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_City Overview Cracow (Krakow), long heralded as ‘The New Prague’, is now well established as a major tourist destination. At the height of summer, Poland’s fourth largest city throngs with tour groups, all manner of tourist tack and countless pavement cafés that seem to occupy every cobble of the main square. Out of season, late at night or even in the first slivers of morning light, it is clear why so many people flock to visit. This magical city, situated in the southeast of the country, between the Jura uplands and the Tatra Mountains, on the banks of the Wisla (Vistula) River, has one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Europe. Dozens of churches cover almost every architectural period and are surrounded by monasteries and abbeys – walking through the Old Town streets is like drifting back through the musty pages of a historical novel. The city has largely been left intact since the Tartar raids of the 13th century, which accounts for the largely unspoilt Old Town – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Laid out in 1257, the Rynek Glowny (Main Market Square) is one of the largest medieval market squares in Europe – as well as a remarkable set piece fronted by elegant façades. It is dominated by the 16th-century Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), which continues to perform its role as a trading centre with lively market stalls and pavement cafés in and around the building. The surrounding lanes of the Stare Miasto (Old Town) are ringed by the Planty, a leafy, linear park that follows the line of the Old Town walls. The voluminous hulk of Wawel Hill, to the south, is home to Wawel Castle, the seat of Polish kings from the 11th to the early 17th century. It was at this location, in 1000 AD, that the bishopric of Cracow was established and the Cathedral remains the spiritual home of Poland. One area that has seen traumatic times is the Kazimierz district. For centuries it was a centre of Jewish culture, until the Nazis killed most of its residents and deported many of the survivors to the wartime ghetto of Podgorze and thence to nearby Auschwitz. Kazimierz had largely fallen into decline since World War II, but the area is currently undergoing something of a renaissance in response to the renewed interest brought about by the film Schindler’s List. The Jewish culture of the area is being revived, with lively art galleries, kosher restaurants and regular cultural events, such as Klezmer concerts (see Culture). In fact, Cracow’s cultural attractions in general are manifest, with almost a quarter of Poland’s museum holdings housed here and the city’s cultural scene is without equal in Poland – the city was justifiably named as one of the nine European Cities of Culture in 2000. The city’s cultural heritage is mirrored in its intellectual achievements – the Jagiellonian University is the oldest in Poland. The student population of the city numbers almost 100,000 and this large student population fires a lively nightlife scene that burns brightly in the atmospheric cellar bars away from the tourists above. Cracow has sharply contrasting seasons with cold, snowy winters and ‘fresh’ springs and autumns. Visitors should beware of the locals’ use of the word ‘fresh’ – an optimistic reference to blatantly cold weather. The labyrinthine cellars of the Old Town are an ideal place to escape the winter chill. However, come summer, the quintessential Cracow experience is relaxing in a pavement café on the main square enjoying one of the long and balmy nights. Language Polish is the official language, but travellers will find that many people, especially those in business or the tourist trade, will speak some English, German or French. Most Poles were required to learn Russian in school, however, it was a matter of pride not to learn it, and speaking Russian may give offence. Polish is a West Slavic language, and related to Czech and Slovak. The following are the Polish characters and their nearest English equivalent: a–u, aj–i (as in bike), c–ts, cz–ch, dz–ds or j, ej–a (as in bake), h–ch (as in loch), j–y, l (with a slash through it)–w, sz–sh, u–oo, w–v, rz–s (as in pleasure). The second last syllable of a word is always stressed. Phrases Yes - Tak No - Nie Hello - Dzien dobry Goodbye - Do widzenia / Do zobaczenia Please - Prosze Thank you - Dziekuje My name is … - Nazywam sie ... How are you? - Jak sie masz? / Jak sie pan ma? I’m very well - W porzadku / Miewam sie dobrze I feel ill - Jestern chory(a) How much does it cost? - Ile to kosztuje? Do you speak English?- Czy mowi pan po angielsku? (to a man) / Czy mowi pani po angie sku? (to a woman) I don’t understand - Nie rozumiem Where is …? - Gdzie jest …? Entrance - Wejscie Exit - Wyjscie Danger - Niebezpiecznie / Niebezpieczenstwo Open - Otwarte Closed - Zamkniete Toilets - Toalety Doctor - Doktor Hotel - Hotel Restaurant - Restauracja Beer - Piwo Wine - Wino Menu - Jadtospis Today - Dzis / Dzisiaj Tomorrow - Jutro Monday - Poniedzialek Tuesday - Wtorek Wednesday - Sroda Thursday - Czwartek Friday - Piatek Saturday - Sobota Sunday - Niedziela One - Jeden Two - Dwa Three - Trzy Four - Cztery Five - Piec Six - Szesc Seven - Siedem Eight Osiem Nine - Dziewiec Ten - Dziesiec Twenty - Dwadziescia Thirty - Trzydziesci Forty - Czterdziesci Fifty - Piecdziesiat Sixty - Szescdziesiat Seventy - Siedemdziesiat Eighty - Osiemdziesiat Ninety - Dziewiecdziesiat One Hundred - Sto One Thousand -Tysiac Getting There By Air Krakow-Balice (John Paul II) International Airport (KRK) Tel: (012) 650 4100. Fax: (012) 411 7977. Website: www.polish-airports.com Cracow’s small airport is 18km (11 miles) west of the city centre (journey time – 20 minutes) and has been upgraded to accommodate the larger transatlantic planes. Although it is Poland’s second largest international airport, most international flights go to Warsaw, which is the largest. Major airlines: LOT Polish Airlines (tel: (012) 422 4215; website: www.lot.com) is the national carrier, with services to some 40 countries and domestic flights to other Polish cities. Other airlines include Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Eurowings, LOT and Crossair. Approximate flight times to Cracow: From London is 2 hours 20 minutes; from New York is 8 hours 40 minutes; from Los Angeles is 13 hours (plus transfer); from Toronto is 8 hours 25 minutes and from Sydney is 25 hours (plus stopover and transfer). Airport facilities: These include a bar, a restaurant, bureaux de change, banks, ATMs, 24-hour first aid and duty-free shops. Car hire is available from Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz. Business facilities: There is a executive lounge for business-class passengers and traveller-club members. Arrival/departure tax: None. Transport to the city:The MPK (website: www.mpk.krakow.pl) buses 192 and 208 go to the Main Railway Station (regular departures; journey time – 25 minutes; cost: Z2.20. Taxis are available for about Z55-65 (journey time – 15-20 minutes). Getting There By Road Poland uses standard international traffic signs. Major routes have the prefix ‘E’ and motorways ‘A’. Speed limits are 130kph (81mph) on the motorways, 100-110kph (62-68mph) on main roads and 60kph (37mph) in built-up areas. Traffic drives on the right. Seat belts must be worn. Vehicles should be equipped with a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher and warning triangle, and headlights must be on at all times from 1 October to 1 March. The legal maximum alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.02%. The legal driving age in Poland is 17 years. International Driving Permits and European and US national driving licences are accepted for the first six months in Poland. Drivers should carry their vehicle registration documents and Green Card insurance. Information about road travel can be obtained at border crossings and from the Polish Motoring Association (PZM), ulica Jozefa Dietla 67 (tel: (012) 422 0215; fax: (012) 421 0732). Emergency breakdown service: PZM 981 (or 9637 outside Cracow) Routes to the city: The north–south E77 links Cracow with Warsaw and Gdansk in the north and Zakopane and the Slovak border in the south. The east–west E40 arrives from Lviv in Ukraine in the east and then goes west through Wroclaw and Katowice to Dresden in Germany (partly the A4 motorway). To the southwest, the Czech Republic is easily reached via the E75. Approximate driving times to Cracow: From Wroclaw – 4 hours 30 minutes; Warsaw – 5 hours 15 minutes; and Prague – 9 hours. Coach services: The Dworzec PKS (Central Bus Station; tel: (012) 9316) is on ulica Worcella, opposite the main railway station, northeast of the Old Town. The main carriers are the state-owned PKS and Polski-Express. Services are available throughout Poland and from European destinations, such as Berlin, Kiev, Lviv, Prague and Vienna. Getting There By Rail Polskie Koleje Panstwowe (PKP) (Polish Railways) (website: www.pkp.com.pl) operates increasingly clean and efficient trains on the Polish rail network. The best are the InterCity and EuroCity (EC) trains. Tickets can be purchased at the station or through Orbis tourist offices. Information (in Polish) can be obtained from national rail enquiries (tel: (012) 422 9313, domestic or 422 4182, international). The Dworzec Glowny (Main Railway Station; tel: (012) 624 5439) is located at plac Dworcowy 1. The station has 24-hour left-luggage facilities. Rail services: EuroCity and InterCity trains arrive from Warsaw (journey time – 2 hours 40 minutes), Vienna (7 hours 20 minutes), Prague (8 hours), Berlin (8 hours 30 minutes) and Budapest (10 hours). Care should be taken on some night train routes as thieves operate. Transport to the city: The station is a short walk northeast of the Old Town. Taxis are available on the upper level above the platforms and in front of the station. Getting Around Public Transport Cracow is served by a network of 108 bus and 22 tram routes operated by MPK (website: www.mpk.krakow.pl) between 0500 and 2300. Local trains serve the outer suburbs. A single fare for a bus or tram within the city is Z2.20. If a change of vehicle is required, it is better to buy a one-hour ticket for Z3.50. The charge for buses that cross the city limits is Z2.80. Night buses are also available; the fare is Z4.50. Tickets may be purchased at kiosks or at retail outlets or from the driver (although this costs extra). Tickets should be punched in the boxes inside the bus or tram. A Z2.20 ticket must be punched for each large piece of luggage (free with a pass). Passes are available for one day (Z9) and one week (Z22). Students will be offered a 50% reduction on standard prices upon presentation of an ISIC card. Fines of Z50 are charged for non-payment. Taxis Taxis are metered and can be found at taxi ranks, which are located in most of the squares on the perimeter of the Old Town. Alternatively, taxis can be hailed on the street – those with a hail-light and displaying a telephone number and company name usually charge reasonable rates. Others are to be avoided. However, it is usually cheapest to order a taxi by telephone. Reputable companies include: Barbakan Taxi (tel: (012) 9661), Express Taxi (tel: (012) 9629), Mega Taxi (tel: (012) 9625) and Wawel Taxi (tel: (012) 9666). It is a good idea to verify how much the trip will cost before entering the taxi. The first kilometre generally costs Z3.60 and each kilometre thereafter Z1.60. Rates go up to Z2.40 after 2200 and on Sundays. There is no baggage charge and a tip of 10% is appreciated. Limousines There are no limousine services in Cracow. However, Avis and Hertz can provide chauffeur-driven cars (see Car Hire). Driving in the City The city centre is mostly closed to traffic and there are only a few car parks in the immediate vicinity. There is one near Wawel on ulica Powisle, and others on ulica Karmelicka, plac Biskupi and plac Szczepanski. Parking costs Z3-4 per hour or Z55 for 24 hours, but it is often difficult to find a space. Visitors may be able to get a temporary parking permit from their hotel. It may also be possible for non-guests to get a space at one of the Orbis hotels (Continental, Cracovia or Wanda). Parking on the street can be problematic due to the various parking restrictions, especially near the centre. Traffic can be heavy and this is exacerbated by narrow streets and trams. Traffic jams regularly occur on the ring of the Aleje, which encircles the Planty. Car Hire Both Avis, ulica Lubicz 23 (tel: (012) 629 6108; website: www.avis.com), and Hertz, Hotel Cracovia, aleja Focha 1 (tel: (012) 429 6262; website: www.hertz.com), have rental offices in the city. Other operators include Budget, ulica Radzikowskiego 99/101 (tel: (012) 637 0089; website: www.budgetrentacar.com), and Joka, ulica Starowislna 13 (tel: (012) 429 6630; website: www.joka.com.pl). Drivers must be at least 23 years old and have a valid driver’s licence and International Driving Permit. Prices range from Zl210-1500 per day. Bicycle Hire The branch of the Jordan Tourist Bureau, ulica Dluga 9 (tel/fax: (012) 421 2125), provides bicycles for hire at Z30 per day. A passport and Z200 are required as a deposit. Business Business Profile Traditionally, Cracow has been a busy trading city at the hub of north–south and east–west trade routes, but this suffered under the Communist regime. The enduring economic legacy of Communism remains in the state factories of the Nowa Huta (New Town) suburb to the east of the city. Although once meant to be model examples of the socialist industrial ideal, nowadays they are notoriously inefficient and the pollution that visibly belches out is a constant reminder of this, as well as a major concern. The main industries in Cracow are metallurgy, tobacco and pharmaceutics but Cracow is only the fourth most important industrial city in Poland. In many ways, its saving grace has been the emergence of mass tourism, which now dominates much of the city’s economy and tourist-related service industries employ many of its workers. The dictates of tourism have also led to curbs on industrial pollution and a successful attempt to clean up much of the Old Town. Thousands of local people are employed either directly or indirectly in tourism – and many