Who has been to Krakow?

Travel Info
I am thinking of visiting eastern europe the end of november--yes, I know. I am crazy ;) I am thinking of taking the train from krakow to bratislava to vienna to prague. Anybody have info on krakow and bratislava ?? THANKS!

Travel Tips

krakow was beautiful and loads of fun - try the cherry liquor - ooh it was good! the hotel senacki was a nice place - right there but not too right there - didn't even need earplugs to sleep - which i recommend if you're in the square area.
hit the older area of Kazimerz - it's worth it.
St MAry's with the trumpetor - wonderful history and beautiful church. he altar was hand carved and the sides are the faces of the merchants who paid for it. it was taken and hidden in eddenburg to hide becuase the carver was german. the trumpet calls every two hours and there are 3 musicians who take 24 hour shifts - it's 200 steps up! anyway.... you have to listen. i have the full stroy if you want more information - email me.
sitting and wathching the street musicians and entertainers - a treat in and of itself. Cloth Hall is the place to be fo shoppng and treasures. many vendors take visa too!
Head o see the Wawel CAstle and the dragon - you MUST see the dragon along the river at night!! In the castel there are some great books in the shop - granted they are for kids (technically) but the folk legends ar great! You can also walk up the bell tower - that was really something to see!! The church inside is amazing - it's where Karol Wojtyla was cardinal and verything and there are some great tombs - The only FEMALE KING of Poland - Jadwiga.
There is so much to see and so much to do - be hungry because the food is outstnading - try the mushroom soup!!!
If you make it to the university - walk in and look up to your left - you will see a very twisted chimney - no the builder wasn't drunk, it's the only one remaining from the original gothic buildings! Copernicus' astrological items are still there and it's the oldest european university 1364!
if you like legends and folk tales - email me and i'll send you some great ones about Krakow, the ragon, castle, etc. won't post them all here but.... they are readily availalble. if you have the change and can visit Auschwitz, i would recommend it. Also the Salt Mines are really something to see if you can get there!!! Wielecia Mines - man that was something to see!
It may be silly but we had an awesome guide and i have all sorts of notes - just letme know and i'll email the rest!

Others
i have its kinda cool
http://www.krakow-info.com/

http://www.kasprzyk.demon.co.uk/www/krak...

Krak贸w (IPA: ['krakuf] (help路info); variant English spelling Cracow; in full Royal Capital City of Krak贸w, Polish: Kr贸lewskie Sto艂eczne Miasto Krak贸w, during Austrian rule: Krakau) see also Names of European cities in different languages) is one of the oldest and largest cities of Poland, with a 2004 population of 780,000 (1.4 million, counting adjacent communities). This historic city is situated on the Vistula (Wis艂a) River at the foot of Wawel Hill in the south of Little Poland (Ma艂opolska). It is the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (wojew贸dztwo ma艂opolskie) (since 1999); previously it was the capital of Krak贸w Voivodeship (since the 14th century).

Krak贸w has traditionally been one of the leading scientific, cultural and artistic centres of the country, the former seat of the Polish kings and national capital, and is considered by many to still be the heart of Poland, due to its history of more than a thousand years. Krak贸w is also a major centre of local and international tourism, attracting seven million visitors per year.
The old city of Krak贸w (Stare Miasto) has a rich architecture, mostly Renaissance with some examples of Baroque and Gothic. Krak贸w's palaces, churches and mansions display a richness of color, architectural details, stained glass, paintings, sculptures, and furnishings.

Among the most notable of the city's hundreds of historic buildings are: the Royal Castle and Cathedral on Wawel Hill, where King John III Sobieski is buried; the medieval Old Town with its beautiful square; Market Square (200 meters on a side); dozens of old churches and museums; the 14th-century buildings of the Jagiellonian University; as well as Kazimierz, the historical centre of Krak贸w's Jewish religious and social life.

The Gothic St. Mary's Church (Ko艣ci贸艂 Mariacki, actually a basilica) stands by the market place. It was built in the 14th century and boasts a famous wooden altar carved by Wit Stwosz. Every hour, a trumpet call, the hejna艂 mariacki, is sounded from the church's main tower.

