Before posting, please read our Community Guidelines. Kazimierz the Great and his predecessors gradually surrounded the cathedral with some 20 chapels, which were further modified over the centuries — making this beautiful church a happy hodgepodge of styles. The colorful architecture reminds locals and tourists alike of the prewar glory of the Polish capital. 2019 Discovery: Gdańsk, Poland. His scribes bragged "Kazimierz found Poland made of wood, and left it made of brick and stone" — he even made it onto the 50-złoty note. So if all you want is the best of Poland, this compact Snapshot guide delivers everything you'll need to know — for about half the price and half the bulk. But across the grounds of the castle you can uncover more fragments of Kraków's history, and have the opportunity to visit several museums. While the 1944 Warsaw Uprising is a recurring theme in virtually all Warsaw sightseeing, two sights in particular are worth a visit for anyone with a special interest: The Warsaw Uprising Monument (at plac Krasinskich) and the thorough, modern Warsaw Uprising Museum (inconveniently located a 10-minute tram ride west of the central train station — but well worth the trip for history buffs). All the full length Rick Steves Europe PBS Episodes that I could find. It was essential to survive this harsh climate. 13. Barcelona and Catalunya. The Old Town's many restaurants provide a good introduction to Polish cuisine…and central to that is vodka. Or in the Cloth Hall. Collapse. 21 $25.00 $25.00. When built, in the 13th century, this was the biggest square in medieval Europe. Then, about a year later, the entire city rose up against the Nazis in the Warsaw Uprising. We are planning to have 2 nights at Krakow and 1 day trip to Auschwitz. In the Middle Ages, this was the place where cloth-sellers had their market stalls. the Mongols — swept in from Asia and destroyed Kraków. As Polish and Jewish culture mingled here for so many centuries, it's hard to distinguish between Jewish and Polish cuisine. Warsaw's Royal Way — a mostly buses- and taxis-only shopping boulevard — is a local favorite for strolling, and browsing, and ultimately leads you to Warsaw's historic Old Town. For more information, contact Lisa Werner at lisaw@ricksteves.com or Hope Reed at 520-622-1393. Everything here, including the ornate altar and the grand chandelier, is hewn from this underworld of salt. Dzień dobry. Kazimierz was one of those larger-than-life medieval kings who left his mark on all fronts. Because the Nazis leveled the ghetto, there is literally nothing left except the street plan, some monuments, and the heroic spirit of its former residents. Episode 313: Sevilla. 10. It began as a simple, stripped-down Romanesque church in the 12th century. I can't imagine how cold they must have been…wet, hungry, and dressed in rags. For centuries, generations of Wieliczka miners spent their daylight hours underground, rarely seeing the sun. Travel engages me with our world, and helps me feel fully alive. 0:55:02. Rate. RICK STEVES EGYPT: YESTERDAY & TODAY sails beyond Europe, exploring the historic and cultural wonders of Egypt. Locals tore down most of it, filled in the moat, and planted trees. Though legendary saxophonist Janusz Muniak passed away in 2016, his famous club is still the best for all-around jazz in a sophisticated cellar environment. Back in Kraków, cap your day in one of the town's many jazz clubs. During the partition in the 19th century, we didn't even show on the map but we survived — thanks to being Polish, and thanks to being Catholics. Travel with Rick on this video guide to Prague, Czech Republic and find out what to do on your next trip. Krakow, with its bubbly Baroque and cobbled charm, is emerging as the exciting "next Prague." See the Travel Details above for recommendations highlighted in bold, excerpted from Rick's guidebooks. by Rick Steves and Cameron Hewitt | Jun 19, 2012. This hill is where Kazimierz the Great turned a small fortress into a mighty Gothic castle in the 14th century (only bits of its foundation remain, as the original fortress burned to the ground in 1499). Today, while note quite as slick and polished as Prague's Jewish Quarter, Kazimierz's assortment of synagogues, cemeteries, and museums helps visitors appreciate the neighborhood's rich history. Tour Account › Travel Forum › Home / Travel Forum / Poland; Please sign in to post. You'll see legends from the days of King Kazimierz, when one-third of Poland's income came from these precious deposits: the famous astronomer Copernicus, and even the region's favorite son, Pope John Paul II. Complete Video Script. 