4th DAY After breakfast guided tour of
Kraków, including entrance to
Wawel Castle (The Polish Acropolis. Originally Romanesque, later Gothic, the castle is mostly a Renaissance construction in its present form),
Collegium Maius (the oldest preserved building of the Jagiellonian University, founded by The Royal Act at 12
th May 1364, dates back to the early 15
th century. The museum’s rich collection includes objects related to Nicolas Copernicus, who studied at the Krakow Academy, old Arabian astronomic instruments, including famous early-16
th century globe with a representation of America), Collegium Novum and Cloth Hall – Sukiennice.
Than guided tour in Kazimierz District. At the present
Kazimierz is one of the most popular districts of the city thanks to its rich tradition and the atmosphere enabling us to feel the „spirit” of its former inhabitants. Entrance to Remuh Synagogue, one of the few left in Cracow . It couldn't have held more than eighty or ninety people, but then there aren't that many Jews left in the city. Before the war, there had been as many as 70,000. Between 200 and 300 remained. On the synagogue grounds is an ancient and historic cemetery.
Dinner in Kazimierz district with the concert of Klezmer music.
5th DAY
After breakfast trip to Krasiczyn via Łańcut and Przemyśl.
Łańcut - visit to the very well preserved Łańcut palace, which was built in the early 17
th century and later remodelled a few times. It is surrounded by a system of fortification with bastions. The palace museum with interiors from the period between 17
th century and the early 20
th century has heaps of paintings, sculptures and objet d’art of all sorts. The annual music festivals are held in the splendid ball room. The museum of coaches arranged in the former stables and coach house has one of Europe ’s largest collections of carriages. The palace is surrounded by a landscape park (19
th c.) and just outside the park stands the 18
th century synagogue.
Further trip to
Przemyśl – city of many cultures with many secular and sacral historical buildings. Originally Gothic and now predominantly baroque cathedral hosts a miraculous, alabaster figure of Our Lady from the 15
th century. The Przemyśl Fortess is Europe’s third largest stronghold of this kind after those of Antwerp and Verdun , representing the highest achievement of military art. from the 19
th and 20
th centuries. The fortifications were composed of 42 forts arranged in two rings, the outer line was constructed 8-12 km from the city limits. The preserved fragments of the fortess are great tourist attraction. In the afternoon arrival in
Krasiczyn. The late-Renaissance palace and park complex in Krasiczyn is acclaimed as one of the finest of its kind in the country. The square construction with four corner towers is built around partly arcaded courtyard. The palace is richly ornamented with an attic, stucco works and wall-paintings. Part of the palace can be visited.
Accommodation in the hotel in Krasiczyn. This hotel was arranged in the 19
th century building standing in the landscape park (20 hectares) with rare species of trees and shrubs.
Dinner with the special ghost shows.
6th DAY
After breakfast trip to Przeworsk. An attraction of Przeworsk is “Pastewnik”, a unique place which functions both as an inn, camping site, and open-air museum. Than further trip to Leżajsk which main attraction is the 17th century Benedictine church and monastery surrounded by defensive walls with towers. Throngs of tourists and pilgrims arrive to visit the vast late-Renaissance basilica that shelters a miraculous icon of the Madonna and Child from the second half of 16th century as well as the famous baroque organ (late 17th c.), one of the finest in Poland. Leżajsk has also historical town hall and burgher houses from the 18th century. Further trip to Sandomierz and sightseeing an ancient town situated on the Sandomierz Plateau overlooking the Vistula River near the confluence of the River San. There were settlements already in prehistoric times (8th century). The town developed rapidly thanks to its good location at a communication land and waterway crossroads. Our walk about this unique town is the best to begun with the panorama as viewed from the Vistula River , or from the tower of the city gate known as the Brama Opatowska. Next we head for the Market Square (Rynek). In the centre of the market place stands the 14th century Gothic Town Hall , with later Renaissance additions. Its ground floor houses the Regional Museum collection and its sement a period coffee-house. The Cathedral is the town's most impressive religious edifice, founded in 1380 by King Kazimierz the Great. Its interior has rare polychromatic decorations by Ruthenian masters. The house of Jan Długosz, the 15th century chronicler, may be reached by a little street of the same name. The brick edifice was once a priests' house, and now contains the religious art collection of the diocesan museum. Sandomierz also has a subterranean system of corridors made by miners, now offering unusual 400-metre visitors' promenade.
In the afternoon trip to Baranów Sandomierski and visiting a perfectly preserved, sumptuous late-renaissance magnate residence from the turn of the 16th century. It has four corner towers and a lovely courtyard with two-storied arcades that looks very Italianesque with their slender columns supporting graceful arches. The palace houses a museum of interiors and a hotel. It is set in a pleasant, well kept park with flower terraces and fountains.
Dinner and overnight in the Castle in Baranów Sandomierski.
7th DAY
After breakfast trip to Kraków via Zalipie and Dębno. Zalipie is a small village with wooden houses decorated by local women painter with fantastically colourful floral compositions. The tradition of hand-painting the cottages has continued at least since 1930s. Only in Zalipie there are about 20 painted houses, and there are ten more in the close vicinity. Flowers festoon not only walls of the buildings but also fences, wells, stoves, and home equipment. Every year, during the week following Corpus Christi, competitions for the most beautifully decorated cottage are organised in Zalipie. Further trip to Dębno. The castle in Dębno is Poland’s only 15th century knightly residence in such a good condition, with late Gothic and early-Renaissance architecture. A deep moat and an impressive park with ancient trees surround the castle. The impressive interiors of the castle include the former Knights’ Hall, the chapel, and Treasury.
In the afternoon departure for a guided tour in Wieliczka Salt Mine – one of the most ancient mines in the world. It has been operating since the 13th century with no intermissions.
In 1978, it was listed as UNESCO World Culture and National Heritage Site. The tourist route open for visitors connects three levels, and reaches 135 meters under the surface. Besides the Tourist Route, the underground passages and chambers house the Kraków Salt-Works Museum, one of the largest mining-related museums in Europe.
Dinenr in the old Town in Kraków.
Overnight in Hotel in Kraków.
8th DAY
After breakfast – departure.