Krakow

Wieliczka Salt Mines – Salt mine just outside of Krakow that dates back to the 13^th century and once provided the primary source of wealth to the region.  It was a working mine until 2007 and now is open to visitors.  We descended over 400 wooden steps down to a depth of 120 meters below the surface.  The tour covered only about 2km of the total 300 km of tunnels in the mine. It includes an underground lake, several chapels and many chambers with carvings in the salt rock.  Most of the carving and artwork was created by miners who have worked here over the centuries. 

Wawel Castle – Original seat of government in Poland until the capital was moved to Warsaw in 1600s. There is a castle, but also several other buildings including a Cathedral.  Most of Poland’s kings were crowned here and many are buried here as well.  There are several museums on the property, including one dedicated to Pope John Paul II.

 

St. Florian’s Gate – The old city of Krakow was surrounded by walls with 47 defensive towers in medieval times.  Most of the walls were demolished by the Austrians in the 19^th century and this is the only major tower still standing.  Where the original walls and towers had stood, the space is now filled with a park that surrounds the Old City. 

 

 

 Stare Miasto (Old City) and Rynek Glowny (Main Square) – The Old Town is small and very easy to walk, many of the streets are closed to traffic.  Krakow did not see the same kinds of destruction as Warsaw in WWII, so most of the Old City is original.  The Main Square includes a large market building that was once the largest center of commerce in Eastern Europe, connecting the Middle East with Western Europe. 

 

 

St. Mary’s Basilica sits on the square.  Every hour there is a trumpet player in the tower of the church who plays a fanfare. There is a legend that a trumpet player sounded the alarm when the Mongolians were invading in the 13^th century.  An arrow killed the trumpeter before he could finish the alarm and so today the trumpet player stops short of completing the tune.   The trumpet player has been a member of the local fire brigade for the last 200 years.