary's Church there is a historic
(considered to be one of the largest and oldest) set of
church bells, which includes the Burgher Bell weighing
950 kilograms, most likely built around 1320.
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Picture: http://www.marcinkrysiak.pl/pl/zdjecie/377/kosciol_mariacki_Krakow_Polska_mia
sto/
11. The Cloth Hall
The Cloth Hall is one of the most characteristic buildings in Krakow, located in the central part of the Main
Square. The wonderful Renaissance building was built in the 13th century and from the very beginning - until
today, despite numerous renovations and architectural modifications - it has served a commercial function.
Currently, the Cloth Hall houses stands with souvenirs and handicrafts, jewelry, decorations and tableware. In
the Cloth Hall there is also the Gallery of Polish Painting and Sculpture of the 19th Century (part of the
National Museum in Krakow) and the entrance to the underground tourist route, which allows you to visit the
historic corridors and rooms under the Main Market Square.
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Picture: https://www.galeriadruku.com.pl/obrazy/miasta/europa/Krakow/krakow-w-nocy
12. Cracow's Main
Market Square
Cracow's Main Market Square in the Old
Town was marked out in the mid-13th
century. The huge square covers an area
of 4 hectares, which makes it one of the
largest markets in Europe. It is surrounded
by picturesque, centuries-old tenement
houses, churches (including St. Mary's
Basilica) and historic buildings. Social and
cultural life flourishes on Cracow's Main
Square: there are, among others: cafes,
exclusive restaurants, student bars and
beer gardens. You can also admire here a
characteristic sculpture by the outstanding
artist Igor Mitoraj, which depicts the face
of Eros (Eros bendato).
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Picture: https://joshmelnick.blogspot.com/2014/05/main-market-square-rynek-glowny-krakow.html
13. Cracow legends
The first one is about the Wawel dragon, defeated by
the brave shoemaker Skuba, who killed a ram, stuffed it
with sulfur and tar, and then threw it under the dragon's
pit. To quench his thirst, the monster drank the Vistula
water until he burst. There was great joy among the
inhabitants of Krakow, and the shoemaker made many
pairs of shoes from the skin of the slain dragon. As
legend has it, they can still be bought in the Cloth Hall.
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Picture: https://polandvirtual.blogspot.com/2016/09/smok-wawelski-legendy.html
14. Cracow legend
The pride of Krakow is St. Mary's Church with two towers. The
architectural peculiarity of the church is the fact that they are
uneven. The bugle call is played from the higher one, called the
Bugle Hall, and the church bell called Półzygmunt hangs in the
lower one. There are no surviving plans that would explain the
different heights of the towers. There is a well-known legend
written by Józef Mączyński about two brothers, famous
bricklayers, who started construction at the end of the 13th
century. When the older brother realized that his tower was much
higher, he murdered his brother, not wanting to be overtaken.
However, his remorse did not give him peace, so he stabbed a
knife into his heart and then threw himself from the top of the
tower. This knife, covered with brotherly blood, still hangs today,
chained in the Cloth Hall.
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Picture: https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/10/ea/f7/b7/sylwetka-bazyliki-
mariackiej.jpg
15. Cyclical events - Sacrum Profanum
The event organizers claim that if anyone has trouble describing what they saw and
heard during the festival, their mission has been successful. The idea was to create
a festival that escapes all musical boundaries. A characteristic feature of this
musical event in Cracow is the interpenetration of what is "sacred" in music
(classical) with what is "profane" in music (experimental, avant-garde) and the
interaction of these two, seemingly alien worlds. The festival gives space to artists
who are not afraid to go beyond musical patterns. Sacrum Profanum is an ideal
event for people who are looking for something new in music and want to learn
something they have never experienced before.
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Picture: https://rove.me/to/krakow/sacrum-profanum-festival
16. Cyclical events – Cracow
Live Festival
This two-day event has become a permanent fixture not only in Krakow,
but also in the nationwide calendar of the most important music
events. Every year, the festival attracts tens of thousands of music fans
to Krakow. World-class stars and the best Polish musicians perform on
two stages. The festival is accompanied by festival-related events.
During the last few editions, the following appeared on the KLF stage:
Macklemore, Jessie Ware, Kendrick Lamar, Die Antwoord, Ellie
Goulding, Lana Del Rey, Wiz Khalifa, alt-J and Birdy. The Polish music
scene was represented by: Krzysztof Zalewski, Natalia Nykiel, Daria
Zawiałow, Pezet, xxanaxx, Ralph Kaminski, Piotr Zioła, Ten Typ Mes,
Pablopavo and Ludziki.
