Kraków is one of
Poland’s most ancient cities. It is also one of the largest cities and the ancient capital city of Poland up until 1596. Kraków dates back into the seventh century, as is depicted through some of the remaining ancient architecture. Located strategically on the Vistula River, Kraków remains the academic, artistic, economic, and cultural hubs of Poland. Krakow is also one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and has since been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Old architecture and remains dot the city and make it a tourist attraction region as such Kraków has managed to preserve most of its ancient touch. The old town of Kraków, for example, features a royal massive Rynek Glowny, which is also the market square, surrounded by the remaining ancient city walls and a beautiful, natural Planty Park. Near the border of the Czech Republic, the Jewish quarter and the medieval outlook has been well-preserved. Close by is the Cloth Hall, a famous trading spot from the Renaissance era and the iconic Saint Mary’s Basilica, a Gothic church that dates back into the fourteenth century.
The beautiful Wawel Cathedral church and the iconic Wawel Castle are both set delicately up the hill overlooking the Vistula River. The cathedral and castle have long been turned from the gothic royal palace into a museum that displays painting and sculpture works of the European people.
For the history of the Jewish people, visitors visit the Factory of Oskar Schindler as well as the past Jewish quarter. The Kazimierz has since been converted into an area with numerous cafes, eating joints, bars, and discotheques.
Close by, there is a commonly toured place that features a museum and a Nazi concentration and memorial camp in the Auschwitz Birkenau region. In the same area is a three hundred and twenty-seven meters deep Wieliczka Salt Mine, which features an intricate tunnel network, beautiful chapels, and many chambers, which remain open to exploration and touring by the public.
Kraków experiences an oceanic climate which can also be described as a semi-continental or a humid continental climate. The weather is warm and pleasant during the year, except for the winter season. The evenings remain mild and tolerable, as well. An extremely high temperature is not typical, but occasionally the days feel hotter and more humid than is registered.
During winter, the temperature drops slightly below the freezing point, but the foehn wind that dominates during the season may cause the temperature to rise as high as 20°C (68°F) or more on occasional days.
The peak of the Kraków travel season is during summer, from
June to
August. Most days in the season remain warm, dry, and pleasant, not forgetting sunny and calm. The period also has numerous events and festivities going on in Kraków that tourists like to take advantage of to attend.
In June, during the mid-summer Solstice, the people of Kraków mark the Wianki Festival, which is essentially a Slavic celebration of Kraków that was traditionally held and marked by women letting herbal wreaths afloat on the Vistula River.
Between June and
July, Kraków also celebrates the Jewish Culture Festival, marked by colorful decorations, traditional dance and theatre shows, music performances, and other practices, to celebrate and appreciate the Jewish culture. In July, the Summer Jazz Festival is held to celebrate and appreciate the specific music genre in Kraków.