employed in this sector earn a lot more than the average Polish monthly wage, which is around US$50 in 2002. Other up-and-coming sectors include the financial and high-tech industries, helped no doubt by the city’s impressive brain trust – there are 15 universities and colleges here, with over 100,000 students. Running at 18% (January 2002), unemployment is currently a major problem in Poland, as the global slowdown and austerity measures designed to ease Poland’s entry into the European Union have combined to put pressure on the embryonic capitalist economy. As long as tourism holds up, the city looks well placed to weather the storm. One massive project currently at the planning stage is a US$800 million development of a ‘New Town’ in the land around the Central Station, the first stage of which may be completed as early as 2005. While most major business is done in Warsaw, global players with a presence in Cracow include PricewaterhouseCoopers, McDonalds and Hertz. The Cracow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ulica Florianska 3 (tel: (012) 422 8907), can provide information on a range of business matters. Lingua Expert, Wszystkich Swietych 10/11 (tel: (012) 422 6038), is a reputable firm of translators who reputedly helped director Steven Spielberg when he was working in the area. Business Etiquette Letters of introduction are extremely useful for establishing contact with businesses in Poland, where practices are still quite formal. Meetings should be by appointment. Presentations should be thoroughly prepared and, at a minimum, the executive summary should be translated into Polish. Decisions are often by committee, so negotiations may be protracted and a deal cannot be confirmed until all parties have signed. Until familiarity has been established, a person’s title and surname should be used in addressing them. Handshaking is customary and business cards (preferably translated) should be exchanged with all participants at a meeting. To make a good impression, the wearing of conservative business suits is recommended. Breakfast meetings are rare, despite the fact that the business day begins early, but business lunches and dinners are popular (Poles love to stay up late, talking and drinking). The person who issues the invitation is generally the one who pays the bill. It is important for visitors to make sure that if giving a gift of flowers, there should always be an odd number. Government offices are open 0830-1630. Traditionally, offices in major industries were open 0700-1500, but many are now adapting to more Western business hours (even 0830-1700). Some businesses may open on Saturday morning as well. Sightseeing Sightseeing Overview Cracow is very easy to navigate on foot as most of the main sights are located within the Planty, a leafy park that forms a green belt around the historic centre or Stare Miasto (Old Town). The epicentre of tourist Cracow is the Rynek Glowny (Main Market Square), one of Europe’s most impressive public spaces, which is overrun by tourists during the high season. Relaxing in a pavement café here is a good way to get acquainted with the city. Away from the main square busy Grodzka leads towards Wzgorze Wawelskie (Wawel Hill), the buttress where Cracow’s castle complex overlooks the city. It was here that the Polish Kings ruled from the 14th to 17th centuries and there is enough to see to occupy at least a day or two, including the Castle itself, the State Rooms, Treasury and Armoury, Royal Tombs and Wawel Cathedral. Ten minutes’ walk from Wawel is the district of Kazimierz, southeast of the Old Town, where the city’s sizeable Jewish population used to prosper before the Nazis arrived. There is little of sightseeing merit on the other bank of the sleepy Wisla River (Vistula River), apart from the old wartime Jewish ghetto of Podgorze, an area which has received an ever-growing number of visitors since the release of Schindler’s List. Tourist Information Krakowskie Centrum Informacji Turystycznej (Cracow Tourist Information Centre) ulica Pawia 8 Tel: (012) 422 6091. Fax: (012) 422 0471. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat 0900-1300 (May-Oct); Mon-Fri 0800-1600 (Nov-Apr). A cultural centre, offering a full tourist information service to Cracow and the Malopolska Region, is located in Rynek Glowny (tel: (012) 428 3600; fax: (012) 428 3036; e-mail: info@mcit.pl; website: www.mcit.pl). Dexter, Rynek Glowny 1/3, and Jordan, ulica Slawkowska 12, also offer information and tours. Passes There are currently no tourist passes. Key Attractions Rynek Glowny (Main Market Square) Dating from 1257, this was one of the largest market squares in medieval Europe. The square is currently in the midst of a US$500,000 renovation programme that will make it even more pedestrian friendly. Occupying the centre of the square, the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) is filled with market stalls in its vaulted ground-floor passages. Along the sides of the building, pavement cafés draw locals and tourists alike. A branch of the National Museum (see below) is upstairs. Surrounding the square are impressive period houses and two of the city’s most important churches. Kosciol sw Wojciecha (St Adalbert’s Church) dates from the tenth century and is the oldest extant church in Cracow, but it is the Gothic Kosciol Mariacki (St Mary’s Church), with its twin spires, that really catches the eye. Within this church is the 15th-century Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa and Wit Stwosz’s large stone crucifix and wooden polyptych, The Dormition of the Virgin of 1477-89, the largest Gothic altar in Europe. Above the organ loft, the church also boasts excellent 14th-century stained glass and Art Nouveau works by Wyspianski and Mehoffer. The taller of the two towers was the city’s watch-tower and every hour the heynal is played by the town trumpeter, who cuts off the last note to commemorate the death of a trumpeter by a Turkish arrow. Also on the square is the Wieza ratuszowa (Town Tower) – the only surviving part of the town hall, which dates from the 14th century. St Mary’s Church Rynek Glowny Transport: Tram 10. Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1150-1800, Sun 1400-1800. Admission: Free; Z3 (to see altar). Zamek Krolewski (Royal Castle) From the year 1000, when the bishopric of Cracow was established, Wzgorze Wawelskie (Wawel Hill) has been at the heart of Poland’s history. Located at Wawel, the Royal Castle has been the seat of Poland’s kings from the 11th to the early 17th century. The majority of the castle is Renaissance in style (1504-35), although Romanesque and Gothic elements remain. Today, it is a museum, and among the treasures in the historic interior of the State Rooms is a collection of 16th-century Flemish tapestries, paintings and period furniture. Other separate sections of the castle open to the public include the Royal Private Apartments and the Crown Treasury and Armoury. Also worth a look is The Lost Wawel exhibit, which showcases the excavated remains of Wawel’s original buildings, including the foundations of the oldest known church in Poland, the early 11th-century Rotunda of St Felix and St Adauctus. The Museum of Oriental Art (west wing) has an excellent collection of Near and Far Eastern art, including important 17th-century Turkish items. More whimsical is the Dragon’s Den, a karstic cave reached by a spiral staircase, where Prince Gracchus (Krak) supposedly killed the Wawel dragon. Extensive renovation of the Royal Castle has recently finished and to celebrate the whole complex being open once again, exhibitions on the Polish Royalty are being staged in addition to the permanent displays. Wawel 5 Tel: (012) 422 1697. Fax: (012) 421 1697. E-mail: zamek@wawel.krakow.pl Website: www.wawel.krakow.pl Transport: Tram 10; or a short walk from Rynek Glowny. Opening hours: Wawel Hill: daily 0600-2000 (Apr-Sep); daily 0600-1700 (Oct-Mar). Attractions: Mon 1930-1200, Tues and Fri 0930-1600, Wed and Thurs 0930-1500, Sat 0930-1500 and Sun 1000-1500. Royal Apartments and Oriental Art closed Mon. Dragon’s Den: daily 1000-1700. Admission: Z15 (Royal Private Apartments), Z12 (State Rooms or Treasury and Armoury), Z6 (Lost Wawel or Oriental Art) and Z3 (Dragon’s Den); concessions available. Free Mon (where open) except Dragon’s Den. Katedra Wawelska (Wawel Cathedral) Part of Wawel, this cathedral, also known as the Archcathedral Church of SS Venceslaus and Stanislaus or the Royal Cathedral – is the coronation site and burial place of almost all of Poland’s monarchs. It was built in the early 11th century by King Boleslaw the Brave after Cracow was made a bishopric. Although there are Romanesque elements, the overall impact is determined by the 14th-century Gothic structure. The relics of St Stanislaw, the patron saint of Cracow and Poland, are kept here. Of the many royal chapels, the Renaissance Chapel of King Zygmunt (Sigismund) stands out. It is possible to climb the tower to see the 11-tonne Zygmunt Bell and enjoy the fine view. Wawel 3 Tel: (012) 422 5155. Fax: (012) 421 1697. Transport: Tram 10; or a short walk from Rynek Glowny. Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1215-1700 (May-Sep); Mon-Sat 0900-1500, Sun 1215-1500 (Nov-Mar). Admission: Z6 (concessions available). Muzeum Narodowe (National Museum) The museum’s large collection is located in a number of separate buildings, including the Czartoryski Museum (see below). The Main Building houses a collection of decorative art, 20th-century Polish art and Polish arms and national colours, in addition to temporary exhibitions. The Gallery in the Cloth Hall, Rynek Glowny 1/3 (tel: (012) 422 1166 or 423 2005) exhibits 19th-century Polish art and temporary exhibitions. aleja 3 Maja 1 Tel: (012) 634 3526. Fax: (012) 633 9767. Transport: Tram 15. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1530; also Wed until 1800 (Main Building) and Thurs until 1800 (Cloth Hall). Admission: Z8 (concessions available); free Sun. Muzeum Czartoryskich (Czartoryski Museum) A large collection of ancient art from Greece and Egypt, as well as Oriental artefacts, weapons and Turkish carpets can be found here. European paintings and sculpture cover the 13th to 18th centuries – the most famous works here are Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine and Rembrandt’s Landscape with the Good Samaritan. ulica sw Jana 19 Tel: (012) 422 5566. Fax: (012) 422 6137. Transport: A five-minute walk from the Main Railway Station. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1550 (Fri until 1800). Admission: Z7; concessions available. Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa (History Museum of the City of Cracow) This museum’s collection is spread over a number of sites. The branch in Rynek Glowny occupies three burgher houses and displays objects from Cracow’s earliest times. Other galleries showcase a collection of portraiture and antique clocks. Krzysztofory Palace Rynek Glowny 35 Tel: (012) 422 9922. Fax: (012) 422 3264. Transport: Tram 10. Opening hours: Tues, Wed, Fri 0900-1530, Thurs 1100-1800. Admission: Z4 (concessions available). Stara Synagoga or Alte Shul (Old Synagogue) Kazimierz was originally a separate town, only merging with Cracow in 1868. Here the memories of the Jewish community who lived in the Kazimierz district for centuries (up until the Holocaust) are collected in physical form. Part of the Historical Museum of the City of Cracow, the Old Synagogue houses a permanent exhibit – Tradition and Culture of Polish Jews. The Synagogue was built in the early 15th century and reconstructed with Renaissance aspects by the Florentine architect, Matteo Gucci, after the fire of 1574. The surrounding area had been largely ignored until Steven Spielberg’s film, Schindler’s List, drew attention to the Kazimierz (there are also a number of sites around the former wartime ghetto, south of the Vistula River, which are included in tours). The only two functioning synagogues in Cracow – the Remuh Synagoga, ulica Szeroka 40, with cemetery attached, and the Isaak Synagoga, ulica Kupa 18, which shows documentary films – are located nearby. ulica Szeroka 24 Tel/fax: (012) 422 0962. Transport: Tram 3, 9, 11 or 13. Opening hours: Wed, Thurs, Sat and Sun 0900-1600, Fri 1100-1800. Admission: Z6 (concessions available). Further Distractions Muzeum Archidiecezjalne (Archdiocesan Museum) Sacral art from the Cracow Archdiocese, 13th-century paintings and Pope John Paul II’s room – he lived here twice – are among the attractions in this 14th-century canonic house. A number of the presents received in his role as Pope from various world leaders are also on display. ulica Kanonicza 19 Tel: (012) 421 8963. Fax: (012) 422 7523. Transport: A short walk from Rynek Glowny. Opening hours: Tues-Sat 1000-1500. Admission: Z3 (concessions available). Muzeum Uniwersytetu Jagiellonskiego (Jagiellonian University Museum) Housed in the mid-15th-century Collegium Maius, the oldest building of the Cracow Academy (the university’s forerunner) this museum is home to an eclectic collection. The University was founded in 1364 and reformed by King Wladyslaw Jagiello in 1400. Visits are by guided tour only, which includes important rooms and reconstructed professors’ chambers, as well as significant historical objects, such as astronomical instruments that may have been used by Copernicus. On Saturday, the Gallery of Western European Art is also open for sightseeing. ulica Jagiellonska 15 Tel: (012) 422 0549. Fax: (012) 422 2734. E-mail: info@maius.in.uj.edu.pl Website: www.uj.edu.pl/muzeum Transport: A short walk from Rynek Glowny. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1100-1500, Sat 1100-1400. Admission: Z8 (concessions available). Centrum Sztuki i Techniki Japonskiej Manggha (‘Manggha’ Centre of Japanese Art and Technology) While its appearance may be at odds with Cracow’s many historic buildings, this centre has one of the continent’s finest collection of ancient Japanese art housed in a sleek, glass and concrete building designed by Arata Isozaki. The collection was created by Felix ‘Manggha’ Jasienski (1861-1929), who first discovered Japenese art while studying in Paris in the 1880s. He adopted the pseudonym ‘Manggha’ from a transliteration of the Japenese ‘manga’ – the title of Hokusu’s famous series of sketches. He collected throughout his life and bestowed the collection to the National Museum in 1920. However, there was no place to show it until the new museum was opened in 1994. ulica M. Konopnickiej 26 Tel: (012) 267 2703 or 0982. Fax: (012) 267 4079. E-mail: centrum@manggha.krakow.pl Website: www.manggha.krakow.pl/eng Transport: Bus 119 or 179; tram 18 or 19. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1800. Admission: Z5 (concessions available); free Tues. Nowa Huta (New Town) Although all traces of Communist rule are being systematically erased from the Old Town, those with an interest in ‘Real Socialist’ architecture can travel out of town to the model Soviet suburb of Nowa Huta. Tours, costing Z5, are run by PTTK Association (tel: (012) 643 7905). This ‘New Town’ – with its wide boulevards, geometrically ordered streets and imposing buildings – extends from the Central Square (Plac Centralny). Yet while it characterises Communist architectural style, it also displays the Poles’ resistance to certain aspects of Communism – as can be witnessed by the Church of the Virgin Mary Queen of Poland (designed by Wojciech Peitrzyk), constructed between 1967 and 1977 in the Bienczyce Quarter. Not everything in Nowa Huta is new. The Church of St Bartholomew (located at ulica Klasztorna, just in front of the 18th-century Cistercian Abbey), built by Maciej Maczka, dates from 1466 and is Poland’s only surviving example of a medieval wooden church. Recently included in the European Culture Programme, the church houses some beautiful 14th-century wall paintings and a sculpture of Jesus. According to a local belief, hair is said to sprout from the head of the statue. The church is open 24 hours. Also worth a visit, is Centrum, the Gallery of Nowa Huta Cultural Centre, located at aleja Jana Pawla II (tel: (012) 644 2863). Nowohuckie Centrum Kultury (Centre of Culture in Nowa Huta) aleja Jana Pawla II 232 Tel: (012) 644 0266. E-mail: wielkiepiecefajne@poczta.fm Website: www.nh.pl Transport: Tram 4, 5 or 9 (stop Plac Centralny); or bus 163. Tours of the City Walking Tours Cracow’s Old Town is compact and easy to wander around but a guided walking tour will enrich the experience. Agnieszka Drzascz (tel: (0600) 212 498) and Biuro Przewodnickie (tel: (012) 429 3336) both offer guided tours of the city, with prices around Z105 per person for a half-day tour. Jan-Pol, Westerplatte 15 (tel: (012) 421 4206; website: www.janpol.com), offers walking tours for groups, which are priced per group at Z240 for a half day and Z310 for a full day. A number of other operators can also arrange walking tours for groups, including those listed under Bus Tours below. Bus Tours Cracow Tours run four-hour city bus tours for Z105, which can be booked through the Orbis, Rynek Glowny 41 (tel: (012) 422 4632), or Jan-Pol, Westerplatte 15 (tel: (012) 421 4206), travel offices. Ibis Hotel, ulica Przy Rondzie (tel: (012) 638 6894) also runs regular tours. Buses depart from a number of hotels for the three-and-a-half-hour city tour (cost: Z115). Daily excursions are available to Auschwitz in the morning (cost: Z115) and the Royal Salt Mines at Wieliczka in the afternoon (cost: Z115) – see Excursions for information on both sights. A new sight on Cracow’s streets are the glorified golf carts that now ferry visitors around the Old Town. AB City Tour (tel: (012) 655 6468) offers half-hour tours of Wawel and one-hour tours of Wawel, Kazimierz and Shalka in these carts. Boat Tours Boat tours on the Vistula River offer great views of Wawel Castle; and the café on the boat is a delightful place to relax. Departures are from south of Wawel (near the Most Grunwaldzki) from May to September. Horse-drawn Tours In season, Rynek Glowny is overrun with horse-drawn carts, brought in to please the tourist masses. Trotting across the cobbles, though, is something of an essential experience for first-time visitors. Excursions For a Half Day Wieliczka: The Royal Salt Mine at Wieliczka is a unique underground town, located ten kilometres (six miles) southeast of Cracow, which dates from the late 13th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the chambers is the Chapel of St Antony, where the first Mass was held before the miners started work in 1698, and the 1896 Chapel of Blessed Kinga, which features sculptures carved from the salt, and is lit by chandeliers whose crystals are made of salt. Kinga’s remains were placed in the main altar in 1994 and she was canonized to celebrateJohn Paul II’s visit in 1999. The Muzeum Zup Krakowskich (Cracow Salt-Works Museum) comprises exhibitions within the mine and in the Salt-Works Castle. A two-and-a-half-hour tour takes in the chambers, caverns and underground lakes of the mine; visitors can also descend directly to the exhibit by lift. The temperature is a steady 14˚C (57˚F) and warm clothing is advised. Tours are available daily, 0730-1830 from mid-April to mid-October or 0800-1600 during the rest of the year. Regular trains (as well as the Lux Bus) run from Cracow’s Main Railway Station to the site, while coaches and excursion tours are also readily available. The Tourist Service, ulica Danillowicza 10 (tel: (012) 278 5849; fax: (012) 278 7333), or the Cracow Salt-Works Museum, ulica Zamkowa 8 (tel: (012) 422 1947; fax: (012) 278 3028; website: www.muzeum.wieliczka.pl/en/index.html) can provide further information. Admission costs Z29 (non-professional use of cameras is Z13 extra). For a Whole Day Auschwitz-Birkenau: Oswiecim (Auschwitz) concentration camp is located 70km (43 miles) from Cracow and is an essential day trip, as it brings home the horrors of Nazi rule and the Holocaust perhaps more than anywhere else in the world. Such is the importance of Auschwitz that massive controversy currently surrounds a proposed plan to build a supermarket near its location. Auschwitz was actually three camps – Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II-Birkenau and Auschwitz III-Monowitz – with 40 sub-camps. Today, the preserved buildings of the first camp house displays of photographs and personal articles (from hair to shoes, suitcases and pots and pans), which evoke the tragedy of individuals. Many visitors never make the effort to go onto the second camp, Auschwitz II (Birkenau), but this is the extermination camp where four million victims of Nazi Germany were murdered, many led straight from their cattle trucks into the gas chambers. It is at Birkenau that the sheer scale of the tragedy is most evident, although it has few of the visitor facilities of Auschwitz itself. The Auschwitz Memorial Museum, ulica Wiezniow Oswiecimia 20 (tel: (033) 843 2022; e-mail: muzeum@auschwitz.org.pl; website: www.auschwitz-muzeum.oswiecim.pl) is open seven days a week from 0800 (closing time varies seasonally between 1500 and 1900) and is free of charge. Many operators in Cracow offer coach tours, and there are also regular coach and rail services from the city. Bus travel is available between the camps. Sport Although ice hockey is a popular sport in Poland, there are no top ranking teams in Cracow and football is by far the