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About Cracow
The capital of Poland until the end of the sixteenth century, Cracow has been superseded by Warsaw, and is now the fourth largest city in the country, but is often still referred to as the country's cultural capital. The world-renowned Jagellonian University, Wawel Castle and one of Europe's largest market squares are all contained in one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Europe. The largely unspoilt Old Town has now been declared a World Heritage Site.
Laid out in 1257, the Rynek Glowny (Main Market Square) is one of the largest medieval market squares in Europe - the centrepiece of a town plan which was, and remains, a remarkable piece of town planning. The grid-like pattern of streets surrounded by a tree-lined pedestrian avenue (once the limit of the city walls) makes it easy even today to walk around the city. To the south, and connected to the Market Square by the long, straight Grodzka street, lies Wawel Castle, the seat of Polish kings from the eleventh to the early seventeenth century.
A few minutes walk south of the Old Town, and separated from it by Jozefa Dietla street, lies the old district of Kazimierz. Until 1880, Dietla was a tributary of the Vistula river, and Kazimierz an island. Best known as the old Jewish Quarter of Cracow, it is in fact divided into two distinct halves, with Jewish Kazimierz occupying the northeastern part and Christian Kazimierz the southwestern part. Jewish culture flourished here from the 15th century until World War II, when the Nazis forced most of the remaining Jews into a specially created ghetto across the Vistula river, where they were either killed or transported to nearby concentration camps, including Auschwitz. At the end of the war, only 6,000 returned, but few could settle. The vestiges of this once prosperous Jewish world cover Kazimierz, and numerous synagogues have been preserved and restored and now house exhibits depicting pre-war life.
About Poland Positioned at the centre of Europe, Poland has known turbulent and violent as well as prosperous times. There have been periods of independence as well as periods of domination by other countries. Several million Polish people, half of them Jews, died in World War II.
In 1989 Poland became the first of the eastern European countries to overthrow Communist rule, following years of demonstrations, strikes and underground political movement led by the Trades Union movement Solidarity. Despite strong Russian objections, Poland joined Nato in 1999 and in 2004 became a member of the EU.
Poland has achieved some success in creating a market economy and attracting foreign investment. However, unemployment is high and incomes and growth low. The huge farming sector is unwieldy and very inefficient, many farms still retaining their medieval land divisions into inefficient, long strips. In spite of this, Poland's agricultural output is greater than that of Great Britain, France and Italy combined, which is why future EU subsidy levels have been a major area of controversy. Corruption has been singled out by the European Commission as a particularly major problem which must be urgently addressed, as well as the necessity to improve border controls.
The Roman Catholic church, a very strong force in Polish life, has expressed concern that modern lifestyles are corrupting moral values. The church has been involved in heated debates over issues such as worship in schools and abortion. | |
| Facts & figures |
Population: 39 million
Capital: Warsaw
Major language: Polish
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 68 years (men), 77 years (women)
Monetary unit: 1 zloty = 100 groszy
Main exports: Machinery and transport equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals
Average annual income: US $11,300
Internet domain: .pl
International dialling code: +48
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 | | "Paid my first visit to Krakow last October.Loved the city so much im heading back again this week." | Noel
Ireland
Apr.20.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Chciałbym ustawić się z powodu miłości do krakowianki w Krakowie egzystencję.Mienie przy moich odwiedzinach zdziwi się jakie życie i odjazd nastrój w mieście panuje.Jestem majstrami piekarskimi i mam trochę kapitał. Piłka nożna EM chciałby także w względzie otworzyć 2012 małych sklepów z pieczywem. Kilka sklepów stało w centrum pusto.
Także poza tym centrum na dużej ulicy kiosk byłby także interresant.Czy państwo mogą pomóc mi znaleźć sklep?
Oni mogą także z Agata kontakt podnieść Ruchomo. 696977514
Ulryk pozdrawia wiele Mundt Weißenfels 06667 Weißenfels / Niemcy Jüdenstraße 43" | Ulrich Mundt
Germany
Apr.18.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Very helpful and useful site. Pls advise me on what to do during my visit from 12 to 15 March 2008 when heavy rains are expected in Krakow!" | tuku
United Kingdom
Mar.09.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "im a portuguese student living in jersey, and im searching for a school that i can go to in Cracow in order to learn Polish.
please contact me if you have any information...." | Raul
Portugal
Mar.07.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "im a portuguese student living in jersey, and im searching for a school that i can go to in Cracow in order to learn Polish.
