Krakow Things to Do Tips by Skeptic-jr Top 5 Page for this destination

Krakow Valley Golf & Country Club

I have not been there, since I do not play golf, but people sometimes wants to know how to get there. So this is info about it. To see what KVG & CG is, follow the link the their webpage (below).

So...
First you shoud know that Krakow Valley Golf is not in Krakow, but 30 km from city's center, in the village of Paczoltowice.

But how to get the if you have not any car nor organized transport there?

1. If you are a major businessman you should go by taxi, 40 minutes sth like that (maybe about 100 zl - but the price I only guess...).

2. If you are a man who have more time to see how people live in Poland and have similar interest to the local customs as to global rules of golf you should go from Krakow to Krzeszowice by train (30 minutes, maybe 5-6 zl, departuring every hour or so) or a little bus (so called in Polish "bus", read: "boos", on the contrary to "autobus", meaning a regular bus) - many lines, about 30-40 minutes, 4 zl or so. And then from Krzeszowice - by local taxi (maybe 15-20 zl and 10 minutes).

Of course, you can go one way by taxi and return by taxi/train/bus. Or vice versa.

1 EURO = ~ 3,8 zl (04.2007)

Address: Paczółtowice 328, 32-063 Krzeszowice

Directions: 30 km on West from Krakow.

Other Contact: marketing@krakow-valley.com

Phone: + 48 12 258 85 00

University - Collegium Novum Jagiellonian University Review

Today Collegium Novum is the main part of Jagiellonian University, but it is not really old building. It was built in 80s of 19th century, so it is in neogothic-style.Inside valuable pictures (e.g. by Jan Matejko). The seat for the university's rector.

Address: Golebia (Dovish) Street 24

Directions: University Quarter, near the Main Market Square.

Lady with Ermine

You should visit Czartoryskis' Museum and see the most valuable picture in Poland. "Lady with an Ermine" (In Polish: Dama z lasiczka) was painted in 1485 by Leonardo da Vinci. The painting was made with oil on wood panel, its dimentions are 54 × 39 cm. This is one of only three female portraits Leonardo painted.

The rest of museum's collection contains of the other old master's paintings (including Rembrant's "Landscape with merciful Samaritan"), european and muslim art handicraft from middle ages to 19th century, graphics, ancient art and arsenal.

Address: Swietego Jana Street no 19

Directions: Near Florianska Gate

Website: http://www.muzeum-czartoryskich.krakow.pl

Rev. Skarga's column

A big controversy accompanied the setting up of this monument in May 2001. The column appeared suddenly, almost without any public debate, but in its honor committee seated prominent people from the top of church hierarchy and local self-government from right-wing party.

Is is accused for being to pathetic in very realistic way. Many opponents say also that his pose is similar rather to the revolutionist than to the priest.

Rev. Skarga was jesuit and preacher in 15-16th centuries, lived also in Krakow, serving for king Sigmund III Waza. He was one of the most important exponent of Polish couter-reformation, great orator, opponent of tolerance which in his opinion was one of the sources of political crisises at the times he lived.

The little square at foot of monument is popular place amongst local skaters.

Address: Grodzka Street

Directions: 5 minutes from the Market Square, on the little square opposite to Saints Peter and Paul Church.

Controversial sculpture The Market Square - Rynek Glowny Review

Near to the corner of Market Square, opposite the St Mary Church stands a huge metal head - the sculpture made of bronze by famous artist Igor Mitoraj. "Eros Bendato" (Eros tied) lies aside, there is a bandages on the head of young man.

Scupture is really biggish - 3,7 m lenght i 2,25 m height. Is standed near the Town Hall's Tower since 2005. Specialists says its market value is about 0,5 mln EUR - the artist donaded it to Krakow.

The head is rather popular, especially amongst tourists who usually want to catch picture with it, but many people argue it is a daub. The city's authorities try to move it on another spot - the present location is temporary and shouldn't change till the end of 2006.