most popular sport in the city. TS Wisla Krakow are repeated winners of the Polish League Champions football title. Wisla have also recently had some limited success in the UEFA Champions League. They play at the Stadion GTS Wisla in the west of the city. Not quite in the same league is KS Cracovia who also represent Cracow. Although it is possible to purchase tickets from the stadiums, hotel concierges are the best place to acquire tickets to sporting events. Golf: The nearest golf course is 18km (11 miles) away at the Royal Krakow Golf and Country Club, ulica Koniecznego 4/14 (tel: (012) 281 9170; website: www.kki.pl/rkgc). The main course is currently closed, but the driving range and putting greens are still open. Fitness centres: Euro Fitness Club, ulica Biskupia 4 (tel: (012) 633 0113), is a centrally located fitness centre. Hades, north of the Old Town at Krowoderska 5 (tel: (012) 422 2198), is limited to a gay clientele, while Fitness Studio Extreme, ulica Biskupia 18 (tel: (012) 633 0113), is for women only. Horseriding: Decjusz, ulica Kasztanowa 1 (tel: (012) 425 2421; website: www.decjusz.citynet.pl), can organise horseriding around Cracow from about Z25 per hour. Swimming: The simplest options for swimming are the pools in the hotels Forum (tel: (012) 261 9212; cost: Z12) or Continental (tel: (012) 637 5044; cost: Z12). Among the outdoor pools, Clepardia, ulica Mackiewicza 14 (tel: (012) 415 1674), Krakowianka, ulica Bulwarowa 1 (tel: (012) 644 1421), and Wisla, ulica Reymonta 22 (tel: (012) 410 1552), are recommended. Tennis: There are a number of courts around the city. Tenis Servis, aleja Jana Pawla II 37 (tel: (012) 649 7521), has indoor and outdoor courts. Other options include the Piast Hotel, ulica Radzikowskiego 109 (tel: (012) 636 4600), Wieczysta, ulica Chalupnika 2 (tel: (012) 413 8466), and Olsza, ulica Siedleckiego 7 (tel: (012) 421 1069). MM Sport, ulica Na Bloniach 1 (tel: (012) 425 2998) also have courts. Hire charges per hour start around Z20. Shopping Rynek Glowny (Main Market Square) still performs its medieval function that its name suggests. The Cloth Hall in particular is a good place to find all manner of souvenirs and Polish handicrafts, such as lace, dolls and leather goods, as well as high-quality, reasonably priced amber jewellery. The Cepelia stores, on ulica Bracka, and the range of shops clustering around the Hotel Cracovia, are also worth a visit for Polish handicrafts. The section of the Old Town wall on ulica Florianska is given over to local artists, who present works of varying quality for sale. As the influx of Western tourists brings more money into the city, the number of smart boutiques continues to grow, especially on ulica Florianska, and, to a lesser extent, on ulica Szewska. The colourful, vegetable market Stary Kleparz (open from 0700 until dusk) at Rynek Kleparski, just to the north of the Old Town, is one of the oldest markets in Poland, dating back to the 14th century. A little further north, around plac Nowy Kleparz, at the end of ulica Dluga, the longest street in Cracow, is another vegetable market (open from 0700 until dusk) – although not quite so cheap as its older cousin. Cracow’s biggest flea market (open Sunday 0700-1300) is located at plac Nowy Kazimierz. Large supermarkets, such as Carrefour, ulica Zakopianska 62, Geant, ulica Bora Komorowskiego 37, Hit, ulica Wielicka 259, and the newest addition, a 24-hour Tesco, ulica Kapelanka 56, usually offer the best prices for traditional Polish products, such as vodka and Krowki (literally ‘Little Cow’) sweets. Opening hours vary considerably and many shops tend to open and close later than in Western European countries. Shops are generally open Monday to Friday 1000/1100 to 1800/2000 and Saturday 1000 to 1300/1600. Shopping malls, hypermarkets and the larger shops are often open seven days a week and there are also a number of 24-hour shops. VAT is 22%. Tax-free shopping for purchases over Z200 is available at various venues displaying the ‘Tax Free Shopping’ sign (tel: (022) 853 3755; website: www.globalrefund.pl). Culture Cracow’s rich intellectual, spiritual and artistic life has received worldwide attention, thanks to its selection as one of the nine European Cities of Culture in 2000. This special year was overseen by the patronage of Cracow’s leading cultural residents: the film and theatre director Andrzej Wajda, the poets Wislawa Szymborska and Czeslaw Milosz, and the composer Krzysztof Penderecki, who won a Grammy Award in 1988. Cracow has long been Poland’s cultural capital but the city’s broad range of culture and the appeal of Cracow’s artistic life have taken off since this year-long arts extravaganza and now more and more events take place all around the city. Information on cultural events and tickets are available from the Centrum Informacji Kulturalnej (Cultural Information Centre), ulica sw Jana 2 (tel: (012) 421 7787; fax: (012) 421 7737; website: www.karnet.krakow2000.pl). There is a culture information centre in central Cracow at Suckiennice, Rynek Glowny 1/3 (tel: (012) 428 3600; e-mail: info@mcit.pl; website: www.mcit.pl). The Cultural Information Centre publishes a monthly magazine, Karnet, which has listings in English and Polish. Music: Cracow’s musical heritage goes back to the liturgical music of the 11th-century Cathedral School. Liszt and Brahms gave concerts in Wawel Castle’s Saxon Room, Szymanowski is buried in Skalka Church and Paderewski made a bequest to the university. The Cracow Academy of Music continues to produce high-calibre musicians. The Cracow Philharmonic Orchestra performs at the Panstwowa Filharmonia im Szymanowskiego (Szymanowski State Philharmonic), ulica Zwierzyniecka 1 (tel: (012) 422 4312). The Capella Cracoviensis choir gives special concerts in the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) and a number of Cracow’s churches, in addition to their performances at the Philharmonic Hall. Opera performances take place on Sunday and Monday in the impressive Teatr im Juliusza Slowackiego (Juliusz Slowacki National Slowacki Theatre), plac sw Ducha 1 (tel: (012) 422 7807; website: www.slowacki.krakow.pl), which echoes the Paris Opera. The Cracow Operetta performs at the Scena Opretkowa (Operetta Stage), ulica Lubicz 48 (tel: (012) 421 1630). The Music in Old Cracow festival and the Tyniec Organ Recitals, in an 11th-century Benedictine abbey in the nearby village of Tyniec, have both been running for a quarter of a century. Much newer, but rapidly gaining in popularity, is the annual Easter Ludwig van Beethoven Festival, inaugurated as part of the Krakow 2000 festival and featuring works by Beethoven and other composers. The summer Jazz Masters Festival features local and international performers. Theatre: Cracow has a rich dramatic history – the Aktorzy Teatru Cricot 2, ulica Kanoniczna 5 (tel: (012) 422 8332 or 292 9290), was renowned as the place to see the works of avant-garde director Tadeusz Kantor, while the Teatr im. Juliusza Slowackiego or Slowacki Theatre, plac Sw Ducha 1 (tel: (012) 422 4575), was the venue for the premiers of Stanislaw Wyspianski’s plays. Today, both classic and