Once a year my mom, sister and I make an effort to do a “Girls Trip” with a set budget and one-two weeks of travel. This year we decided to do a two-week vacation trip to three countries in Europe. Our first destination was Krakow, Poland where we spent three days and rented an apartment out via VRBO.
On our first day in Krakow we went and visited the main square where Saint Mary’s Basilica is located. The Bishop of Krakow, Iwo Odrowaz, founded the Basilica in 1221-1222. Unfortunately, years after the church was built it was then destroyed during the Mongol invasion of Poland. However, later the church was rebuilt during Casimir III the Great between 1355-1365. Today, on every hour a trumpet signal-called the Hejnal Mariacki, is played, from the top of Saint Mary’s two towers. The plaintive tune breaks off in mid-stream to commemorate the famous 13th century trumpeter, who was shot in the throat while sounding the Mongol attack on the city.
Next, we went to the Rynek Underground Museum. The main feature of the museum is called “In the footsteps of Krakow’s European identity” which uses projectors, fog machines to recreate the atmosphere of Krakow seven hundred years ago. This particular exhibit offers remains of a reconstructed 12th century workshop, the remains of burned settlements, (the oldest of which dates from the eleventh century) along with a map depicting the city’s distant trade routes.
Later, we went and visited The Cloth Hall, which is the city’s most recognizable icons and is the central feature of the main square. The Cloth Hall was once a major center of International trade. During its golden age in the 15th century, the hall was the source of a variety of exotic imports from the East, which included spices, silk, leather, and wax while Krakow produce textiles, lead and salt from the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The hall has hosted many balls and distinguished guests over the centuries and still entertains monarchs and dignitaries such as Charles the Prince of Whales and Emperor Akihito of Japan. Today, the hall is still used for as a center of commerce.
On our second day in Poland we went to the Galicia Jewish Museum and the Schindler’s Factory. The Galicia Jewish Museum is a photo exhibition documenting the remains of Jewish culture and life in Polish Galicia. The main exhibition of the Museum, Trace of Memory is the result of 12th century collaboration between photographer Chris Schwarz and British scholar Jonathan Webber. It commemorates the 800-year Jewish presence in western Poland through contemporary photographs of synagogues, cemeteries and other relics of the Jewish presence in the region still visible. A part of the exhibit is dedicated to the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Schindler’s Factory was the second part of our day and was the most impressive interactive museum that covers German occupation in Krakow during World War II. During the war a man named Oskar Schindler owned the factory. Oskar Schindler was a German industrialist and member of the Nazi party who is credited for saving 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his enamelware and ammunitions factories. Oskar was able to help them avoid horrible living conditions and eventually death in the Nazi labor camps.
On our last day we decided to go to the Wawel Royal Castle, which was built under the order of King Casimir III the Great. It consists of a number of structures situated around the Italian-style main courtyard. The castle being one of the largest in Poland represents nearly all-European architectural styles of medieval Renaissance and Bouquet periods. It is the most historically and culturally significant sight in the country.
Krakow is filled with such history and a picturesque environment. However, like many places around the world there can also be some cons to the city. The number one coming to our mind was the citizens of Krakow. We had been surprised by how unfriendly and grumpy people were towards each other and towards tourists. Although there are more pros then there are cons I would definitely recommend visiting Krakow when the opportunity presents itself to you.
-Be sure to continue the journey of this years "Girls Trip" where we discover the city of Warsaw, Poland.
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