Different side of Cracow
In 2017, Cracow was visited by 12 million 900 thousand tourists. That is nearly 800,000 more than last year. The majority of tourists visit only the best-known attractions such as: old town with main square, Wawel castle, Floriańska street and Jewish quarter called Kazimierz. Cracow it’s something more than this and still offered to people some undiscovered by tourists places .
Cracow is one of the most beautiful cities in Poland associated mainly with monuments, and cultural events. But are these the most important tourist attractions of Cracow? This time, I want to show you Cracow in a completely different way. Green spots, wild, forgotten places, attractions away from the center. This article will present some of them.
Zakrzówek
One of the most magical places in Cracow is reservoir court Zakrzówek. Located only half an hour away from the city of Kazimierz, the water reservoir and the surrounding park are willingly visited by residents but still rarely visited by tourists. this place is ideal for summer rest: walks on paths leading along limestone landscape, diving at a depth of 32 meters, jumping into the water from limestone cliffs and swimming. This place has also historical value, because at this place was working from September 1940 to October 1941, Karol Wojtyła- later pope John Paul II.
Reservoir court is surrounded by rocks, which are called Twardowski’s rocks, which got their name from the alchemist Twardowski, who reportedly gave lessons in magic here. Today, climbers take lessons here, because limestone walls are well suited for exercises not only for beginners.
Lasota’s Hill
From this hill there is a beautiful view of the old city. In addition, there are two low-key monuments of Cracow. One of the oldest Cracow churches, the Church of St. Benedict and Fort 31 “Saint. Benedykt “, which was part of the Austrian fortifications around Cracow. On this hill, once a year, there is an unusual custom in the Easter period, which dates back to the seventeenth century, when rich merchants threw eggs, sweets and money from the hill, and the poor gathered them at the foot. This place is closely connected with the nearby Krak Mound, where the custom is also called Rękawką.
The Mounds in Cracow
Cracow is famous for its mounds, currently 5 and are located in different parts of the city. The oldest are the mounds of Krakus and Wanda, much younger and the most popular is the mound of Tadeusz Kościuszko, the largest is the mound of Józef Piłsudski, while the youngest and the smallest — the mound of John Paul II. A special story has two oldest mounds, which are also less popular among tourists. Both of these mounds conceal many secrets. They were probably erected in the seventh or eighth century by the surrounding tribes, and their location is also not accidental. One of them is located in the Podgórze district, the other one in the area of present Nowa Huta. Between them there is a dependence, on certain days of the year from the Wanda Mound you can see the sunset of the ideals over the Krak Mound, again on other days from the Krak Mound you can see the sunrise perfectly over the Wanda Mound, apparently these dates coincide with the dates of Celtic holidays.
The Mound of Wanda
He was then called Mogiła and hence the name of the village, which lay at the foot of it. The first mention of the mound dates from the 13th century. Today, the mound is located in Nowa Huta, a district that was created only after the Second World War. Neighbors with a large metallurgical plant and is one of the oldest still visible evidence of human activity in this area. It was probably founded in the seventh or eighth century. There is also a hypothesis dating it, like the Krakus mound, to the Celts. The mound owes its name to the legend of Wanda, who did not want to marry a German, and in a fit of despair, she decided to take my life by jumping into the Vistula River.
Krakus Mound
From this mound stretches the most beautiful view of the city. This place is eagerly chosen for rest by residents. Once a year, the previously mentioned Rękawka takes place here. There is also an interesting hypothesis that the mound was part of a larger system of its kind, a calendar created by the Celts. The history of this place is not yet well-known, over the years many theories about the origin and function of the mound were created. During archaeological works, various types of movable monuments were found there, including child’s skeleton and hearth.
St. Joseph’s Church
One of the most beautiful churches In Cracow. A neo-gothic parish temple of the former city of Podgórze. This church thanks to its amazing architecture is now a peculiar showcase of this district. Built in the early twentieth century, it dominates the whole of this part of Cracow. The history of the city of Podgórze is connected with the first partition of Poland, when Cracow became, in 1772, a border town with the Habsburg monarchy. On February 23, 1784, Emperor Joseph II raised the settlement to the rank of a free, royal city. He gave him a number of privileges and rights. Soon after, the inhabitants of Podgórze were twice as wealthy than the inhabitants of Cracow, and the city developed very dynamically.
Every year, on the square in front of the church, during Christmas, a charming Christmas market is held, where you can try local dishes, drink well-known Galician mulled wine, buy local handicrafts and listen to Christmas carols.
Hala Targowa — Market Hall
This is a cult place on the map of Cracow. You can feel the climate of the 90s here. Every Sunday, the neighborhood of the bazaar turns into a flea market, a place to trade in books, old photographs and postcards, books, paintings, furniture, cutlery, and even bicycles and vinyl’s. In search of souvenirs from Cracow, it is worth going to the flea market because on the flea market in Cracow you will find practically everything. It is also a place where you can buy local cheeses, meats and other preserves. The prices are not much lower than in the old town. Even in the evening, the place is not sleeping, the best sausages are sold here in Cracow. As everything here is maintained here the climate of the PRL, because it is sold from the iconic car called Nyska (a Soviet model van). Every night, until 3 AM, you can see here real crowds and feel the atmosphere of the former PRL Cracow.
Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec
The abbey is located on the high, rocky bank of the Vistula River, currently within the borders of Cracow. It leads to a beautifully situated along the Vistula, a road intended for both bicycles and pedestrians. Another way to get to Tyniec is to use the Cracow’s water tram, which allows you to enjoy the city from the river level. It is the oldest abbey in Polish lands, buildings that combine Gothic and Baroque elements. Around the abbey we can find nature reserves, the turn of the Vistula called the Tyniecka Gate, forests.
Kamieniołom Liban — Liban Quarry
Everyone has watched or heard about Steven Spielberg’s film — Schindler’s list, but hardly anyone knows that many scenes were shot in this quarry. Liban was a penal labor camp created by the Germans in the area of the present Podgórze. The camp existed from April 15, 1942 to July 22, 1944. On average there were 400 prisoners in it who worked in very difficult conditions in quarries and lime kilns. There are survivors of scenography and film surviving: a sidewalk made of Jewish tombstones and a dummy installation of a quarry, apartment barracks, a fence. It gives this place a bit of a mysterious and at the same time frightening look.
Central Square in Nowa Huta
Another little-known district of Krakow is the former socialist district of Nowa Huta. The main and best-recognized point of this district is the Central Square. The pentagonal shape with five wide arteries departing from it was built in 1952–1955. The surrounding settlements were given simple names: A, B, C and D. They all — like all socialist realist assumptions in Poland — refer to Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The square is surrounded by buildings on only 4 pages, because it was not long enough to complete its construction in socialist times. Next to the square, there are shops straight from the Polish People’s Republic, especially the popular Społem restaurant, which has not changed since then. You can taste Polish cuisine at very affordable prices there. In one of the main arteries leading to the square was the largest monument of Lenin in Poland. Residents hated this monument so much that by that time they tried to get rid of it on their own hand. These attempts were not entirely successful, but in December 1989, after the collapse of communism, the authorities decided to overthrow the monument.
Cracow is not only well known monuments, but also places with interesting history, which are often overlooked by the guide. The city has the potential to show us up again every time we visit it. Although I live in Cracow, this city never ceases to surprise me with its secrets, history and the adventure. I think everybody can find something interesting there.