4. This square is where Kraków lives…kids practice breakdancing, horse carriages take you for a ride, and folk bands add traditional color. Warsaw's huge, idyllic Łazienki Park is sprinkled with Neoclassical buildings, peacocks, and young Poles in love. If you think you're good at chess, challenge one of these guys. If you don't trust me you can taste it. Season 10 Episode 1006 | 25m 2s | Video has closed captioning. The small houses are traditionally used by three generations at the same time. With a million and a half visitors each year, Auschwitz struggles with crowd control. The Nazis arrived in 1939. Industrialization ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | We're having some traditional Polish dishes that go well with vodka: herring, cold cuts, Polish pickles, and steak tartare. The original church was destroyed by the first Tatar invasion in 1241, but all subsequent versions — including the current one — have been built on the same foundation. Rick Steves' Europe. He was a great warrior, diplomat, patron of the arts, and womanizer. St. Mary's Church faces Kraków's marvelous Market Square. After centuries of living relatively peacefully in Poland, Warsaw's Jews suffered terribly at the hands of the Nazis. Traders passing through were required to stop for a few days and sell their goods at a discount. Rick Steves Snapshot: Kraków, Warsaw & Gdańsk contains all the complete chapters on Poland, excerpted from Rick's full-length Eastern Europe guidebook — and leaves out the chapters on other Eastern European destinations. Stream Poland - Travel with Rick Steves by Travel with Rick Steves from desktop or your mobile device Stay tuned for lots of Rick Steves’ Europe this fall — including episodes on Portugal (Lisbon and the country’s heartland), the heart of England, Greek islands, Sicily (Best of Sicily and Sicilian Delights), Scotland (Glasgow, Highlands, and islands), cruising travel skills, and two special episodes on Europe’s greatest festivals. Take me as example, I'm 65 years old and I'm still fresh, still young. Copy Copied! Thankfully, these are good times for Poland. The neighborhood of Kazimierz — named for the king — was a thriving and autonomous Jewish community for centuries when most of the world's Jews lived here in Poland. In the old days, when the winters were long and very cold, we needed it. Now he owns the Jazz Club U Muniaka, and jams regularly here in a mellow cellar. 4.5 out of 5 stars 28. 9. Auschwitz I, where public transportation from Kraków arrives, has the main museum building, the Arbeit Macht Frei gate, and indoor museum exhibits in former prison buildings. Poland. And today, even the higgledy-piggledy charm of the buildings has been painstakingly restored. The Nazis began moving people out at the rate of 5,000 a day to nearby death camps like Auschwitz. Get it as soon as Wed, Jul 8. Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on December 28, 2018 December 19, 2019 by Cameron Hewitt. The neighborhood of Kazimierz, 20 minutes by foot southeast of Kraków's Old Town, is the historic heart of Kraków's once-thriving Jewish community. The remarkable Wieliczka Salt Mine — just outside of Kraków — has been producing salt for eight centuries. The mine’s enormous underground church, carved in the early 20th century, is still used for Mass. Are you ready? If you're going to remember one Polish king, remember Kazimierz the Great, who ruled Poland from Kraków in the 14th century. Few travelers take time to see the countryside. After they were killed, everything of value was sorted and warehoused. The Germans bombed the sprawling gassing and cremation facilities as they retreated. Deep beneath the ground, the mine is filled with sculptures that miners have lovingly carved out of the salt. Several powerful museums are dedicated to telling the story. It holds the tombs of Poland's greatest rulers and historic figures. Kraków, Poland. After a three-hour train ride from Kraków, we arrive in Warsaw. Poland's two must-see cities are Warsaw and Kraków. The cathedral interior is slathered in Baroque memorials and tombs, decorated with tapestries, and soaked in Polish history. Back in the 