Krakow, Poland

Normally, I cover our European travels by country.  We didn't get to see much of Poland, though, so I'll confine the review to one city.  Thankfully, it's an amazing place, and well worth the sole focus.  Today's post is about Krakow.

Town Square

Krakow has a lot going for it.  Starting in the center, the main square is a place of beauty, culture, and good eating (note the variety of pierogis).  The cloth hall had a cool indoor market with lots of chess sets.

Town

The town itself has what I'd call typical European charm.  Cool buildings, monuments, town walls, and streets abound.

Churches

I've seen a lot of European Churches.  I mean a lot.  But Krakow took the cake in number and variety.  I lost count of the number we toured.

Castle

Like many ancient cities, Krakow has a castle situated on the town's high ground.  It's imposing and beautiful.

Jewish Sites

Steven Spielberg fans may know that Schindler had his famous factory in Krakow (today, it's a museum, well worth a visit).  The synagogue and Jewish cemetery are also sobering sites for reflection.

Salt Mine

One of the most impressive things I've ever seen, the salt mine featured tunnels, sculptures, and even a cathedral- all made out of salt.

Auschwitz

A short taxi ride from Krakow, Auschwitz is a must- but bring tissues.  Over 1.5 million people (mostly Jews) lost their lives here during the Nazi exterminations during WWII.  Separated into two camps, the one has the famous 'arbeit macht frei' sign and loads of exhibits; the other has ruins of the gas chambers and dwelling places.

Conclusion

Our visit to Krakow was one of my favorite trips ever.  So much to see, so many emotions (both good and bad).