Krakow - its most important sights
Programme:
1st day: Cracow
Arrival to Cracow
afternoon : "Cracow- the European and Polish city - among Rome, Vienna and Nuremberg" guided tour of the Old Town. The programme includes: one of the most beautiful squares in Europe (Rynek Glowny), the Cloth Hall, the museum of the Jagiellonian University, St. Mary's Cathedral and the Royal Route.
Tour of Wawel Castle - the former royal residence of Poland from the 11th Century. Visit to the cathedral with its royal tombs and Sigismond's Bell.
evening: Time for your self.
2nd day : Cracow
morning: "From Paradisus Judeorum to... the extermination" - walking tour of Kazimierz - the former and best preserved Jewish district in Europe. A discussion with one of the workers of the Jewish Culture Centre about present Polish-Jewish relationships.
afternoon: Time for your own.
evening: Jewish dinner with klezmer music concert.
3rd day: Auschwitz
morning: About 70 km west from Cracow there is the biggest concentration camp from the Second World War. Symbol of terror, genocide and the Holocaust first of all for Jews, Poles and Gypsies, Auschwitz houses the biggest cemetery in the world, along with a memorial and State museum.
Whole day excursion in Auschwitz and Birkenau
4th day: Wieliczka
morning: Visiting the Wieliczka Salt Mine. In 1978 the Wieliczka Salt Mine was added to UNESCO´s 1st World List of Cultural and Natural Heritage. The historic underground chambers, shafts and caverns, decorated with sculptures and carvings, are connected by 2 kilometres of passage. The chapel of Blessed Kinga is the biggest underground chapel in the world.
afternoon: "Alma mater of Copernicus and Faustus". Visit to one of the oldest universities in Central Europe - the Jagiellonian University founded in 1364. Among its most famous students are Nicolas Copernicus and the Pope John Paul II. Option: Meeting with students and professors. Discussion about the future of young people in Europe.
evening: Jazz or classical evening.
5th day: Zakopane or Czestochowa
option I: whole day trip to Zakopane
Originally a 17th Century forestry settlement, Zakopane is now a sprawling town, close to the Slovak border and on the edge of the Tatra Mountains National Park. It has been a centre for Polish intellectuals for the past century.
The authentic folk culture of the Tatra Highlands' mountaineers (górale) coexists with the sophisticated repertoire of the "Witkacy" theatre or with frequent concerts of Szymanowski's music.
A short excursion to the one of the Tatra valleys.
option II: Rafting down the Dunajec River starting in Sromowce-Katy. The 2-hour water journey ends in Szczawnica - a small but fashionable health resort with valuable mineral waters.
option III: Visit to Jasna Gora monastery in Czestochowa with its most valuable treasure - the miraculous painting of Our Lady. During your stay in the monastery, you can see the Basilica and the Chapel of the Mother of God, the Knight's Hall, one of the most imposing treasuries, the arsenal and the 600th Anniversary Museum.
6th day: Cracow
morning: "From the socialist model town to the stronghold of solidarity" Visit to Nowa Huta - the working class district. Present Polish history based on Nowa Huta. Meeting with member of Solidarnosc Trade Union and discussion about the economic reforms seen by the employees.
afternoon: Departure.
