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In the Footsteps of John Paul II
Stops on your route:
1. Palace of Kraków Bishops » 2. Basilica of St Francis of Assisi » 3. Church of Bernardine Nuns » 4. Archdiocesan Museum / The Deanery » 5. Seminary of the Archdiocese of Kraków » 6. Wawel Cathedral » 7. Church Na Skałce (On the Rock) » 8. House of Jan Tyranowski » 9. Church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka of the Salesians of Don Bosco » 10. House at ul. Szwedzka 12 » 11. House at ul. Tyniecka 10 » 12. Pod Lipkami House » 13. House at ul. Komorowskiego 7 » 14. Błonia Common Green and the papal stone on the Błonia » 15. House at ul. Felicjanek 10 » 16. The Catholic House / Kraków Philharmonic Hall » 17. Jagiellonian University » 18. Collegiate Church of Saint Anne » 19. St Mary’s Basilica » 20. St Florian's Church » 21. Monument to John Paul II in Strzelecki Park and other monuments » 22. Rakowicki Cemetery » 23. Church of Saint Jadwiga the Queen » 24. John Paul II Hospital » 25. Ecce Homo – Sanctuary of Saint Brother Albert » 26. Ark of the Lord Church » 27. Church of Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe » 28. Cistercian Abbey in Mogiła » 29. Redemptorist Church » 30. Sanctuary of Divine Mercy » 31. Stone quarries in Zakrzówek » 32. Former Solvay Soda Works » 33. Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec » 34. John Paul II Airport
Mementos of Pope John Paul II can be found in Kraków at almost every turn. Beginning with the Polish studies that the young Karol Wojtyła began in 1938, through the turmoil of the war and including the time of his later pastoral duties, Kraków was his home. Places connected to the future pope wind a route leading through the entire city: from the former Solvay Soda Works to the “Ark of the Lord” Church in Bieńczyce and the Cistercian Abbey in Mogiła, today a district of Nowa Huta. A look at Kraków through the eyes of John Paul II, for whom this was always the dearest among Polish cities, must be worthwhile.
Royal Route
Stops on your route:
1. Barbican » 2. St Florian’s Gate » 3. Defence Towers » 4. Floriańska Street » 5. Main Square » 6. Houses Standing by the Main Square in Kraków » 7. St Mary's Church » 8. Cloth Hall » 9. St Adalbert's Church » 10. Town Hall Tower » 11. Grodzka Street » 12. All Saints’ Square » 13. Wielopolski Mansion » 14. Wyspiański Pavilion » 15. St Mary Magdalene Square » 16. Collegium Iuridicum » 17. St Peter and St Paul's Church » 18. St Andrew's Church » 19. Kanonicza Street » 20. Deanery » 21. Długosz House » 22. Wawel Hill and CastleFor centuries, this route has been followed by monarchs returning after victorious battles, bishops assuming office, envoys from foreign lands, and the funeral corteges of great Poles. This historic route leads along ul. Floriańska, crosses the Main Square, and then runs along Grodzka and Kanonicza streets. The greatest treasures of the Royal Capital City are found along it: the Barbican and St Florian’s Gate, the Cloth Hall, St Mary’s, St Adalbert’s, and St Peter and St Paul’s, mansions, palaces and museums (including the Pharmaceutical, Jan Matejko, and Archdiocesan Museums). Walking the Royal Route when visiting Kraków is a must, yet, what a pleasant "must" it must be!
Facsimile of the 15th-century woodcut from the Hartmann Schedel's "World Chronicle"
Jewish Heritage Route
Stops on your route:
1. Szeroka Street » 2. Old Synagogue (Alte Schul) » 3. Remuh Synagogue and Cemetary » 4. Popper Synagogue » 5. High Synagogue » 6. Isaac Synagogue » 7. Kupa Synagogue » 8. Nowy (Żydowski) Square » 9. Tempel Synagogue (Progressive) » 10. New Jewish CemeteryWe shall see the oldest Jewish sacred religious building in Poland which still stands along this route, the grave of a famous Rabbi which the Nazis did not dare tear down, a synagogue with stained-glass windows (a true rarity!), and the family home of the queen of cosmetics, Helena Rubinstein who hailed from Kazimierz. From the Middle Ages to the catastrophe of second world war Kraków – and especially Kazimierz – was counted among the greatest centres of Jewish activity in Europe. This route lets us discover some of its secrets.
The oldest known panorama of Kazimierz district from 1493 Hartmann Schedel's "World Chronicle".
Nowa Huta Route
Stops on your route:
1. Wanda Mound » 2. Administrative Centre of the former Lenin Steelworks » 3. Jan Matejko’s Manor House in Krzesławice » 4. Wandy and Willowe Residential Estates » 5. Cistercian Church and monastery in Mogiła » 6. St Bartholomew's Church » 7. Żeromski Hospital » 8. Centralny Square » 9. Rose Avenue (Róż Avenue) » 10. Nowa Huta Cross » 11. Świt Cinema » 12. Ludowy Theatre » 13. Ark of Lord ChurchA living legend of communism, a hallmark development from the days when the watchful eye of Comrade Stalin kept vigil from the Kremlin. Yet Nowa Huta is worth a look from a different angle, as it is a well-designed, functional city with a long and at times dramatic history, reaching far deeper than just the 1940s. It is here that the oldest example of the goldsmith’s art in Poland was found: an earring from around 2000 BC. It is here where we can marvel at one of the oldest churches in the city and the mysterious burial mound of the daughter of the legendary founder of the city. Although communist in its form, Nowa Huta captivates us with the richness of its content.
The main gate of the Nowa Huta steel works, photo by Artur Jackowski
Historic Route of Podgórze
Stops on your route:
1. Piłsudski Bridge » 2. Embankments of the Vistula » 3. Podgórze » 4. Podgórze Market Square » 5. St Joseph's Church » 6. Bohaterów Getta Square » 7. Józefińska Street and the most important institutions in the ghetto » 8. Schindler's Factory » 9. Krzemionki » 10. Bednarski Park » 11. Fort of St Benedict and St Benedict's Church » 12. Krakus MoundToday a district of Kraków, Podgórze lying on the right bank of the Vistula, was an independent borough with its own market square, coat-of-arms, and town hall from its founding in 1784 to 1915. Recognised as an industrial town, it was inhabited by entrepreneurs and craftspeople, on the other hand it boasted rich nature and wildlife and picturesque scenery. During the second world war, it was witness to the tragedy of the Jews, as 15 000 people were locked up in the ghetto the Nazis set up here. The route is an opportunity to get to know the various faces of Podgórze.
Panorama of Podgórze district, photo by Artur Żyrkowski
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Various Faces of MOCAK
Since it opened in May last year, the expansive floor space of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow (MOCAK) are regularly filled with temporary exhibitions. Four will be opened on 16 February.... »