Krak贸w hosts many annual artistic events, including some of international significance, such as the festival of Short Feature Films, Biennial of Graphics, and the Jewish Culture Festival. There are several active theaters, including:

The Old Theatre (Krak贸w) (Teatr Stary)
the Slowacki Theatre
Krak贸w Opera
Krak贸w Operetta
An ugly landmark is the incomplete high-rise Szkieletor.

Nearby points of interest include the salt mine in Wieliczka, the Tatra mountains, the historic city of Cz臋stochowa, the former concentration camp at Auschwitz, and Ojcowski National Park.

Krak贸w contains 28 museums and art galleries, such as the National Museum (Krak贸w) and Czartoryski Museum (Muzeum Czartoryskich).

Krak贸w is a major centre of education. Today there are 18 university-level institutions with about 10,000 faculty and 170,000 students.

Notable modern artists from or living in Krak贸w include:

Ewa Demarczyk
Tadeusz Kantor
Nigel Kennedy
S艂awomir Mro偶ek
Krzysztof Penderecki
Zbigniew Preisner
Wis艂awa Szymborska
Maciej Male艅czuk
Zbigniew Wodecki
Adam Marczynski
[edit]
Historic districts
The oldest parts of Krak贸w, united in late 18th century are:

Old Town (Stare Miasto) - the area once contained within the city walls, now encircled by a park known as Planty
Wawel - a limestone hill south of the Old Town, the site of the Royal Castle and the cathedral
Stradom and Kazimierz - south of Wawel; the latter was once divided into Christian and Jewish quarters
Kleparz - north of the Old Town
Areas added in the 19th and 20th centuries include:

Podg贸rze - built across the Vistula by the Austrians in the 19th century
Nowa Huta - built east of Krak贸w by the Communist regime after the Second World War
[edit]
Administrative districts
Stare Miasto
Grzeg贸rzki
Pr膮dnik Czerwony
Pr膮dnik Bia艂y
艁obz贸w
Bronowice
Bie艅czyce
Zwierzyniec
D臋bniki
艁agiewniki
Swoszowice
Wola Duchacka
Prokocim-Bie偶an贸w
Podg贸rze
Czy偶yny
Mistrzejowice
Gr臋ba艂贸w
Nowa Huta
[edit]
History
[edit]
Medieval
The earliest known settlement on the present site of Krak贸w was established on Wawel hill, and dates back to the 4th century. Legend attributes the town's establishment to the mythical ruler Krak, who built it above a cave occupied by a ravenous dragon.

Before the Polish state existed, Krak贸w was the capital of the tribe of Vistulans, subjugated for a short period by Great Moravia. Krak贸w's first appearance in historical records dates back to the 8th century, and notes that the prince of the Vistulians was baptized. The first mention of the name dates to 966, when Abraham ben Jacob mentioned it as a notable commercial centre.

After Great Moravia was destroyed by the Hungarians, Krak贸w became part of the kingdom of Bohemia. By the end of the 10th century, the city was a major center of trade. Around this time, it was incorporated into the holdings of the Piast dynasty of Poland. Several brick buildings were also constructed, including a castle, Romanesque churches, a cathedral, a basilica, and the St. Felix and Adaukt Church.

In 1038, Krak贸w became the seat of the Polish government. In 1079 on a hillock in nearby Ska艂ka, the Bishop of Krak贸w, saint Stanislaus of Szczepan贸w, was slain by order of Polish king Boles艂aw II the Bold. Two hundred years later the town was almost entirely destroyed in the Tatar invasions.

In 1257, the city was rebuilt, in a form which has remained practically unaltered, and received city rights under Magdeburg Law. But in 1259 and 1287 the city was again destroyed by the mongols. The year 1311 saw a rebellion against Poland's King W艂adys艂aw I. It was organised by W贸jt Albert and involved mostly German-speaking citizens of Krak贸w. The rebellion cost Poland the city of Gda艅sk, which was taken by the Teutonic Order, but German-speakers lost their political ambitions and began to Polonize.