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Photo: https://krakow.naszemiasto.pl/krakow-live-festival-2017-dwa-dni-z-gwiazdami-muzyki-pod/ar/c13-
4209220
17. Cyclical events –
Wodecki Twist
Festival
This is probably the youngest of the
cyclical events in Cracow. Its second
edition took place in 2019. The event was
created in tribute to Zbigniew Wodecki,
who died in 2017, and his extraordinary
work. The artist was not afraid of musical
experiments. So far, the festival has
featured Chris Botti, Anna Maria Jopek,
Kayah, Matt Dusk, Dawid Podsiadło, Aga
Zaryan, Monika Brodka, Alicja Majewska,
Kuba Badach, Sławek Uniatowski.
Concerts as part of this musical event in
Krakow take place in several locations,
including outdoors on the Vistula River.
The festival was very well received, so well
that some of the musicians performing at
it went on a tour around Poland with the
program "Seize the Day" to recall Zbigniew
Wodecki's greatest hits.
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Photo: https://polsatgo.pl/wideo/programy/wodecki-twist-festiwal-2022-uroczysty-wodecki/5034280/wodecki-twist-
festiwal-2022-uroczysty-wodecki/881bff38ce9f1bba0d5efacb7a87e54b
18. Cyclical events - Wianki
Wianki is a festival in the full meaning of the word. The event in Cracow
is not limited only to musical events, it is accompanied by numerous
festival-related activities. The stage is open not only to recognized
artists, but also to promising debutants. So far, the following people
have performed at the festival: Lenny Kravitz, Fisz Emade Tworzywo,
Mela Koteluk, Barbara Wrońska, Misia Furtak. An additional attraction
is the silent disco and Club Night organized together with the Unsound
festival. Wianki hosts its events in several places in Cracow to surround
the city with the sounds of music. Every year, we can't miss the joint
letting of wreaths on the Vistula River. Importantly: admission to all
events is free.
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Photo: https://krakow.wiki/wianki-fete-de-la-musique/
19. Important monuments - The
Adam Mickiewicz Monument
The monument is in Cracow on the eastern
side of the Main Square, between the Cloth
Hall and the end of Sienna Street. The
monument, 10 m high, depicts the poet
standing on a pedestal, at the foot of which
there are four allegories on a multi-step
pedestal: Fatherland, Courage, Science and
Poetry. There is a dedication on the
pedestal: "To Adam Mickiewicz the Nation".
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Picture: https://pixels.com/featured/adam-mickiewicz-monument-in-krakow-artur-bogacki.html
20. Important
monuments -
Monument to
Nicolaus Copernicus
The monument is in Cracow, in Planty, at
the end of Gołębia Street. It was built in
1899 according to the design of Cyprian
Godebski, and on June 8, 1900, it was
ceremoniously unveiled in the courtyard
of the Collegium Maius of the
Jagiellonian University. In 1953, on the
initiative of Karol Estreicher, the
monument was moved to its current
location, on Planty in front of the
Witkowski Collegium of the Jagiellonian
University.
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Picture: https://polska-org.pl/9554314,foto.html
21. Important monuments -
MNK The Matejko
Equestrian monument of King Władysław II Jagiełło in
Cracow, in the Old Town District, on Jan Matejko
Square, erected in 1910 on the 500th anniversary of
the Battle of Grunwald; demolished in 1939 by the
Nazis, reconstructed in 1976 according to the design of
Marian Konieczny; in front of the monument there is
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was funded by the
outstanding composer and politician Ignacy Jan
Paderewski. He did it "for the glory of the forefathers -
for the comfort of the brothers", as can be read on the
monument's plinth.
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Picture: https://jakzwiedze.pl/atrakcja/pomnik-grunwaldzki-w-krakowie/
22. Important monuments -
Dżok The Dog Monument
The monument is located on Czerwiański Boulevard on the
Vistula River in Cracow, near Wawel and the Grunwaldzki
Bridge. The monument commemorates the dog Dżok, a
black crossbreed, whose owner died of a heart attack in
tragic circumstances near the Grunwaldzki Roundabout. The
dog was waiting there for his master. Fed by the inhabitants
of Krakow, he aroused surprise and sympathy. After about a
year of waiting, he was taken in by his new owner, Maria
Müller. The woman died in 1998, and Dżok escaped and,
wandering around the railway area, died under the wheels of
a moving train.
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Picture: https://zooart.com.pl/blog/pies-dzok-symbol-psiej-wiernosci-poznaj-
blizej-te-historie
23. Useful links
.
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Kraków pogoda na dziś
Oficjalny serwis miejski -
Magiczny Kraków
Weather
Cracow's official
website
Map of Cracow
Map of
Cracow
24. How to get to Cracow?
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By car:
1 hour 15
minutes
83,3 km via the
A4 motorway
By train:
Approximately 1
hour 35 minutes
From Dąbrowa
Górnicza to
Kraków Główny
By bike:
Approximately
4 hours 10
minutes
77 km
25. Sources:
■ Kraków – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
■ Historia Krakowa – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
■ 9 Najważniejszych Zabytków Krakowa - Podróż Trwa (podroztrwa.pl)
■ Dąbrowa Górnicza do Kraków – Mapy Google
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