avant-garde works are staged there. The Teatr Stary im Heleny Modrzejewskiej (Old Theatre) is Cracow’s foremost theatre company and performances are on one of three stages. The main stage is at ulica Jagiellonska 5 (tel: (012) 422 8566). Teatr Ludowy, Osiedle Teatralne 34 (tel: (012) 643 7101, information or 644 2766, box office), retains its socialist name (The People’s Theatre). It also retains the sparse (for some, plain ugly) interiors of Poland’s Communist past but this is where radical new plays are performed or cutting-edge adaptations of the classics. Tickets (Z15-20) may be purchased Tuesday to Saturday 1600-1800 and two hours before the performance. Dance: In addition to ballet at the Slowacki Theatre, the city is a good place to see performances during the Cracow Ballet Spring, when international companies arrive and the accompanying Ballet Film Festival has screenings at plac Wolnica (Wolnica Square). Film: Film buffs should time their visit to Cracow to coincide with some of the annual festivals, such as the Polish and International Festival of Commercials and Advertisements in March (Poland was the proud winner at Cannes International Advertising Festival in June 2000), the International Short Film Festival and Polish Short Film Festival in May, or the Etiud International Film Festival in November. Almost all films shown in Cracow’s cinemas are in the original language, with Polish subtitles. Film prices range from Z12-20. Cracow’s screens include those at the Wanda Cinema, ulica sw Gertrudy 5 (tel: (012) 421 4294), and Sztuka Cinema, ulica sw Jana 6 (tel: (012) 421 4199). The biggest cinema, the newly renovated Kijow Cinema, is behind the Hotel Cracovia, Krasinskiego 34 (tel: (012) 422 3093). There is also a new IMAX cinema, aleja Pokoju 44 (tel: (012) 290 9090; website: www.kinoimax.pl/krakow). Cultural events: Many of Cracow’s annual festivals are deeply rooted in the city’s past. The oldest events include Wianki, held on St John’s night on the Vistula River; Emaus Fair held on the second day of Easter; the Lajkonik Pageant, commemorating the victory of the Tartar invasion in 1287; the procession from Wawel to Skalka bearing the relics of St Stanislaw in May; and the competition for the finest Cracow Nativity Crib in December. Other popular festivals include: the International Festival of Short Feature Films, the Music in Old Krakow festival, the Days of Organ Music, Jazz All Saints’ Day, the International Print Triennial, the Festivals of Student Song, the Street Theatre Festival and the Jewish Culture Festival – celebrated with all manner of performances, exhibitions and symposia. Literary Notes There are two winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature closely associated with Cracow. Firstly, Czeslaw Milosz, who is the author of The Captive Mind (1953). Secondly, the poet Wislawa Szymborska, whose literary debut began with I Seek the World (1945), published in the supplement Fight (Walka) of Cracow’s daily newspaper, and was followed by the runaway success That’s What we Live For (1952) and many subsequent collections of poetry. The leading Polish science fiction writer and author of Solaris (1961), Stanislaw Lem, studied at Cracow’s Jagiellonian University. Although it is Steven Spielberg’s film Schindler’s List (1993) that has so dramatically raised awareness of Cracow’s former Jewish population, it was Schindler’s Ark (which won the Booker Prize in 1982), by Thomas Kenneally, that first told story. A good recent history of the city is Zdislaw Zygulski’s Cracow: An Illustrated History (2001). Nightlife The combination of a large student population and an increasing number of tourist visitors means that the nightlife scene in Cracow has hotted up considerably over the last few years. The epicentre of nightlife is on and around Rynek Glowny, with pavement cafés a popular place to begin an evening. Distinctions between cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs tend to blur a bit, especially later in the evening when cosy cellar bars become debaucherous party zones complete with booming dance music and sweaty dancefloors. There are a number of attempts at funky style-bars but as yet no real nightclub worthy of the name. Live music tends to be rock or jazz, but there are occasionally more off-beat shows. Bars have tended to close fairly early in the past but more and more are opening until 0200 or even 0400. When there is one, the cover charge is around Z5-15. Drinking regulations are quite strange in Poland. The minimum drinking age is 18, for drinks with over 4.5% alcohol content. There is no minimum age for drinks below that level. The average price of a beer is between Z4 and Z6, while sprits can set you back Z20 or more. Bars: One of the best of the cellar pubs is CK Browar, Podwale 6-7, a lively pub with stone walls and lots of nooks and crannies to hide away in. Klub Metro, ulica Florianska 24, is one of the new breed of trendy pubs, based loosely around a London underground theme with posing customers, plenty of vodka downed with red bull and a mixed sexuality crowd. An artsy, Bohemian hangout is Nowy Kuzyn, Maly Rynek 4, with its 1970s-style decor, funky furniture and trance sounds. More traditional pubs include Piwnica Pod Baranami, Rynek Glowny 27, with its cheap beer, and Pub Popularny, ulica Grodzka 31, with its rock music and strong beer. Casinos: There is a branch of Casinos Poland in the Hotel Continental at aleja Armii Krajowej 11. The hotels Forum, ulica Marii Konopnickiej 28, and Pod Roza, ulica Florianska 14, also have casinos that are open to the public. The minimum age for entrance is 18 years – passports are required. At very least, a suit and tie or the equivalent is the standard dress code for hotel casinos. Clubs: Cracow’s club scene is yet to really take off and most of the real action is in the student clubs. One very lively new venture is Strefna 22, Rynek Glowny 22. This multi-level nightclub has a couple of busy dancefloors and chill-out rooms with sweeping views of Rynek Glowny. Also on the same square is Kredens, Rynek Glowny 12, a cavernous cellar club, which gets very sweaty, but is also very popular with the local student crowd. A classier club is Pasja, ulica Szewska 5, which caters for a besuited older crowd, although the music can be a bit cheesy. The only gay club is Piekielko, ulica Starowislna 32, which functions as a pub, restaurant and a nightclub with one of the world’s smallest dancefloors. Live music: Jazz is popular in the city and some of the cellar bars make for the perfect environment in which to hear bands. U Muniaka Jazz Club, ulica Florianska 3, runs until midnight Wednesday to Sunday. Podium, ulica Bracka 4, is a decent cellar venue for blues and rock at the weekend. Stalowe Magnolie (Steel Magnolias), ulica Sw Jana 15, is open from 1800 to dawn – jazz ends at midnight and recorded house music begins. The Polish restaurant, Chlopskie Jadlo, ulica Agnieszski 1, is an excellent venue for live performances of folk music. The Klezmer Hois (Klezmer House) restaurant, ulica Szeroka 6 (website: www.klezmer-hois.cracow.pl), offers nightly Klezmer (a combination of