Krak贸w rose to new prominence in 1364, when Casimir III of Poland founded the University of Krak贸w, the second in central Europe after the University of Prague. There had been a cathedral school under the auspices of the city's bishop since 1150. The city continued to grow under the joint Lithuanian-Polish Jagiellon dynasty (1386-1572). As the capital of a powerful state, it became a flourishing center of science and the arts. Many works of Renaissance art and architecture were created here during that time.

In 1475 delegates of the elector George the Rich of Bavaria came to Krak贸w to negotiate the marriage of Hedwig, the daughter of King Casimir IV Jagiello to George the Rich. Hedwig traveled for two months to Landshut in Bavaria, where an elaborate marriage celebration, the Landshut Wedding (Landshuter Hochzeit) took place.

[edit]
Renaissance
In 1468 the Italian humanist Filip Callimachus came to Krak贸w, where he worked as the teacher of the children of Kazimierz IV. In 1488 the imperial Poet Laureate and humanist Conrad Celtes founded the Sodalitas Litterarum Vistulana, a learned society based on the Roman Acadiemies. In 1489 Veit Stoss of Nuremberg finished his work on the Great Altar of the St. Mary's Church. He later also wrought a marble sarcophagus for Casimir IV. Numerous other artists, mainly from Nuremberg and Italy (Francesco Florentino, Bartholommeo Berecci, Santi Gucci, Mateo Gucci, Bernardo Morando, Giovanni Baptista di Quadro etc.), worked in Krak贸w. By 1500, Haller had established a printing press in the city.

In 1520, Johan Behem made the largest churchbell in Poland, named the Sigismund Bell after king Sigismund I. At the same time Hans D眉rer, younger brother of Albrecht D眉rer, was Sigismund's court painter. Hans von Kulmbach made the altar for the Johannis Church.

[edit]
Decline
In 1572, king Sigismund II died childless, and the throne passed to Sigismund III of the Swedish House of Vasa. Krak贸w's importance began to decline, accelerated by the pillaging of the city during the Swedish invasion, and an outbreak of plague that left 20,000 of the city's residents dead. Sigismund III moved his capital to Warsaw in 1596.

St. Andrew's Church.[edit]
After the partition of Poland
In the late 18th century, the weakened Polish state was absorbed by its more politically vigorous neighbors, Russia, the Austrian Habsburg Empire, and the Prussia. Krak贸w became part of the Austrian province of Galicia. Tadeusz Ko艣ciuszko initiated a revolt, the Ko艣ciuszko insurrection, in Krak贸w's market in 1794. The Prussian army put down the revolt, and looted Polish royal treasure kept in the city.

When Napoleon Bonaparte of the French Empire captured what had once been Poland, he established the Duchy of Warsaw (1809) as an independent but subordinate state. The Congress of Vienna (1815) restored the partition of Poland, but gave Krak贸w independence as the Free City of Krak贸w. The city again became the focus of a struggle for national sovereignty in 1846, during the Krak贸w Uprising. The uprising failed to spread outside the city to other Polish-inhabited lands, and was put down, resulting in Krak贸w's annexation by Austria.

After the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Austria granted autonomy to Galicia, making Polish a language of government and establishing a provincial diet. As this form of Austrian rule was more benevolent than that exercised by Russia and Prussia, Krak贸w became a Polish national symbol and a center of culture and art, known frequently as the "Polish Athens" (Polskie Ateny) or "Polish Mecca" to which Poles would flock to revere the symbols and monuments of Krak贸w's (and Poland's) great past. Several important commemorations took place in Krak贸w during the period from 1866-1914, including the 500th Anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald in 1910, in which world-renowned pianist Ignacy Paderewski unveiled a monument. Famous painters, poets and writers of this period include Jan Matejko, Stanis艂aw Ignacy Witkiewicz, Jan Kasprowicz, Juliusz Kossak, Wojciech Kossak Stanis艂aw Wyspia艅ski, and Stanis艂aw Przybyszewski. The latter two were leaders of Polish modernism.

