Rynek Główny

Krakow

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Home Europe Poland Krakow Do & SeeRynek Główny

Rynek Główny

Rynek Główny is the name of the Main Market Square, which once was the largest square in Medieval Europe. It lies at the heart of the city and has been its hub, ever since the historical district of the Old Town got its present grid of streets in the 13th century. Rynek Główny is still very much the soul of the city.

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addressRynek Główny, Krakow

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St Mary's Basilica

St Mary's Basilica

The spiralling twin towers of this ancient church witnessed many of the tumultuous events that have shaken the city of Krakow over the centuries. The top of the church tower is a perfect spot to take some beautiful photos of the city.

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Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camps

Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camps

This is a sobering sight for visiting tourists, but harrowing and essential for any visit to Krakow. You can catch a bus for a 90-minute journey to the former Nazi concentration camp, where millions of Jews were exterminated during the Second World War. Most travel agents organise day excursions to the camp. The Museum is about 2 km from the train station Oświęcim, and can be reached from there by local buses.

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Wawel Castle & Cathedral

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A tour of the Gothic castle and cathedral on Wawel Hill is essential for any visitor to the city. See the bones of Smok Wawelski, the mythical dragon of Wawel Hill. The Castle itself, where Polish Kings ruled, offers enough to keep visitors interested for the remainder of their trip up Wawel.

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Church of St Adalbert

Church of St Adalbert

Church of St Adalbert, also known as the Church of St Wojciech, is located to the side of the Main Market Square in Old Town, and is one of the oldest stone churches in Poland. Its almost thousand-year old history goes back to the beginning of the Polish Romanesque architecture of the early Middle Ages.

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Wieliczka Salt Mine

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Discover an underground village where everything–from the statues to the church–has been carved from salt blocks on a fascinating guided tour from Krakow. Follow your guide through the maze of tunnels of the Wieliczka Salt Mine as you learn about its history and marvel at the many complex and beautiful salt sculptures. A must-visit for anyone travelling to Krakow!

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Kazimierz

Kazimierz

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Czartoryski Museum

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Town Hall Tower

Town Hall Tower

This is the last surviving part of the former 14th-century town hall. It has become, accidentally, the city’s own leaning tower, as it bends slightly off-centre by 55 centimetres, apparently caused by the wind and the passage of time.

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Old Synagogue

Old Synagogue

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Planty Park

Planty Park

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St Florian's Gate

St Florian's Gate

This is one of the few surviving parts of the ancient defence system that once surrounded the Old Town. Built in the early 14th century, it was the main defence of the north. Further towers were added in the 15th century, but the Florian's Gate is the only remaining gate from the original eight. In 1660, it was extended to include a Baroque roof, raising its height by one metre, and today it measures around 33.5 metres.

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Jagiellonian University & Collegium Maius

Jagiellonian University & Collegium Maius

Founded in 1364, this is one of the oldest universities in Europe, and it can boast names like Nicolaus Copernicus and Pope John Paul II among its alumni. To learn more about the history and campus life, you can take a guided tour. The building is centrally located, close to the Main Market Square.

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Park Wodny

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Botanical Garden

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Oskar Schindler's Factory

Oskar Schindler's Factory

This museum tells the story of the Nazi occupation of Krakow during World War II. It is located in the former administrative building of Oskar Schindler's factory. A guided tour is available, but you will also find detailed explanations in English around the museum.

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Polish Aviation Museum

Polish Aviation Museum

Polish Aviation Museum provides a wide collection of aeroplanes, helicopters, plane engines and pre-war planes which were made in Poland. There is also an exhibition where the visitors can learn more about the development of the world aviation technology.

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Rynek Underground

Rynek Underground

The idea of this contemporary underground museum came up during an archaeological study on the eastern side of the Main Market Square. It opened in 2010 and contains interactive exhibits of Krakow's archaeological history. The number of tickets per day is limited: they are spread out over different times during the day, so it is a good idea to pre-book them.

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