Awesome beauty

You can’t help but be charmed as you wonder around the Old Town in Kraków or the city’s Jewish District, otherwise known as the Kazimierz. The cobbled streets exude old world charm, but with such sincerity it melts your heart. Around every corner there is something to make you go wow.

You will look up a lot in Kraków. The colourful buildings are huge and even the most run down will have you gazing gloriously at its beauty. And there are just so may cute and unique shops, along with big brand stores and restaurants, that you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to things to buy.

I stayed in Szeroka Street, the heart of the Jewish Quarter. Picture postcard beauty, history galore, and some great bars and restaurants on tap. It’s also a wonderful walk to the Old Town, through quirky side streets or wide tree-lined boulevards (just mind the trams as you cross roads!). If you heading from Szeroka Street, you’ll most likely also pass Wawel Castle on route too.

As you reach the outskirts of the Old Town, all main roads will eventually bring you to the large medieval main town square, dating back to the 13th-century, where the old Cloth Hall building dominates. At 3.79 ha in size, it is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe.

A lesson in history

The Old Town was at the  centre of the country’s political life from 1038 until King Sigismund III Vasa relocated his court to Warsaw in 1596. Ringed by Planty Park (a 4km chain of gardens with walkways, trees & lawns) and remnants of the city’s medieval walls, activity is centred on the stately, expansive Rynek Glówny (market square/main square), where the old Cloth Hall building dominates. Dating back to the 13th-century, the square is 3.79 ha in size, making it one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe. Main attractions are:

• Cloth Hall, a Renaissance-era market arcade with 13th-century origins & a 19th-century Polish art museum;
• Town Hall Tower, a renovated 14th century Gothic tower and museum;.
• St. Mary’s Basilica, a 14th-century Gothic church – this landmark Roman Catholic basilica has 2 towers, with a carved altarpiece & hourly trumpet calls from the Gothic watchtower.

Wherever you wonder in Kraków, you can be sure that it looks absolutely beautiful by day and totally stunning by night. You will absolutely love it – I promise you. You can see what my top 5 must-see travel tips for Kraków are by reading my blog post, Go crazy in Kraków. You’ll Love it.

Be brave, be bold, be beautiful – BE YOU!