A land where architecture everywhere reminds you of a strong catholic influence, where you could almost understand the locals if only they’d speak a bit slower, where they drink vodka at weddings and an invitation to a party doesn’t mean dancing, but eating sour rye soup with white sausages and hard boiled eggs… that’s Poland!
A unique European city with colourful architecture that reflects the culture and government of the past
My exploration of Poland started in the city of Vroclav, the fourth biggest city of Poland and the centre of the Lower Silesia Dukedom. The Oder River divides the city to two parts, connected by numerous bridges. The most famous among them is the Tumski bridge, known also as the bridge of lovers, the cathedral bridge or the green bridge. The city center is on the west bank and dates mostly back to the Middle Ages and the east bank is mostly residential area of a more recent date. Walking through the old part we quickly realize Christianity had a strong influence on the city development. It’s hard to find a street without at least one sacral building. You should also take a look at the town hall from the 13th century, renovated in the 15th century in gothic style. Vroclav was an important German army centre during the war and was bombed by the allies. Many buildings got destroyed or at least damaged, but then again, the city has been changing and rebuilding through all its history. The city justly holds its status for unique mixed culture with many cultural influences and governments (from goth architecture – which originates from Silesia – through baroque under the Austrian artist von Erlacha).
Eco cars take you on a tour of the city
You can explore Vroclav on foot in a day. Or you can save your energy for evening parties, and take a ride with eco cars. Nice drivers, usually students, pick you up at an arranged spot and take you around city. During the drive these guides present the sights to you. The price of the city tour with an eco car depends on the time of the tour and number of passengers. Cars remind us on tourist buses in other larger European cities, but are smaller and can reach every street. They are meant for up to six tourists, so the river can stop for them to get out and take pictures of something before they drive on.
Stulecia with the biggest fountain in Europe and a ZOO
Just a little from the centre is the hall Stulecia, which charms visitors. The huge multipurpose hall is for locals and visitors of lower Silesia. The location in space and the unconventional structure, with a fountain in front, make it really marvellous. The hall is one of the most desired locations for organizing fairs, conferences, sport events and congresses in Poland. Since 2006 it’s on the UNESCO list of world heritage. In front of the hall is one of the largest fountains in Europe on 110,000 square meters. It has more than 300 openings for water. At certain times visitors can watch various programmes which combine music, light and water. At night the fountain is light with 800 programmed coloured lights. Next to the hall, but on the other side of the road, is the oldest Polish zoo, which dates back to 1865 and features more than 7100 animals.
Vroclav is a city of dwarves
Walking the city of Vroclav you quickly see that little men are watching you from every corner. Don’t worry, they won’t hurt you. On the opposite, they’re small and cute creatures only a few inches tall. They first appeared on the streets of Vroclav in 2001 and their number has been growing ever since. Today these dwarves are a sort of tourist attraction. They were meant as a memory of a protest movement from 1980 and today there are over 200 dwarves around city.
Krakow has the largest square in Europe
Traveling around Poland continued in the second largest city of Poland – Krakow. It’s a city with a very strict and planned architecture. The old part of the city has a green belt with a nice city park and then a stone wall. The medieval city square is the biggest in Europe and it will not leave you cold. There’s a big concentration of cultural and historical monument as well as different architectural styles from various historical periods. It also features the famous gothic basilica Kościół Mariacki. And one of the most recognizable buildings has got to be the Suknjenica, which is a huge renaissance covered market place with decorated arches, which still serves the same purpose, with an art gallery in the cellar. The entire square is surrounded by houses, bars and high class residences and it serves as a meeting point for the young, old, local and foreign people willing to socialize. I recommend you walk the streets leading towards south, where above the river of Visla you find the castle Vavel. It is not only the castle, but also the cathedral. The Vavel hill was settled by Polish rulers already in late 10th century and since 16th century the castle (palace) and cathedral were built by king Sigismund I. Both have remained almost unchanged until today. Entering the castle is free of charge, as are most of the chambers inside, but some like the king’s chambers, treasury, armoury and collection of oriental art cost about 1€. All the eminent Polish personalities as well as all the kings are buried there. And for us Slovenes it’s also interesting to find the tomb of Ana from Celje in the cathedral.
Where the dragon still breaths fire!
According to the legend the city was founded by a legendary prince Krak, who built a castle at Vavel and named the settlement along Visla after himself. The happy life was ruined by a huge dragon who lived under the castle hill and terrorized the people. One day the people gave him a sheep stuffed with sulphur instead of a real one and the greedy beast never noticed it. The sulphur destroyed the dragon’s stomach so it started breathing fire and roaring before it died. Happy days returned to the settlement. Onlike the dragon the myth has survived. People are still telling the story about how the city came to be and an iron dragon still spits fire every few seconds under the castle!
Jewish quarter Kazimierz
After the castle I’ve continued towards Kazimierz – the Jewish quarter. This is where the deportation of the Krakow Jews begun. Here you can find many synagogues and you can see the old Jewish graveyard. For the culinary exploration you can also visit Jewish restaurants. Nearby, just across the Visla bridge, you will also find Schindler’s museum in the former factory of the German factory owner, who employed over 1000 Jews during the war, to save them from the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. The modern museum shows the life and work of Oscar Schindler and the destiny of many Jews. The museum will not leave you cold. It’s well worth the 5€ (or just a little less) you have to pay to get in.
