Day 14 ~ Krakow

Kraków, once the capital of Poland, is the second largest city. Situated on the Vistula River, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centers of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life and is one of Poland's most important economic hubs. In the Middle Ages, it was one of the biggest and richest trade centers.  The city has a population of approximately 760,000, but about 8 million people live within a 100 km radius of its main square.

After the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany at the start of World War II, Kraków was turned into the capital of Germany's General Government. This is the reason the the city was not destroyed like other Polish cities. The Jewish population of the city was moved into a walled zone known as the Kraków Ghetto from which they were sent to extermination camps such as Auschwitz and the concentration camp at Płaszów.

Oskar Schindler initially employed Krakow Jews as cheap labor in his enamelware and ammunitions factory.  When he witnessed the “liquidation” action conducted in the ghetto by the Nazis, he tried to save the Jews he employed.  At the end of the war, Schindler managed to save approximately 1,200 of his employees by transferring them to his factory in Czechoslovakia.

Wawel is an architectural complex erected over many centuries atop a limestone outcrop on the left bank of the Vistula River. The Royal Castle with an armory and the Cathedral are situated on the hill.

The Main Market Square is the most important market square of the Old Town in Kraków. It dates back to the 13th century and is the largest medieval town square in Europe.

Krakow’s abundance of magnificent churches, monasteries, and convents earned the city a reputation of “the Northern Rome” in the past. Before Pope John Paul II became pope, the Basilica of St. Francis (built 1237-1269) was his home church.  Poland is almost 90% Catholic.

St. Mary's Basilica is a Brick Gothic church re-built in the 14th century (originally built in the early 13th century) adjacent to the Main Market Square.  On every hour, a trumpet signal is played from the top of the taller of St. Mary's two towers. The plaintive tune breaks off in mid-stream to commemorate the famous 13th century trumpeter who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before the Mongol attack on the city.

Wieliczka Salt Mine

The Wieliczka Salt Mine continuously produced table salt from the 13th century until 2007 as one of the world's oldest operating salt mines. The mine's attractions for tourists include dozens of statues and an entire chapel that has been carved out of the rock salt by the miners. About 1.2 million people visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine annually.

There are many displays depicting the early mining of salt. Here, Bonnie is joined by others in our tour group managing a pulley system.

No picture can do justice to the magnificent St. Kinga’s Chapel. The chandeliers, floor, altar, statues and carvings into the wall are all made of salt.

We finished our day with a traditional Polish dinner outside the salt mine. From start to finish, we had a very full day.  Bonnie and I continue to fight our colds, but we haven’t let it hold us back so far.