Mitoraj is famous Polish sculpturor, a follower of Tadeusz Kantor, who for many years has been living abroad (France, Italy). His arts are usually parts of human body, symbolizing its fragility and the time expiration. He is very strong linked to the Greek and Roman mythology.

In Krakow there are also other works by this artist, but they are hidden in museums, making "Eros Bendato" the only one on the open air. The other two Mitoraj's scuptures one can admires in National Museum, one more decoretes court-yard of Collegium Iuridicum in Jagiellonian University.

Address: The Market Square

Directions: Heart of city

Website: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Mitoraj

Saint Mary's Church St. Mary's Church Review

Two towers of the Gothic Kosciol Mariacki St Mary's Church) dominate the Main Market Square.

This is realy treasure of different relics. The famous is the Gothic altar (the largest in Europe), the masterpiece of Wit Stwosz.

For legends linked to the church look at my "Local Customs" tips:
Fury
Trumpetcall

Address: The Main Market Square

Directions: The Old Town

The Drugstore Under the Eagle

A small exhibition at the museum Apteka Pod Orlem (The Pharmacy under an Eagle) at the Plac Bohaterow Getta (The Square of The Heroes of the Ghetto) shows a history of life and death Jewish people experienced under the German Nazi occupation. During the war in the pharmacy worked Tadeusz Pankiewicz, the only Pole who was allowed to live in the ghetto. There was a place of a conspiracy, contacts and an aim for needies.After war Pankiewicz was honoured by Yad Vashem with the medal of "The Righteous among the nations of the world."

Open:
Mon-Fri 10 am. - 4 pm.
Sun 10 am. - 2 pm.

Address: Plac Bohaterow Getta No 18

Directions: Podgórze District

Phone: 656 56 25

Website: http://www.mhk.pl/english/oddzialy_apteka.php

Ghetto Heroes' Square

The square is in the Podgorze district, just on the other side of Vistula River than Krakow's Old Town and now trendy former Jewish district Kazimierz.

Formelly the Zgody (Agreement or Consensus) Square during the WWII was in the Krakow's ghetto, organized by German nazists. In March 1943 was the place were the hitlerites round up Jewish people from the ghetto, where they were imprisoned. Thousands of victims stayed here forever, the rest were expulsed out of ghetto to the Plaszow camp.

After war the square for years was neglected and rather dangerous place. There is a little museum - Drugstore under White Eagle - in the old farmacy during war run by Tadeusz Pankiewicz, who was the only Pole allowed by German invaders to be in the ghetto. He tried to help Jews. The exhibition is about ghetto and Pankowski's help for Jewish people.

In 2005 all the square was ordered and transformed in the huge memento of extermination. The inspiration for authors of the project were fragments from the book by Pankowski, in which he mentioned, that the square were full of wardrobes, chairs, tables and other furnitures carried over from place to place by Jews who didn't know what's going on with them. That is why today the square is "furnished" with many metal sculptures of chairs.

Address: In Polish: Plac Bohaterow Getta

Directions: Podgorze district

Pijarska Street

Along the remained fragments walls of the Old Town runs Pijarska Street. At the Arsenal the Venetian-style arche crosses the street. There are many of "painters" close by Florianska Gate, offering their pictures with Krakow's view, horses etc. Be careful - most of them are definetely a kitsch.

Address: Pijarska Street

Directions: Old city

Saint Florian Church

The church was originally built in the medieval age, when the relics of Saint Florian had been bring down to it.

Today Saint Florian Church is an example of the Baroque-style temple. It has rich equipped inside and great localisation, which make it the kind of crown of view for the Matejko Square.

The church was the place, where started so called Royal Route leading to the Wawel hill (and castle). In the past the route was use by kings during their ceremonial entries, now is the main tourist track in the city and also the frame for order of my next Krakow's "Must see" tips.

Address: Matejko Square

Directions: The Royal Route