Visit Kraków

After a fifteen-minute stroll from the Royal Castle on Wawel Hill we will enter the Old Jewish Quarter of Krakow. It was established by King Kazimierz as a separate town. It simply became a centre of Jewish life and culture. Now it’s full of lively galleries, cafes and beautiful gardens. There are also a lot of well known hotels and clubs located in Kazimierz.

After the WWII the District was a bit forgotten in comparison to other parts of the city. It was a terrible time during which synagogues were being destroyed together with antique tenements. Many Jews were persecuted and a lot of them died, e.g. in Auschwitz death camp. Nowadays Kazimierz becomes more and more interesting both for Cracow citizens and tourists who can’t help getting to know amazing history of this charming place. Fortunately, local authorities seem to be concerned about renovation of old and dilapidated buildings.

Kazimierz is aslo famous for its stylish cafes, whose iterior are designed in the old fashioned way. Candles light up cosy rooms and beautiful black and white photographs are hanging on the walls. That’s the reason why tourists are so startled by its extraordinary climate. The nightlife is really lively there and the best clubs are Alchemia, Singer, Mleczarnia or some Jewish pubs like Klezmer Hois and Ariel.

As we’ve certainly noticed Kazimierz is now undergoing some kind of renaissance. Not only Jewish culture and heritage is being brought back to life but also Christian one. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to gain some kind of amazing experience. You can only wander around the Jewish district of Kazimierz to feel the old-style atmosphere.

On our sightseeing route we shouldn’t miss the Corpus Christi Church and the Tempel Synagogue. There are also Jewish cemeteries such as the Remuh, the New and a wonderful Galicia Museum. Plac Nowy is extremely popular among foreign visitors. It’s a place which is becoming a large beer garden during holidays.