Go Discover - InterContinental Hotels Group

Art & Architecture
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Kraków
oNE oF CENTrAL EUroPE’S MoST
HISTorIC CITIES, KrAKóW IS A VISUAL
FEAST oF GoTHIC, rENAISSANCE AND
BAroQUE ArCHITECTUrE, THE SPIrES
oF ITS MANY CHUrCHES SoArING
ABoVE THE CoBBLED LANES.
With origins stretching back
to the 7th century, Kraków
was Poland’s royal capital for 500
years and remains the nation’s
symbolic heart. Long a seat of
learning (Nicolaus Copernicus
studied at the city’s Jagiellonian
University from 1491 to 1495),
Kraków miraculously emerged
intact from the destruction of
WWII, only to be closeted behind
the Iron Curtain for the next 40
years. It has now re-emerged,
triumphant, as Poland’s bestpreserved
medieval city.
Bisected by the Wisła River, the
most interesting area of the city
lies on the northern bank around
the pleasingly compact Stare
Miastro (Old Town) centered
on the Rynek Główny, Kraków’s
great medieval market square.
Hot tip!
The asymmetrical St Mary’s
stands in one corner while at the
centre is the magnificent Cloth
Hall; in the upper galleries you’ll
find the city’s finest collection of
Polish art.
Birthplace of Pope John Paul
II, Kraków is a deeply religious
place; monks, nuns and priests
are a common sight and it’s
rare for a church to stand
empty. Even so, this vibrant
and cosmopolitan university
town retains a bohemian air,
with students and intellectuals
hanging out at the countless
cafés and bars. Seldom a night
will go by when you can’t
enjoy some performing arts or
musical entertainment.
A short walk northwest of the Rynek Główny is the quirky House Under the
Spider (Karmelicka 35), a grand mansion decorated with scores of Gothic
gargoyles and a carved spider sitting at the centre of a web.
Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1
Hike up Wawel Hill to Kraków’s magnificent castle and cathedral. Descend the
135 steps through the Dragon’s Cave to the banks of the Wisła. Head north to the
bustling Rynek Główny, zoning in on the Cloth Hall for art viewing and souvenir
shopping. Come nightfall sample one of the city’s excellent jazz clubs or attend the
opera at the elegant Slowacki Theatre.
Day 2
Journey 15km southeast of the city to the Unesco World Heritage listed Wieliczka
Salt Mine. Deep underground you’ll discover the ornamental Chapel of the Blessed
Kinga – everything, including chandeliers and altar – is carved from salt. Return
to Kraków to explore the old Jewish enclave of Kazimierz, calling into the Old
Synagogue and the excellent Ethnographical Museum. Sample Jewish cuisine at
one of the several atmospheric restaurants and relaxed cafés of the area.
1km = 0.6 mile approximately. The featured distances on the map correspond to the approximate distance
between the city centre and the hotels. For a full list of hotels and other destinations, see pages 28-35.
Book online at www.ichotels.com/GoDiscover Call 00800 95 800 800 (from Europe) or 0870 400 8840 (from the UK only)
Eating out
Alef (Szeroka 17; +48 12 421 3870)
Soak up the atmosphere of old Kazimierz in this quaint
place offering Jewish and Polish cuisine.
Wierzynek (Rynek Główny 15; +48 12 424 9600)
Tuck into classic Polish and French concoctions at
Kraków’s oldest restaurant, decorated with antiques.
Cyrano de Bergerac (Sławkowska 26;
+48 12 411 7288)
Top-line French restaurant housed in a beautiful
medieval cellar.
Eating in
A delicious two course dinner is available from
€15 per person at Holiday Inn hotels.
Where to stay: see map
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Holiday Inn Krakow City centre from €79
Express by Holiday Inn Krakow from €49
Prices include breakfast and are per room per night.
Valid 1 November 06 – 31 March 07.
If you like Kraków, why not
also visit Warsaw or Wroclaw?
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