Shtetl - following the traces of jewish villages
Poland has been the Jewish centre of life for centuries. Prior to 1939 there were about 3.5 million Jews in Poland. The Second World War put an end to this rich culture and tradition. All that remains are the unique examples of destroyed culture found in Shtetls - little Jewish villages prior to World War II.
There are many shtetls left around Cracow. Very few contain traces of an ongoing Jewish presence. For our excursion, we have chosen shtetls with original synagogues, cemeteries and architecture. During the tour, besides visiting the usual tourist sites, we suggest reading the Jewish writings of Isaac Beshwis Singer, Martin Buber, Alfred Doeblin, Mordechaj Gebirtig and listening the klezmer music.
The trip starts in Dzialoszyce where you can see the ruins of the old synagogue and the preserved village centre. Next it’s on to Pinczow to visit the synagogue and an exhibition of photography showing the life of Poles and Jews before World War II. In Chmielnik the tour passes the ruins of the old synagogue and goes through the market square. The tour continues to Szydlow, which is surrounded by medieval brick walls, and boasts a beautifully preserved synagogue. The last stop on the tour is Checiny, located at the foot of the ruins of a medieval castle. This village with its provincial buildings has an interesting synagogue and an old Jewish cemetery with a unique atmosphere.
Services:
Route: Krakow - Dzialoszyce - Pinczow - Chmielnik - Szydlow - Checiny - Krakow
Departure: 8 am
Return: 6 pm
