Krakow is Poland's prime tourist attraction, a must with few equals in the entire Central and Eastern Europe. The place has been settled since the Stone Age at least. In 1038 Krakow became the capital of Poland, and Polish monarchs took up their residence in its Wawel Royal Castle, for centuries the sanctuary of the Piast, Jagiellon and Vasa dynasties. Inside the castle is a unique collection of tapestries owned by king Sigismund August, and on the ceiling of the Envoy Hall, also known as the "Heads Hall," are 194 wooden heads of men and women from all walks of life.
Beside the castle is the Wawel Cathedral-Basilica, Poland's national sanctuary with 1000-year-old history. It is arguably the most interesting place in the whole of Poland, home to Pope John Paul II, as Karol Wojtyla, for four decades--practically throughout his entire adult life. It is also the burial ground of most Polish royalty as well as their greatest national heroes, two poets, four saints and countless Krakow bishops.
The Old Town historical district in Krakow's heart is actually the medieval city established in 1257 by Prince Boleslav V, the ruler of Poland at the time. Its well preserved original grid of streets with the huge central Grand Square, Europe's largest in the Middle Ages, seems the last stage in the perfection of medieval city planning. Fortunately, the historic city survived the last war almost intact. UNESCO entered the whole of Krakow's Old Town in the list of the world's cultural heritage.
The best way to enjoy Krakow is on foot. Almost all of the city's Old Town has been practically turned into a charming pedestrian district with most of its famous landmarks within easy walking distance. And every street and every square here breathes its own life manifest in its cafes, shops, galleries, and museums.
Tags: Poland Krakow Wawel Cathedral Castle Jagiellonian University museum archives churches