[edit]
20th century

Corpus Christi Church
Camedulan Monastery in Wolski Forrest
Slowacki-Theatre
Krak贸w barbican.
Main building of the Krak贸w University of Economics.
Sigismund Chapelle at the Wawel Cathedral
Wawel CathedralFin-de-siecle Krak贸w was famously the center of Polish nationalism and culture, but the city was also becoming a modern metropolis during this period. In 1901 the city installed running water and witnessed the introduction of its first electric streetcars. (Warsaw's first electric streetcars came in 1907.) The most significant political and economic development of the first decade of the 20th century in Krak贸w was the creation of Greater Krak贸w (Wielki Krak贸w), the incorporation of the surrounding suburban communities into a single adminisitrative unit. The incorporation was overseen by Juliusz Leo, the city's energetic mayor from 1904 to his death in 1918. Thanks to migration from the countryside and the fruits of incorporation from 1910 to 1915, Krak贸w's population doubled in just fifteen years, from approx. 91,000 to 183,000 in 1915. Russian troops besieged Krak贸w during the first winter of the First World War, and thousands of residents left the city for Moravia and other safer locales, generally returning in the spring and summer of 1915. During the war Krak贸w Legions led by J贸zef Pi艂sudski set out to fight for the liberation of Poland, in alliance with Austrian and German troops. The Austrians and Germans lost the war, but the terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919) established the first sovereign Polish state in over a century.

Poland was partitioned again in 1939, at the outset of the Second World War, and Nazi German forces entered Krak贸w in September of that year. It became the capital of the General Government, a colonial authority under the leadership of Hans Frank. The occupation took a heavy toll, particularly on the city's cultural heritage. On one occasion, over 150 professors and other academics of the Jagiellonian University were summoned to a meeting, arrested and dispatched to the concentration camp at Sachsenhausen (see also Sonderaktion Krakau). Many relics and monuments of national culture were destroyed or looted. Major concentration camps near Krak贸w included Plaszow and Auschwitz, to which many Polish Jews were sent. Specific events surrounding the Jewish ghetto in Krak贸w and the nearby concentration camps were famously portrayed in the film Schindler's List, itself based on a book by Thomas Keneally entitled Schindler's Ark.

Thanks to a manoeuvre by advancing Soviet forces, Krak贸w escaped complete destruction during the German withdrawal and some historic buildings and works of art were saved. After the conclusion of the war, however, the government of the People's Republic of Poland ordered the construction of the country's largest steel mill in the suburb of Nowa Huta. This is regarded as an attempt to diminish the influence of Krak贸w's intellectual and artistic circles by attracting the working class.

Krak贸w's population has quadrupled since the end of the war, and it is still regarded as the cultural capital of Poland. In 1978, UNESCO placed Krak贸w on the list of World Heritage Sites. In the same year, on October 16th, the city's archbishop, Karol Wojtyla, was elevated to the papacy. He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.

[edit]
21st century
Offshoring of IT work from other nations has become important to the economy of Poland in recent years, and Krak贸w is a key center for this business activity. There are about 20 large offshore centers in Krak贸w, including centers serving IBM, General Electric, and Motorola, along with British- and German-based firms. [1]

[edit]
Politics
[edit]
Krak贸w constituency
Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Krak贸w constituency

Andrzej Adamczyk, PiS
Bogus艂aw Bosak, PiS
Barbara Bubula, PiS
Kazimierz Chrzanowski, SLD
Jerzy Feliks Fedorowicz, PO
Marek Boles艂aw Kotlinowski, LPR
Jacek Krupa, PO
Ireneusz Ra艣, PO
Jan Maria Rokita, PO
Monika Ryniak, PiS
Tomasz Szczypi艅ski, PO
Zbigniew Wassermann, PiS
Zbigniew Ziobro, PiS
[edit]
Education
For a list of universities in Krak贸w see: Education in Krak贸w.
Krak贸w is home to several major state universities and several dozen other schools of higher education. It is also home to Jagiellonian University, the first Polish university and one of the oldest and most prominent universities in Central Europe. Apart from the local population, the schools of Krak贸w provide education for inhabitants of the region of Southern Poland.

