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Welcome to the heart of Poland

6  Photos
The eastern half of the artificially lit Main Market Square proudly demonstrates its Christmas lighting at pre-dusk. The bottom left-hand corner is taken by the roof of the Cloth Hall. A tall Christmas tree is standing to its left in front of the uneven-towered St Mary’s Church. A large expanse of the city spreads behind a line of bright façades of Main Market Square mansion to its right, reaching the horizon behind which the Sun has just set.
Kraków’s Main Market Square
Two almost identical small three-storied white buildings with red roofs flank a low gate of masonry topped by two white lions, huddling between two taller buildings. The name “Ariel” displayed on all the three central structures is that of a popular Kazimierz restaurant. A group of tourists standing outside on the pavement under a tall leafless tree are greeted in its door by a waiter.
Kazimierz: district of Kraków
Pork ribs garnished with chilis, cherry tomatoes, and lamb’s lettuce leaves, are arranged on a wooden board, its Polish highland ornamentation partly covered by ramekins with sauce. A corner of a cloth-lined basket with some cutlery was caught in the top left-hand corner of the shot.
Spareribs, highlander delis, Witowianka Restaurant, Witów
The massive round body of the brick barbican in the foreground sports seven green-spired turrets. On the right it is reached by a lowered drawbridge. Its neck extends towards St Florian’s Gate visible among the lush greenery of the Planty Garden Ring that replaced former moats and most of the fortifications. The background consists of the roofs of houses and spires their perimeter used to defend. The skyline merges into a vividly blue though slightly overcast sky.
Rondel: Kraków’s barbican
The whole of brightly sunlit Wawel Hill seen from a drone. A wavy line of buildings and walls roofed with brick-red tiles are standing among the greenery, to reach the Cathedral with its green-spired towers in the centre, just left from the imposing body of the Castle. The city centre with its numerous churches makes up the background.
Wawel Hill from above the river, Kraków
A bird’s eye view of Wawel Hill. The brick and limestone walls of the cathedral with its towers boasting tall patinised spires dwarf both the Gothic houses of the same material on the left, and the wing of the castle plastered white under a tall dark red roof on the left. The distant plane consists of the mottle of buildings under a dusky sky with sandy, blue, white and almost black clouds.
The Cathedral and Castle on Wawel Hill, Kraków

Welcome to the heart of Poland

 

When choosing your holiday destination abroad, apart from the obvious desire for comfort, you look for unique and fascinating architecture, delicious cuisine, and a lavish treasury of stories, ranging from ancient legends, via tales of great historical moments, to gems of information about the lives of the locals, whether famous or ordinary, Małopolska and its capital Kraków are here for you. More

Małopolska, with an increasing number of sites recognised as part of the World Heritage by UNESCO, has waited for you for at least ten centuries, preparing an especial welcome for you in recent years.

Our region is not only compact and very well connected, but also boasts a perfect accommodation base and many people with vast local knowledge who are eager to help you. Apart from the obvious tourist guides, you’re likely to find aficionados of local culture among, e.g., the bartenders. Some, like you, were attracted to the city from far away. And they have decided to stay. We, the locals, attribute this to the genius loci – the spirit of the place.

Speaking of the spirit, there are many who believe that the steep limestone rock on which Wawel Castle was built contains a very special stone: one of the seven chakram of the world radiating soothing energy and lavishly bestowing it upon people coming within its range. And like stones – it has been here forever. Waiting for you.

Built on that rock known as Wawel Hill are Wawel Castle and the Cathedral – the heart of Polishness and the key to understanding Poland. There were times when the local dynasty, now buried here, commanded a quarter of Europe from this very place. And that’s only the beginning of your history lesson…

You’re probably interested in the most recent additions to the city: they include the full range of hotels, from five-star chains, boutiques and spas to accommodation preferred by students. You are also certain to find your preferred fare as, apart from delicious local cuisine, the region offers a range of international tastes and – believe it or not – English breakfasts with dishes as alien to the Polish palette as fried tomatoes and baked beans in tomato sauce.

May we suggest?

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View of a huge salt chamber – chapel enclosed with a wall with an altar, whose walls bear numerous sculptures and bas-reliefs. Crystal salt chandeliers hang from the ceiling. There is a salt figure of a man, facing the chapel and standing with his back to the viewer, on the left-hand side on the first plane, above the stairs leading to the chapel.

Where the salary comes from.

Have you ever wondered about the origin of the word “salary”? And why people are “worth their salt”? The answer lies in the value of the mineral when it was necessary for food preservation, and consequently, for surviving winters. As salt, the “white gold”, difficult to obtain, because it lay only in few places deep under the ground, the price of the commodity skyrocketed, making it an important currency, and yes, you could be paid in salt, hence the word “salary”. More

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A drone-eye view of a limestone castle standing on a hill among plenty of trees. Below and behind it, there is a lake, on whose far bank the ruined Czorsztyn Castle stands. The sky above the reservoir and distant line of hills is blue with tufty clouds.

Homes to the Kings and Knights of Yore (and one Dragon).

Were castles really what popular culture makes them? The grandest were symbols of power, and places of ostensible splendour and considerable comfort, yet many of the lesser ones were just watchtowers guarding major trading routes, where none of these were available. In times of trouble, they all provided places of refuge. More

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A view of a stunning, ancient wooden church standing in the Polish Carpathians. The body of the church consists of the chancel with an adjacent sacristy, nave, and a porch surmounted with a tall tower. There is a beautiful flowering tree in the foreground on the right. The sky over the church is slightly overcast.

Cherished vintage architecture.

Experience the enchanting journey through time by visiting the hidden gems of Małopolska, where you can immerse yourself in the captivating ambiance of the centuries past. Discover the treasure trove of perfectly preserved wooden architecture, some dating back as far as 1141 – the time of the Crusades. Picture the awe-inspiring churches, early Gothic masterpieces, nestled amidst picturesque landscapes. More

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A large group of men and women dressed in traditional Highlander costumes are standing on a stage with wooden walls. Three men in the front are holding alpenhorns that they are playing. The banner above the stage reads “Highlander Carnival”.

Tradition Must Flow!

Let yourself be attracted to the world of the Polish Highlanders and embark on a cultural and culinary journey unlike any other. Nestled amidst the majestic Tatra Mountains, Zakopane welcomes you to explore the vibrant culture of Górale: the Polish Highlanders. With its unique architecture, rich customs, traditional costumes, and mouth-watering albeit simple cuisine, this enchanting town offers a captivating experience that will leave you mesmerised. More

Małopolska has more to offer. Look and see:

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delicious local food
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incredible adventures
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wellness and relaxation
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meetings
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tour operators