Tour of Krakow, Poland

Krakow's Market Square (Rynek Glowny) is situated about 0.8 miles southwest of the main train station.

The square was first outlined in the 13th century, and has since always been the heart of Krakow.

Historically, it played host to a fully functional medieval Market Square, that gathered merchants from all over Poland and the far corners of Europe.

Use the Google Map then change to walking for precise directions between the train station and the Market Square.

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St. Mary's Basilica is situated on the Market Square.

This is a Brick Gothic church built in the 14th century. On every hour, a trumpet signal, called the heyna, is played from the top of the taller of St. 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 alarm before the Mongol attack on the city.

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The Czartoryski Museum (Muzeum Czartoryskich) is situated about 0.4 miles northeast of the Market Square.

This is one of the places no Krakow visitor should miss.

The most famous exhibit is of course the Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci, but the Czartoryski family have obtained numerous other valuable works of art, dating from the antiquity to the 19th century.

Use the Google Map then change to walking for precise directions.

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The Slowacki Theatre is situated about 0.5 miles northeast of the Market Square.

Designed by Jan Zawiejski, the theatre was erected on Holy Ghost Square in place of the former 14th century church and monastery of religious order, Order of the Holy Ghost (hence the name of the square).

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The Krakow Philharmonic Hall is situated about 0.4 miles southwest of the Market Square.

The Krakow Philharmonic was designed by architect Jozef Pokutynski, completed in 1931. It is one of the largest concert halls in Krakow, comprising of a main concert hall of 693 seats for orchestral concerts, and two venues Golden Hall and Blue Hall for chamber music concerts.

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Wawel Castle is situated about 0.8 miles south of the Market Square.

The castle is among Europe's most beautiful royal residences, and one of Krakow's largest tourist attractions. The castle grounds also contain a Cathedral and The Royal Tombs. Can be visited each day.

Use the Google Map then change to walking for precise directions.

Website: www.wawel.krakow.pl . Google Map.

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Krakow Mounds , there used to be five mounds in Krakow, but one of them, the Esterka Mound, was demolished in the 1970s to be replaced by a football stadium.

The earliest of these mounds were thought to have been constructed for the burial of kings, although no remains have ever been found in them.

The first was thought to have been built in the 600s and the last in the early 1900s.

The image is of the Kosciuszko Mound situated about 2.4 miles west of the Market Square.

Nowa Huta is situated about 5 miles northeast of the Market Square.

Nowa Huta came about in 1946, after Krakow residents began showing their resentment of Communism. The Communists tried to keep control of Krakow by building a new Communist town (a district of Krakow since 1951).

Ironically, less than 15 years later, Nowa Huta became one of the largest centers of anti-communist resistance.

Tourists are encouraged to take a tour of Nowa Huta to learn how Communism affected Poland.

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Tyniec Abbey (Opactwo w Tyncu) is situated about 7 miles southwest of the Market Square.

The abbey is a thousand-year-old monastery located on a beautiful cliff on the right bank of the Vistula river, surrounded by peaceful, green forests.

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Wieliczka Salt Mine's Chambers and Chapels are situated about 10 miles east of Krakow.

The highlight is certainly the Chapel of Saint Kinga (Kaplica Swietej Kingi), world's largest underground church.

The Chapel is located 101 meters below ground level, in a cave 54 meters long, 18 meters wide and 12 meters high. As in the rest of the Wieliczka Mine, virtually everything inside it is carved out of salt, including the monument of pope John Paul II. Even the breathtaking chandeliers are in fact made out of salt crystals.

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Auschwitz is situated about 42 miles west of Krakow.

This was the largest of Nazi Germany's concentration camps. Its remains are located in Poland approximately 35 miles west of Krakow, 120 miles southeast of Wroclaw.

The camp took its name from the nearby town of Oswiecim. Following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, Oswiecim was annexed by Nazi Germany and renamed Auschwitz, the town's German name.

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For more information on Krakow, visit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krakow.