Krakow Voted The Best City Break Destination for the 3rd Year Running

Krakow, the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland dating back to the 7th century, has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, economic, cultural and artistic life. It has recently been voted the best city break destination for the third year running by Which consumers.

Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany at the start of World War II and the Jewish population of the Krakow were forced into a walled zone known as the Ghetto before transportation away. The city escaped destruction and major bombing during the war and the old town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This beautiful city is full of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture and has the largest medieval market square in Europe.

Here are a few visit ideas organised into subject areas:

For students of modern History, the interest in Krakow is undoubtedly its place at the centre of World War II where students can get to grips with life under Nazi occupation as they tour the streets that formed the Krakow Ghetto which achieved notoriety as a place of starvation and disease. Follow on to Auschwitz-Birkenau where students follow the Jewish story to its grim Final Solution. Krakow History Museum houses a large and varied collection relating to the historical development of the city and the Oskar Schindler Museum, on the site of Oskar Schindler’s enamel factory, is devoted to the events that took place during five years of Nazi occupation during World War II. Finally, on the Crazy Communist Tour to Nowa Huta students discover Krakow’s centrally planned Socialist district; this unique project was meant to be a model Communist city, but later came to be a centre of revolution and resistance within Poland.

On a Psychology school trip to Krakow students can follow the Oskar Schindler Trail which begins in the district of Kazimierz which has been a Jewish centre since the 15th Century and includes the wartime Ghetto area, Pankiewicz's Chemist Shop, Schindler's Enamel Factory and the Plaszow Concentration Camp. A visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau brings home the realities of Nazi occupation and the persecution and fear the city lived under and a talk with a Survivor of the Holocaust will form a great case study for any student of psychology and sociology.

During a Religous Studies school trip to Krakow students can follow the Jewish experience, from the Kazimierz District which formed the Krakow Ghetto to the Final Solution at Auschwitz-Birkenau.  The Czestochawa Monastery helps students understand the central role that Catholicism still holds in contemporary Poland and is home to its famous icon, the Black Madonna, whilst the Galicia Jewish Museum is dedicated to Jewish heritage. A Guided Sightseeing Tour of Krakow old town will take in some of the major sights including Kazimierz, the former Jewish quarter, Remuh and Isaac Synagogues, Wawel Cathedral, St Mary’s Church and Collegium Maius.

Inspired? A college or school trip to Krakow is also suitable for other subjects including a general Cultural & Enrichment tour.

Give us a call and start your journey to Krakow with European Study Tours today.