Krakow - Wawel Cathedral and Castle

In the 16^th century, Poland was one of the few countries to resist change from the Reformation to become one of the most prominent countries in Europe in the early 17^th century.  But less than 200 years later, Poland had ceased to exist swallowed up by Prussia, Russia, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

While soldiers lived in the royal palaces, the crown jewels were melted down.  From 1797 until the Warsaw Pact was dissolved in 1991, Poland celebrated only two decades of independence from 1921-1939.

Throughout its tumultuous history, only two entities served to stabilize and unite Krakow – the second oldest university in central Europe and Wawel Cathedral and Castle atop Wawel Hill (pronounced Vavel).  Both serve as iconic symbols of all that is Poland. 

Wawel Cathedral overlooks the River Vistula and is the burial place of 41 of the 45 Polish monarchs, and the cathedral is a shrine to Stanislaw, an early bishop of Krakow who was executed in 1079 for his part in a rebellion against King Boleslaw.  His silver coffin held up by four silver angels lies beneath a black marble canopy at the main altar. 

Most of the buildings in the complex date from the 14^th century, although the 18 elaborate side chapels were added later and it is there where the majority of the memorials to the monarchs are located including those of the two responsible for the cathedral’s creation: Wladyslaw the Short and Kazimierz the Great (made of red marble.)

One of the most interesting stories is of the most magnificent chapel – the Zygmunt, or Sigismund, chapel.  King Sigismund, designed the chapel as a mausoleum for his Jagiellon dynasty, which ruled Poland for over 200 years.  However, his wife poisoned the first two wives of their only son before they could produce an heir.  Even though their son, Sigismund Augustus II, remarried, he was so distraught that he never consummated the marriage.  King Sigismund’s daughter, Anna, became the last of the Jagiellon dynasty.

The underground Saint Leonard’s Crypt is a mausoleum for royals and national heroes.  This brief history of the Wavel Cathedral from the official web site is excellent and has great photos.

The cathedral roof boasts three towers, one containing the great Zygmunt Bell from 1520, still rung on special occasions.  This video “Krakow – Royal Sigismund Bell” (0:44) gives you a short tour in the bell tower.  For a wonderfully complete guide to print to use while touring Warwel Cathedral, go here as it describes each chapel in detail.

Father Karol Wojtyla, later to become Pope John Paul II, said his first Mass in the crypt of Wawel Cathedral on 3 November 1946.  Seventeen years later, he took over the cathedral as Archbishop of Krakow.  Fifteen years after that, he led the entire Roman Catholic world as Pope.

Also atop Wawel Hill is the gothic castle which is heavily influenced by Italian Renaissance style.  The three tiers of galleries enclose a courtyard where one can see the noted Hen’s Foot Tower and the Danish Tower.

Very little is left of the crown jewels, but the most important is the sword of state, or Szczerbiec, used since the 13^th century in coronation ceremonies in Wawel Cathedral.  This site will tell in detail the various rooms and exhibitions in the royal castle.  Click on each of the tabs for more information.  This might be a good guide to print to use on tour.   This site also has some very nice photos.

Legend says that a fierce dragon once lived in a lair at the foot of Wawel Hill and was slain by the hero Krak, the founder of Krakow. 

This video of “Wawel Castle in Krakow  - Crakow Life” (1:40) gives a brief overview of outside the castle and cathedral.

Krakow - Auschwitz and Birkenau

Located in Poland near the city of Krakow, these two Nazi concentration camps, also known as Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II, were the scene of one of Hitler’s worst crimes in World War II.  Here over one million men, women, and children lost their lives.

Auschwitz was actually a network of concentration camps consisting of Auschwitz I (the base camp), Auschwitz II or Birkenau (an extermination camp), Auschwitz III or Buna-Monowitz (a labor camp), and 45 satellite camps.

