Excursion tour in Krakow. Top architecture - monuments, castles, temples and palaces


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Wawel, St. Mary Church, St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Juliusz Slowacki Theatre, Divine Mercy Sanctuary, Tempel Synagogue, and University of Economics are the next landmarks in the review. Just like in the beginning of the review, we have prepared a collection of historic facts and some awesome photographs for each of these top architecture monuments of Krakow. Don’t forget to admire the look of these sights from a bird’s eye view. This view is available in the flyover video of the architectural skyline of Krakow. After such a guide, it won’t be a hassle to make up a great plan of a real-life excursion tour in Krakow. Ready, steady, go!

Wawel, Krakow

Location on the map:   Facts:
» Wawel is the architectural complex on a hill in Krakow. The complex consists of numerous buildings and structures, but the biggest and most famous of them are the Royal Castle and the Cathedral of St. Stanislaw and Waclaw.
» Wawel is a very important place for the Polish, which was originally the center of political power and the seat of Polish kings.
» During the 20th century Wawel has being the residence of Poland governors.
» After the invasion of German troops at the beginning of World War II, Krakow became the seat of the State Administration of Germany. Later Wawel became the residence of the Nazi governor, General Hans Frank. After the cessation of hostilities Wawel was restored; it became the national museum, the temple and the center depicting the complex history of Poland.
» The Cathedral of St. Stanislaw and Waclaw is a burial place of Polish monarchs and the greatest Polish poets, as well as prominent political figures. The Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria, who tragically died April 10, 2010 in a plane crash, were buried there on April 18, 2010.
» The castle has an exposition dedicated to the home of the Polish kings. Here you can see the quarters of monarchs, throne room, armory and even the treasury.

St. Mary Church, Krakow

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The St. Mary Church or the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Catholic church that is an example of Gothic architecture. In 1962 it received the title of the minor basilica by Vatican.
» The Church has two towers. Every hour Mary's heynal (time signal) is heard from the higher tower, which is one of the symbols of Krakow.
» The church facade is decorated with 21 sculptured figures.
» The church houses two particularly important works of art of medieval Europe: the altar and Vita Stwosza crucifix.
» Shackles are mounted at the entrance to the church, which were once used for criminals.

St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Krakow

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The St. Peter and St. Paul Church was the first construction on the territory of Poland built in Baroque style.
» The church is famous for its figures of the twelve apostles standing at the entrance to the shrine.
» The high altar of the church built in Baroque style in 1785 is particularly notable.
» Inside the church there is the longest Foucault pendulum in Poland, the movement of which shows the daily rotation of the Earth.
» The church regularly hosts concerts of sacred music, and the patio is a usual venue for theatrical performances and art exhibitions.

Juliusz Slowacki Theatre, Krakow

Location on the map:   Facts:
» Juliusz Slowacki Theatre was founded in 1893 and named in honor of Juliusz Slovack in 1909. The building is one of the finest theaters in Europe, built in Baroque style.
» The theater is decorated with frescoes by the Viennese artist, Anton Tuhom, and features the unique curtain by Henrik Semiradsky.
» In summer open-air stage operates at the garden.
» The theatre became a place origin of the theatrical concept of Young Poland, the period of development in the arts associated with modernism in the Polish culture.
» First romantic performances in the theater had great significance for Polish culture.

Divine Mercy Sanctuary, Krakow

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Divine Mercy Sanctuary is the serving Roman Catholic Church in Krakow.
» Two of the Pope visited the shrine, and millions of pilgrims from all over the world continue to come there every year.
» Currently, the sanctuary can accommodate about 5,000 people.
» Some cases of people healed after they have visited this church are known.

Tempel Synagogue, Krakow

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Tempel Synagogue is one of the last built in the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz in 1862.
»  It was built with the money of wealthy city residents who assimilated into Polish and German culture and preached a more progressive form of services. When the organ sounded in the synagogue, women could sit next to each other with men, praying in Hebrew, Polish and German.
»  The synagogue changed its appearance both externally and internally many times. The pre-war changes were conducted under the direction of the architect Benjamin Torbego and survived until today.
»  During the German occupation, a hoarse stable and an ammunition depot were placed in the synagogue, which caused damage to the interior.
» In peacetime, the interiors of the prayer house were restored from the surviving photographs and archival data.
»  Tourists are delighted with the unusual decoration of the synagogue, bright stained-glass windows and gold painting.
»  Now the services are made extremely rare. Entry for the Jews is free of charge.

University of Economics, Krakow

Location on the map:
Facts: » The University of Economics in Krakow was founded in 1925.
» This university is the largest economic university in Poland.
» The library of the university is the third largest academic library in Krakow. Its rich collection of books and e-library is used not only by students, but also by scientists from around the world.
» University campus is located near the historic center of the medieval city of Krakow, and is easily accessible on foot or by public transport.
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Plan your own tour over Krakow on the monuments map

More to see in Krakow
The legendary Krakow Market Square remains the permanent symbol of the city. The square was founded back in medieval times. This is also the largest square in Europe. Market Square has a square shape and the length of its sides estimates 200 meters. On the square is located kostel sv. Vojtěcha, the construction of which took place in the end of the 11th century, as well as ruins of the old town hall, which was destroyed more than 600 years ago. Barbican Castle is one of the famous historical attractions of this place. The castle is one of three most beautiful fortifications in Europe. Despite the fact the caste has survived in many battles, it is preserved perfectly and the building never ceases to amaze visitors with its power and majesty. Florian's Gate is another outstanding historical monument. It was built in 1307. Initially, the gate was a part of a large-scale defense complex. Besides the gates only a portion of the adjacent tower has survived till our days. There are many notable religious buildings in Krakow. Church of the Holy Cross, built in the 14th century, is surely among them. The halls of this beautiful Gothic building are decorated with hand-painted pictures, made by the legendary monk Stanisław Samostrzelnik. Don’t forget to visit Zygmunt Chapel, near which you will find the graves of great Polish kings. The legendary Wawel Hill remains one of the main symbols of Krakow. According to an ancient legend, once a dragon lived on this hill, but it was … Read further

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