traditional Jewish music and 1920s jazz) from one of three bands, as well as other music on occasion. Many of the city’s bars and clubs have live music one night a week. City Statistics Location: Malopolska province, southeastern Poland. Country dialling code: 48. Population: 750,700 (city). Ethnic mix: Majority Polish; small minority German and other. Religion: Mainly Roman Catholic; minority of Polish Orthodox and Protestant congregations. Time zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard. Average January temp: 4°C (39°F). Average July temp: 27°C (80.5°F). Annual rainfall: 558mm (22 inches). Special Events Constitution Day, patriotic parades and festivities, 3 May, throughout the city Student’s Song Festival, early May, various venues Krakow Ballet Spring, May/Jun, various venues Summer Festival of Opera and Operetta, early Jun Jewish Culture Festival, late Jun, various venues International Festival of Jazz, Jul, various venues International Street Theatre Festival, early Jul Folk Art Fair, late Aug, Old Town Festival of Old Polish Operas, mid-Sep, various venues Cracow Jazz Jamboree, Nov, various venues Independence Day (patriotic displays around the city), mid-Nov, throughout the city Szopki Krakowskie (Contest for the most beautiful Cracow Christmas nativity scene), Dec, Rynek Glowny Jazz Juniors (International competition of young jazz groups), Dec, various venues Christmas Day (festivities), 25 Dec, throughout the city New Year’s Eve (festivities), 31 Dec, Rynek Glowny Cost of Living One-litre bottle of mineral water: Z3 33cl bottle of beer: Z3 Financial Times newspaper: Z12 36-exposure colour film: Z28 City-centre bus ticket: Z2.20 Adult football ticket: Z20-30 Three-course meal with wine/beer: Z80-90 1 Polish Zloty (Z1) = £0.16; US$0.26; C$0.38; A$0.42; €0.24 Currency conversion rates as of February 2003 Business Services Business Contacts: Izba Przemyslowo-Handlowa (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) ulica Florianska 3, 31-019 Cracow Tel: (012) 422 1866. Fax: (012) 422 9138 or 5567. E-mail: biuro@iph.krakow.pl Website: www.iph.krakow.pl British-Polish Chamber of Commerce (UK) 148 Leadenhall St, London EC3V 4QT Tel: (020) 7591 0057. Fax: (020) 7645 8271. Website: www.bpcc.org.pl Polish-American Chamber of Commerce of the Southeast United States Suite 3700, 1201 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309 Tel: (404) 870 4635. Fax: (404) 872 5547. E-mail: pacc-atl@mindspring.com Note: There is no national organisation, but the PACC will assist businesses from other US regions. Trade Commissioner’s Office of the Republic of Poland in Canada 3501 Avenue du Musée, Montréal, Québec H4G 2C8 Tel: (514) 282 1732. Fax: (514) 282 1784. E-mail: tradeoffice@poland-canada.org Website: www.poland-canada.org Polish Chamber Of Commerce (Australia) 198 Greenhill Road, Eastwood, Adelaide, SA 5063 Tel: (08) 8406 1669. Fax: (08) 8373 5793. E-mail: citcsa@webmedia.com.au Convention and meeting planners Congress and Meetings Department, Orbis Travel Rynek Glowny 41, 31-013 Cracow Tel: (012) 422 4035. Fax: (012) 422 2885. E-mail: incoming@orbis.travel.krakow.pl Website: www.orbis.travel.krakow.pl Congress Bureau Dexter ulica Wroclawska 37a, 30-011 Cracow Tel: (012) 634 0808 or 633 2656. Fax: (012) 633 6313. E-mail: kongresy@dexter.com.pl Website: www.dexter.com.pl Symposium Cracoviensis ulica Krupnicza 3, 31-123 Cracow Tel: (012) 422 7600. Fax: (012) 421 3857. E-mail: symposium@symposium.pl Website: www.symposium.pl Convention and meeting venues Targi w Krakowie SA ulica Gabrieli Zapolskiej 38, 30-126 Cracow Tel: (012) 637 1601. Fax: (012) 638 6151. E-mail: biuro@targi-w-krakowie.com.pl Website: www.targi-w-krakowie.com.pl Centrum Targowe – Chemobudowa-Krakow SA (Chemobudowa-Cracow Trade Fair Centre) ulica Klimeckiego 14, 30-706 Cracow Tel: (012) 652 7800. Fax: (012) 652 7803. E-mail: biuro@centrumtargowe.com.pl Website: www.centrumtargowe.com.pl Centrum Wystawowo-Konferencyjne, Zamek Krolewski na Wawelu (Exhibition and Conference Centre at Wawel Royal Castle) Wawel 9, 31-001 Cracow Tel/Fax: (012) 421 7326. E-mail: zamek@wawel.krakow.pl Website: www.wawel.krakow.pl/cwk.htm Four conference halls with audiovisual, business and catering services, situated in a prestigious late-nineteenth-century venue. Translation service Biuro Ttumarcy Profesionalnych Lingua Expert plac Wszystlich Swiztych 10-11, 31-004 Cracow Tel: (012) 421 0663. Fax: (021) 422 6038. E-mail: alekptak@ceti.com.pl Website: www.linguaexpert.pl Unusual conference venue Royal Salt Mine Danilowicza 10, 32-020 Wieliczka Tel: (012) 278 7312. Fax: (012) 278 7333 (reservations) or 7313 (marketing). E-mail: turystyka@kopalnia.pl Website: www.kopalnia.pl Parts of the salt mine may be hired for receptions. History 9th C The Wislanie (a Slavonic tribe) inhabit a fortified town on the Wawel 1000 Cracow’s bishopric is founded 1025 Boleslaw the Brave crowned as the first King of Poland mid-11th C Wawel becomes the residence of the Polish kings 1241 A trumpeter is shot by an arrow while warning of the Tartar raid; a Cracow raftsman kills the Tartar Khan 1257 Cracow receives its charter and the Old Town’s streets are laid out 13th C The Salt-Works Castle is built in Wieliczka 1333-70 Reign of King Kazimierz Wielki (the Great) 1335 Charter for the Town of Kazimierz is granted 1364 King Kazimierz III the Great (1333-70) founds the Cracow Academy; Council of Monarchs 1491-95 Copernicus studies at Jagiellonian University 1495 Jews moved to Kazimierz ghetto 1501-06 Reign of King Alexander 1504-36 Wawel Castle assumes its present shape 1506-48 Reign of King Sigismund I the Old 1548-72 Reign of King Sigismund II Augustus 1569 Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania unite as the Republic of Two Nations 1572 King Sigismund II August dies heirless – end of Jagiellonian dynasty; beginning of Polish Baroque period 1609 King Sigismund III Wasa leaves to take up residence in Warsaw 1655-58 Swedes invade Poland and pillage Cracow 1683 Jan Sobieski breaks Turks siege of Vienna 1703-21 Swedes at war with Poland again 1772 First partition of Poland 1776 Austrian occupation of Cracow 1794 General Tadeusz Kosciuszko incites revolution 1795 After the third partition of Poland, Wawel is used as an Austrian barracks for almost a century 1815-46 The region enjoys limited autonomy as a free city – the Republic of Cracow 1846 Cracow is incorporated into Austro-Hungarian province of Galicia 1868 Galicia is granted autonomy within the empire 1905 Austrian army departs from Wawel Castle 6 Sep 1939 Nazis invade the city 1940 Planning for Auschwitz concentration camp begins Mar 1941 Nazis relocate Jews to ghetto in Podgorze district Jun 1942 Mass deportations to concentration camps begin Nov 1942 Labour camp is set up in Plaszow 14 Mar 1943 All of those still in the ghetto are murdered or transported to camps 1945 Auschwitz is abandoned as Soviet Army approaches 1980 Solidarity movement begins; martial law is imposed 1989 Free elections mark the end of the Communist regime 1999 Poland joins NATO 2000 Cracow is one of the nine European Cities of Culture Copyright © 2003 Columbus Travel Publishing Ltd.