- Walks in mounds and parks
- What to visit in Krakow in one day
- At the center of events
Among the settlements in Poland, there is one, which is in first place in terms of the number of attractions and historical monuments, overtaking even the capital. It is important to think long before the trip what to visit in Krakow, one of the oldest and most beautiful European cities. And only then, upon arrival, do not get lost in the choice of sightseeing and thematic excursions around the city, but immediately go to get acquainted with the most attractive and amazing corners of the former Polish capital.
Number one in all lists and ratings of monuments in Krakow will, of course, be the Royal Castle on Wawel. It is this majestic and beautiful castle complex that has had a chance to fulfill an important mission for more than five hundred years - to be the residence of the kings of Poland. It took its place on a high hill above the Vistula, is visible from almost everywhere, and not a single traveler, a guest of the city, will be able to ignore it.
Walks in mounds and parks
Tour operators suggest that before you go to a meeting with Krakow's sights, you need to see the city from above. Krakow has many viewpoints located on mounds and elsewhere, offering stunning views of the surrounding area.
There are observation points free of charge and those for which you will have to pay a certain amount, for example, for climbing the Kostyushki mound. But the views that open from the top will more than recoup all material costs. You can see the Old Town, the Novaya Khuta district, the towers of the castle complex located in Tynets, and other burial mounds at a glance. Locals say that on a clear day, you can even admire the gray Tatras from here.
It is a pleasant moment that the tourists who are going to climb the Kostyushki mound are taken care of - there is a special bus that takes guests to the top. On the other hand, many travelers abandon transport, climb to the top on their own, many beautiful views await them on the way, and many pictures of amazing landscapes of nature and the city remain in the memory of mobile phones and cameras.
Not far from the mound is the Volsky forest, a fairly large forest area occupies territories within the city. The indigenous people scare tourists by the fact that it is easy to get lost in it, and therefore it is better to have a map with you. There are interesting places here, for example, "Panenski Rocks", on one of which you can see the image of the Mother of God.
What to visit in Krakow in one day
If the time spent in this ancient city is limited to one day, then the tourist has only one way - to the Royal Castle. It occupies large areas, it takes a lot of time to get acquainted with it in detail. Over the centuries, the castle had many owners, first of all, the kings of Poland, representatives of the Austrian army and Lithuania also “ruled the ball” here, during the last world war the Germans settled in the complex.
The Royal Castle is what you can visit in Krakow on your own, but if you want to learn more about this amazing castle complex, it is better to use the services of a guide. The architectural ensemble includes the following buildings and structures:
- royal chambers;
- several chapels, including the most famous - Sigmund's chapel;
- Cathedral, consecrated in honor of Saints Wenceslas and Stanislav.
Sigmund Chapel is not at all like a religious building, it resembles an ordinary secular building, erected in the Renaissance era. This chapel houses a bell, which also bears the name of Sigmund. According to legend, he can fulfill one wish, which needs to be made, just by looking at him.
Local residents consider the Cathedral to be a special, sacred place. There was a place for the burial vault of the kings of Poland; here is also the Altar of the Fatherland, on which the spoils of war obtained by the Polish monarchs in various wars were placed. At the entrance to the cathedral, you can see the bones of a mammoth, they are a kind of amulet, it is believed that they bring happiness to Krakow.
At the center of events
Another meeting place for tourists in Krakow is the Market Square, for a long time locals and visiting merchants gathered in this place. They say that they built it on a grand scale, larger than the city needed, but gradually grain, fish, meat, coal rows appeared. The market has become a harmonious part of the city, and the buildings and structures located around it are monuments of architecture of different centuries and styles.
Among the main attractions of the Market Square: the Town Hall Tower; Shopping arcade; St. Mary's Church; a monument to the genius of Polish literature Adam Mickiewicz. And the main mission of this corner of the city is to be one of the main attractions of Krakow, a meeting place, walks, business and love dates, but not a shopping area.