please contact me if you have any information...." | Raul
Portugal
Mar.07.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "hello and czesc to every one am dipesh from india and i love krakow to much bcoz my fiance is living there my fiance is the most gorgious beauty on this world i love u jaaann am coming soon ok i love u soo much Krakow is best " | dipesh vashishta
India
Mar.07.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Krakow and the surrounding regions are amazing. I love the city and I can't wait to go back. I've been to Krakow twice for study abroad with the University of Northern Iowa. Friendly people, great food and entertainment. I particularly enjoy Kazimerez. I am looking for a permanent place to settle there so if anyone has any information on how to find a permanent apartment..that would be great!" | Matthew Moore
United States
Feb.17.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "krakow is the most beautiful city in the world because "jaan"(darling) live there i love krakow and i love you jaan" | dipesh vashishta
India
Jan.11.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "where can i get costs for train journey krakow to budapest 19 feb 08 1st class sleeper" | ALLAN
United Kingdom
Dec.24.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Returned from Krakow today, first visit cannot wait to go again, superb. Everyone should visit." | ritaml
United Kingdom
Dec.10.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Para gente interesada en conocer Cracovia y Polonia les ofrezco los mejores precios en tour guiados en espanol, tambien puedo ayudar a conseguir hotel o cualquier extra
byronrivera2001@yahoo.com" | Byron Rivera
Poland
Dec.01.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Krakow is awesome, we were there last weekend and i was impressed. Looking forward to studying there!!! So see ya Krakow in February!!!" | zuzka
Slovak Republic
Oct.21.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Krakow is the cutest city i have ever seen in my life!!! Everyone should see it! :)
Poland = " | Dorota
United States
Oct.15.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Hello
I would like to visit Krakow with my family (my wife and our child) for six months from September 2008 until February 2009. I would like to rent an appartment with 2 bedrooms in a good neighbourhood. Please if someone can give me infos I would appreciate very much it." | Sotiris
Greece
Oct.12.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Krakow is simply the best! every year I visit Krakow and the city just keeps getting better! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR..Przekochane ludzie oraz przekochany kraj! :-)" | Daga
Denmark
Sep.25.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Hello,is there no one out there that wants to talk to me,Iam so looking forward to visiting Cracow,will someone tell me what to expect?" | Rita
United Kingdom
Sep.19.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "My husband and I are visiting Krakow in December can anyone tell us what kind of weather to expect and what are the best bargain buys?" | Rita
United Kingdom
Sep.18.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Ah!!! how can I forget the days when I was a part of Cracow life!!!" | Ghalib
India
Sep.04.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I am Going to Krakow for 3days b&b how
many cigarettes am I allowed to take back to uk also alchohol for my own use
only" | Mr A C Ellerby
United Kingdom
Aug.31.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Krakow jest najpieknieszym Miastem Swiata." | Marian F Furlaga
United States
Aug.21.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "wonderful site for a wonderful City !" | Gianni
Italy
Aug.06.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "the contry smells like old fish... but i find it plesant" | Sultan
Kazakhstan
Jul.18.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Regarding changing money - I STRONGLY recommend to not change money at the Kantor shops on the street. The average quoted rate for changing Czech Crowns in the shops was approximately 12/13 CZK to 1 PZL. The actual going rate is around 7.6 CZK to 1 PZL. You will do much better if you simply use an ATM card to withdraw local currency!" | BH
Czech Republic
Jun.21.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Hi Brian - in Polish shops you'll find that only Polish Zloty (PLN) are accepted, and generally cash only, especially for smaller purchases. Some hotels might accept Euro, but in general the official currency is the Zloty, and 99% of the time it's the only currency accepted." | Cracow Life
Poland
Jun.18.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Lots of info on your site. Fantastic help.
However could you advise about general payments in shops and restaurants. Do they accept Euro as payment or is it only Polish currency. Kind regards Brian." | Brian
United Kingdom
Jun.18.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Please see our page on Bulgarian visas:
http://www.sofia-life.com/sofia/visa
And contact your embassy directly for the most current information." | Cracow Life
Poland
Jun.08.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "hello there i am from egypt & i am coming to bulgria during the month of jul.2007 can you advise me how to get the visa information to visit your lovelly place .. thanks for your kind help " | Abd fattah lhaled
Egypt
Jun.07.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Wielka szkoda, ze w paragrfie o smutnej
historii Zydow nie wspomniano KTO zgotowal Im ten pogrom. Moze to jasne dla Polakow ale mlode pokolenia na swiecie o tym nie wiedza." |
Australia
Apr.08.2007
rates this page 3/5
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| | "This city and this country has seen so much history, much of it tragic in recent decades. But it has survived, and I pray Poland and her people will have a long time of peace and prosperity now. They deserve it." | Michael Braunfeld
United States
Mar.16.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
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