A great city! I visited last year and enjoyed every minute.
Posted on 08/24/2005 12:32:57 PM PDT by lizol
Tourists head for Krakow
24.08.2005
In the wake of more assertive campaigning from the Polish Tourist Board, Krakow, the historic city in the south of the country, is experiencing a boom in the number of tourists who visit there.
Statistics say that more than 52 % of Poles consider Krakow the most people-friendly city in the country. Last year the number of visitors to the city increased by 20%, to around 6.5 million tourists. This year, 8mln tourists are expected according to the Promotion Department of the City of Krakow.
And that’s no accident, as it’s a city wrapped in legend, where time flows differently, and where every moment becomes a moment of history.
For centuries Krakow was the capital of Poland, the seat of kings, drawing great scholars and artists from the whole world. Now, it has become the capital of tourism, capital of culture, of art, religion, science or business.
Krakow represents a synthesis of all things Polish, connecting tradition with modernity. In the special atmosphere of the beautiful and mysterious streets offering galleries full of exhibitions, cafes, pubs and restaurants become an integral part of any visit to Krakow.
As all this is merely a modest part of what the place can offer travelers seeking exciting destinations on the world map, even the capital city of Warsaw cannot compete with Krakow as a tourist attraction says Krzysztof Turski of Polish Tourist Organization: Since last year, when Poland joined the EU, the number of tourist has been growing rapidly in the whole country. There’s very little number of free rooms at the seaside or in the Masurian lake district, but it’s Krakow, which can be easily reached by low cost flights from abroad, or fast train connections in the country. Because of the proximity, Poland has always been most popular with German tourists- its closest neighbors, but thanks to all the easements in infrastructure on the one hand and low prices on the other, a weekend long stay in Krakow is a must for an Englishman.
Joining the EU and developing infrastructure helped Krakow as well as the whole Poland in promoting themselves. However, not only during the hottest tourist season but also after that time Poland’s full of Russians, Ukrainians, or Japanese who not paying attention to changeable whether and not the best roads do come to explore what’s best about the country and the city in the heart of Europe.
A great city! I visited last year and enjoyed every minute.
The main square of the city of Krakow.
I love Krakow (especially CK Browar's after an afternoon of sighseeing, and shopping).
I hope to go back again, and stay a month or two. The people were very friendly, and helpful, and the city is beautiful.
If you go to Krakow be sure to see the salt mines. They are deep underground. The miners engaged in very elaborate carving. The artwork is great. The caverns are rented out to people to hold large parties, such as weddings.
thanks for pics. Wieliczka is the 8th wonder of the world. when I think of wieliczka Moria from the Ring Trilogy always comes to mind. but wieliczka is better.
Son, lives in London, says Poland is one GREAT place to visit..friendly, inexpensive, tons of interesting things to see/do.
What, no pics of Polish women?
The church steeple I posted is old St. Mary's where the firemen blow the bugle every hour in commemoration of the bugler who was shot through the neck as he attempted to warn the city of an impending attack from the huns? over 600 years ago.
St. Mary's Church was the Church Pope John Paul II served as bishop of Krakow.
Attending mass there makes one wonder why the Church isn't truly catholic any longer. There are no lay distributors or lectors, communion is not permitted in the hand and the important parts of the mass are chanted in Latin. Further, there is no chatter as one enters the sanctuary as everyone knows that something important happens here.
" who was shot through the neck as he attempted to warn the city "
This is only a legend.
BTW If that church is not truly catholic, so I don't know what is.
2. That church is truly catholic. It's the rest of the world that is out of sync.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.