From early 1942 to late 1944, transport trains delivered Jews to Birkenau’s gas chambers from all over Nazi-occupied Europe.  Although Jews were not the only ones imprisoned here, around 90 percent of those who died were of Jewish descent.  On 27 January 1945, the Soviets liberated the Auschwitz camps.

Prisoners entered the camp through iron gates topped with the infamous motto “Arbeit macht frei” (Work makes free) believing they were entering a labor camp.  But in addition to hard labor, prisoners were subjected to inhumane medical experiments and death.

This site from AwesomeStories.com, Auschwitz: Place of Horrors, tells the story using primary source photos and documents.

Today, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum stands as a testament to those who lost their lives in one of history’s worst atrocities.  It consists of the extensive grounds and original camp blocks, barracks and guard towers, in addition to exhibits of personal possessions belonging to the millions who were brought here.

Also on exhibit are items depicting the life of prisoners while in the camp, as well as SS items belonging to the perpetrators left behind in the camp after liberation.

The museum’s collection of art associated with Auschwitz-Birkenau is the largest of its kind in the world.  These works made by the prisoners show the emotional stress endured by those prisoners every day and gives us an insight into what life must have been like for those who endured the hardships.

Some of the art was “commissioned” by camp officials, while much of the art was made secretly by the prisoners upon threat of harsh punishment if caught.  The Lagermuseum was a “special” museum that exhibited the plunder from the people deported to the camps.  In addition, there are many postwar art pieces created by former prisoners.

To view some historical photos and documents housed in the museum’s archives, click here.  Each icon is a sub-category.  Click on each sub-category for a full viewing.

Romanian-born Jewish American Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize winner, wrote a book called Night about his experiences in Auschwitz.  I have read it and it is truly thought provoking.  It will give depth and meaning to your visit if read before our departure.

This special documentary, “Oprah and Elie Wiesel at Auschwitz Part 1,” (9:59) gives you an idea of the camp from the perspective of a man who truly lived the experience.  This “Video Tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau” (14:49) will show you the camps. (Word of warning: some graphic images at the beginning.)

The 1993 movie Schindler’s List starring Liam Neeson depicts a Nazi German businessman who helped save thousands of Polish-Jews near Krakow by employing them in his factory.

A visit to the Auschwitz site is a very sobering experience meant to remind us that we must learn from history.  As philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Really Cool Travel Photos

Sometimes it is just plain fun to look at exceptional travel photos.  This first site is a slide show from Budget Travel entitled “25 Most Photographed Places.” The really cool feature to this slide show is that after each photo of a cool place, there will be another photo of the same place but from a unique perspective, position, lighting, etc.

So go through the entire slide show, take note of the tips, practice up on your photographic techniques this coming year and be ready to take some awesome pictures! (Note: #23 is the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and my favorite is #38—way cool!)

The next site is absolutely breathtaking photography!  It is 360 degree aerial 3D photography by AirPano of some of the most unique sites in the world.  You simply have to see them to appreciate the clarity.  They were taken with a miniature aerial helicopter equipped with a camera.

Unfortunately not one is of any of the sites on our upcoming tour, but if you’ve traveled with me before you will recognize several and perhaps others you have traveled to yourself.  Just click on the triangle inside the circle and move your mouse in all directions.  Click on iPhone or iPad if you are viewing in those formats. (Note: I found it worked easier on the iPad.)

Panoramas DK is unbelievable!  It has SO many wonderful places to visit.  Again not many from where we are touring except for Berlin Potsdamer Platz.  You really must look at Versailles Hall of Mirrors France.  It’s almost like walking the hall again!  And use your mouse to scroll up and view the fabulous ceilings! (Note: You will need QuickTime to view this site.)

This site, 360 cities, has a panorama view of Prague.  There’s also one of Auschwitz-Birkenau.  Scroll down on this site to see other panorama views at the concentration camp.

Interested in creating your own panorama?  Here are 8 tips on how to do just that.  Autostitch is a free panorama software download. With only 11 months left before we leave for Eastern Europe, you’ve got a little time to practice!