Among the most notable schools in Krak贸w are:

Jagiellonian University
AGH University of Science and Technology
Cracow University of Economics [2]
Akademia Muzyczna w Krakowie [3]
Akademia Pedagogiczna w Krakowie [4]
Akademia Rolnicza w Krakowie [5]
Akademia Sztuk Pieknych [6]
Pa艅stwowa Wy偶sza Szko艂a Teatralna w Krakowie [7]
Papieska Akademia Teologiczna [8]
Politechnika Krakowska [9]
[edit]
Culture
Main article: Culture of Krak贸w

Krak贸w is considered by many to be Poland鈥檚 capital of culture. The city boasts one of the best museums in the country and a number of famous theaters. It has counted among its residents two Nobel Prize winners in literature: (Wis艂awa Szymborska and Czes艂aw Mi艂osz). It is also home to one of the world鈥檚 oldest and most distinguished universities. Krak贸w was named a European City of Culture in 2000.

[edit]
Krak贸w by night
One may find plenty of places to drink, eat, and have a good time in Krak贸w. They are situated mostly in the city's historic Old Town district. Recently more trendy spots have been launched in the nearby Kazimierz quarter.

Notable Krak贸w restaurants:

Wierzynek restaurant - The oldest Polish restaurant (1364)
Wentzl restaurant
Hawe艂ka restaurant
Krak贸w night clubs: Krak贸w has a lively club scene with Friday and Saturday nights being the high point of the week. Krak贸w's clubs are rather cozy and few places can seat more than 100. Some Krak贸w DJs enjoy local fame and those from other parts of Poland and abroad spin occasionally in the city. Live entertainment fits all tastes. Jazz remains surprisingly popular and there is no lack of places for fans of rock, modern pop, ballads, etc. Plenty of places are also available for an older audience to enjoy themselves.

[edit]
Sports
Cracovia Krak贸w (formed in 1906)
Polish League Champions; 1921, 1930, 1932, 1937, 1948

Wis艂a Krak贸w (formed in 1906)
Polish League Champions; 1927, 1928, 1949, 1950, 1978, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005

Polish Cup winners: 1926, 1967, 2002, 2003

Other football clubs:

Juvenia Krak贸w - football and rugby team
Hutnik Krak贸w - football team
Wawel Krak贸w - football team
Garbarnia Krak贸w - football team
The Cracovia Marathon has been held in the city annually since 2002.

[edit]
Symbols

Krak贸w logoMain article: Symbols of Krak贸w
The city's official symbols are the coat of arms, the flag (see top of this page), the seal and the banner. In addition to these, a number of semi-official and unofficial symbols, such as the "Cracovia" logo used in the Krak贸w's promotional materials or an image of the Wawel dragon wearing a Krak贸w cap, are also used.

[edit]
Sons and daughters of the city

The Cloth Hall on The Main Market
Holy Mary Church
Wit Stwosz Altar, St. Mary's Church, Krak贸wAlexander Abusch
Stefan Banach
Daniel Bogusz
Boles艂aw III Wrymouth
Krzysztof Borek
Carl Carl
Napoleon Cybulski physiologist
Ewa Demarczyk
Robert Gadocha
Konrad Ga艂ka
Mordechai Gebirtig
Henryk Grossmann
Ludwig Gumplowicz, sociologist, born 1838
Friedrich Halm
Wojciech Has
Roman Haubenstock-Ramati
Zvi Hecker
Jerzy Hoffman
J贸zef Hofmann
Stanislaus Hosius
Roman Ingarden
Jan I Olbracht
Saint Casimir
Tadeusz Kantor
Jan II Kazimierz
Zygmunt Konieczny
Ewa Lipska
Jan Matejko
Edward Ochab
Poldek Pfefferberg, holocaust survivor who inspired Schindler's List.
Karin Reschke
Jan Rokita
Zygmunt II
Jerzy Stuhr
Karl Freiherr von Urban
W艂adys艂aw II Jagie艂艂o
Wanda Wasilewska
Krakow is a GREAT city! I just visited Krakow this past summer. I took classes at the Jagiellonian University. You can find ANYTHING to do there and more. I would stay by the Main Square (also called The Rynek) because that's the center of the city and where everything is happening! Have fun and enjoy!