Krakow an Untouched by War Polish Jewel

Krakow’s centerpiece is the Royal Castle and Cathedral, a majestic complex of Gothic and Renaissance buildings that presides over the city from a rocky hill high above the Vistula River. The Royal Castle was the seat of the Polish monarchy for more then five centuries, until the year 1596, when the center of power moved to the current capital Warsaw.

It is the silent guardian of a millennium of Polish history and its most visited site in the country. Among the treasures of the historic decoration of the royal chambers are 16th century Flemish tapestries, Italian and Dutch painting, royal portraits, elaborate ceiling frescoes, and ornate Baroque furniture. Along with the royal chambers, the other sections of the castle that are open for visitors are the crown treasury and the armory.

The Wawel Cathedral, was consecrated in 1364 and dubbed “the sanctuary of the nation” was led by Archbishop Karol Wojtyla from 1964 until his election as Pope John Paul II in 1978. For centuries the Polish kings and queens where crowned and buried at the cathedral. The royal crypts below the nave also contain the tombs of prominent statesmen and national heroes such as Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who fought in the American Revolutionary War as a colonel for the Continental Army. From the bell tower, visitors can glimpse much of the Old Town and its buildings. Krakow is the only Polish city that has preserved its pre World War II architecture, due to the fact that unlike it was not bombed by Nazi forces.

Even though the Old Town contains most of the popular landmarks of Krakow, other areas of the city have sites worth viewing as well. In the district of Kazimierz is the interesting Remuh Synagogue which was built in 1557. The district of Nowa Huta was built during the Communist Era and had the purpose to house the steelwork workers. Nearby Krakow are the concentration camps of Auschwitz-Birkenay and Podgorze, which are often visited by tourists.

Due to the fact that Krakow is a popular tourist destination it has all the needed establishments to accommodate and please the needs of the visiting travelers. Also the city is proud the have numerous top notch restaurants where visitors can try delicious Polish dishes. Throughout the city of Krakow are various post offices and information centers from where visitors can call Poland authorities or call Poland tourist services