1950s, Janusz Muniak was one of the original Polish hepcats. Driving through the countryside back to Kraków refreshes travelers with a look at today's peaceful rural Poland. Copy failed. Rick Steves' Europe. In the 14th century, when other nations were deporting Jews, King Kazimierz actively welcomed them. So it hurts only once. And the city's legendary mermaid welcomes friends while keeping out foes. Season 5 Episode 3 | 25m 4s | Video has closed captioning. A Nazi doctor stood here and evaluated each prisoner as they stepped off the train. Rate. Kraków emerged from World War II virtually unscathed — it slumbered under communism until Poland won its freedom in 1989. Until next time…keep on travelin'. Warsaw emerged as the dominant city in Poland and Kraków remained a provincial backwater of the Habsburg Empire, ruled from Vienna. Crowds got you down? Resilient Krakovians took this opportunity to rebuild their city with a near-perfect grid plan — a striking contrast to the narrow, mazelike lanes of most medieval towns. Go 1,000 feet underground in the vast Wieliczka Salt Mine, near Kraków, to tour the inactive mine and see the statues and chapels the religious miners carved out of the black salt over the centuries. keywords Reservations are required — whether visiting on your own or joining a guided tour. Kaisa: You can chase it. Thanks for joining us. Share your comments on Rick Steves’ Europe TV shows with other travelers and with Rick! But Poland's been particularly hard hit through the ages. Terms of Service | Privacy, Kraków, Poland: Countryside and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Kraków, Poland: Rich History, Vibrant Culture, Warsaw, Poland: Heroes, Memorials, and Restoration, Poland Rediscovered: Kraków, Auschwitz, and Warsaw. With Rick Steves. Headstones — broken under tank treads — now create a moving mosaic wall and Holocaust monument. Kaisa: Yes, it's a traditional Polish drink, and actually it makes a lot of sense. Everything here around us is made of salt — even the chandelier is salt crystal. Rick Steves TV Episodes. It's vast: nine levels…1000 feet deep…over a hundred miles of tunnels. Once they saw these blue lines, village boys were welcome to come a courtin'. My Account. Season 10 of Rick Steves' Europe debuted across the US on public television in the fall of 2018. But with ambience like this, it's clear the Jewish heritage here is a rich one. 8. While few Jews actually still live here, the spirit of the Jewish tradition survives. It was built in the 18th century by Poland's very last king, King Poniatowski, who wanted it both for his own summer residence — his striking Palace on the Water — and as a place for his citizens to relax. When the tour's over a small but industrial-strength lift beams you up. The Jewish cemeteries of Kazimierz were defiled by the Germans, bulldozed by Nazi tanks. Please suggest what else can we do/see in other 2 days? In 1555, it burned down, and was replaced by the current building. Proud miners carved figures of great Poles out of the salt. Kasia: Imagine, Poland was crunched between Protestant Germany and Orthodox Russia. Several sights in Warsaw commemorate those who were murdered, and those who fought back. Everything had to be sold here on the market square. Episode 310: Poland Rediscovered: Kraków, Auschwitz, and Warsaw. Nearby, a visit to Auschwitz teaches us a timeless, soul … Episode 312: Lisbon and the Algarve. To really focus on klezmer as an art form, pay a bit more to attend a concert, performed most summer nights in several synagogues (for the latest lineup, check for fliers around town, or ask at any tourist information office). Glasgow: Gritty Industry and Feisty Scottish Culture, Neuschwanstein: “Mad” King Ludwig’s Castle in Bavaria. This uniquely eclectic church is the product of centuries of haphazard additions…yet somehow, it works. Sigismund III — the great king who moved Poland's capital from Kraków to Warsaw in 1596 — stands overseeing everything. Plaques — in each of the languages spoken by camp victims — explain the purpose of this memorial. Chopin sits under a wind-blown willow tree. Virtually everything you see is rebuilt. This exquisite Gothic polyptych — an altarpiece with pivoting panels — was carved in the late 1400s by Veit Stoss. Local merchants then resold their wares at a profit…and the city thrived. 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