Małopolska I zwiedzanie Małopolski z przewodnikiem, różne języki

Sightseeing of Małopolska with a guide

The Małopolska Region (Lesser Poland Voivodeship) – a beautiful and rich land with inexhaustible resources of tourist attractions, natural treasures, rich traditions and extraordinary stories.

This is where important European trade routes have crossed since the earliest times and the history of extraordinary people was born. Numerous landscape parks and reserves, including high mountains, river valleys, plains and foothills, make up the most attractive tourist area in Poland. Monuments: churches, castles, palaces and museums form unusual tourist routes full of secrets, legends and historical events with rich folklore and regional culture.

Małopolska is a wealth of impressions and places to rest. It is relaxation and adventure. Knowledge and magic. Nature and technology. Mountains and lakes. Historic cities and contemporary urban planning. In a nutshell, there is something for everyone.

National Park Ojcow

About 16 km from Krakow there is the National Park Ojcow. It was created in 1956, it is the smallest of the Polish national parks (area 21.46 km²). Its symbol is a bat. It hides an extraordinary geological, natural and cultural wealth.

In the area of OPN you can see, among others castles in Ojców and Pieskowa Skała,
the “Na Wodzie” chapel, a hermitage of Bl. Salomea. The whole area abounds in various rock forms (Brama Krakowska), caves (Ciemna with the traces of a Neanderthal man, Łokietek), gorges, viewpoints (Skała Jonaszówka).

Wieliczka salt Mine

The city of Wieliczka is an old town with an existing castle (museum) founded by King Casimir the Great. It owes its fame to the mine (now a museum), an existing spa in the basement, as well as a saline graduation tower.

The historic Salt Mine in Wieliczka is the only mining facility in the world that has been operating continuously from the Middle Ages to the present. He constantly surprises tourists with new products
in the underground exhibition.

On September 8, 1978, it was inscribed on the 1st UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List, among the first 12 sites from around the world.

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

The city of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska was founded in the first half of the 19th century. In the seventeenth century by the voivode of Kraków, Mikołaj Zebrzydowski, who also decided to build
a “Calvary” on the nearby hills – that is, a complex of sacred buildings symbolizing the Passion stations.

In 1999, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska was entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a historic architectural, landscape and pilgrimage complex (Basilica, Monastery of the Bernardines and Paths). Pilgrims are attracted by path services on the Paths of Jesus and the Paths of Our Lady, passion mysteries, indulgences and the Miraculous Image of Mary of Calvary. Karol Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II) made a pilgrimage to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska from an early age.

Wadowice & Pope John Paul II

Today, Wadowice plays a mainly tourist role – as the hometown of Pope John Paul II, who, as Karol Wojtyła, was born here on May 18, 1920.

In the center of Wadowice, at the Market Square (now John Paul II Square), there is the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the miraculous image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. His monument has been standing in front of the basilica since 2006. He lived next door at 7 Kościelna Street, where a biographical museum was opened in 1984.

In Wadowice, it is worth trying the papal delicacy – the world-famous Wadowice cream cakes, known
as papal ones.

Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau

Oswiecim, the city and its surroundings is an extremely interesting area. Cultural and natural diversity will provide everyone with a lot of pleasure, ending with the tasting of regional cuisine. However, the most important destination for tourists in Oswiecim is KL Auschwitz – the largest of the German Nazi concentration camps and extermination centers, inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

The authentic Memorial consists of two parts of the former camp: Auschwitz and Birkenau.
The Museum established in 1947 takes care of the post-camp relics. collections, archives and a research, conservation and publishing center.

Zakopane & Tatra Mountains

Zakopane – the largest town in the immediate vicinity of the Tatra Mountains, a large winter sports center, commonly known as the winter capital of Poland. Within the administrative boundaries there is a large part of the Tatra National Park.

At the end of the 19th century, Zakopane became a cultural center eagerly visited by vacationers. There was a development of tourism and mountaineering, a characteristic style of architecture, known as Zakopane or Witkiewicz, was created (villas: Koliba, Pod Jedlami, Atma).

The most visited places are, among others: the Cemetery in Pęksowy Brzysko, the Sanctuary
of Our Lady of Fatima in Krzeptówki, Gubałówka with a magnificent panorama of the Tatra Mountains and taverns with regional spaces. The International Festival of Mountain Folklore has been held here for over 50 years.

Dunajec River Gorge

Pieniński Przełom or Pieniński Przełom Dunajec is a gorge of the Dunajec River through the Pieniny mountain range, on a length of approx. 8 km between Sromowce Niżne and Szczawnica. The river creates many bends in this section, and the rock walls are approx. 300 m high.

Rafting on the Pieniny Gorge is an attraction on a European scale. The oldest information about the trip can be found in the polychrome dating from 1589 in the old church in Kroscienko. From around 1840, the rafting tour became a tourist attraction and it is still the case today. Rafting
on rafting boats is a great opportunity to commune with the wild nature of Pieniny, unchanged for years, and the raftsmen’s stories will make the time spent on the boat more pleasant.

Małopolska Wine Route

Grapevines were grown in Małopolska in the castles and monasteries since the Middle Ages.
The activity was interrupted by a small glaciation in the 15th century. Currently, these traditions are being returned to.

There are over 30 vineyards in Małopolska. Discovering the vineyards blending in with the green landscape, over 100 excellent quality wines, rich culinary offer, the vicinity of many cultural heritage attractions make the wine route worth exploring. In a word, “slow travel”.

Spas

Małopolska spas have gained fame thanks to the properties of their waters. While healing, they use their greatest potential. They have a very different chemical composition and proportions
of individual ingredients. They come from natural areas that have not been devastated, have carbon dioxide and a large amount of calcium and magnesium – bioelements necessary for the proper functioning of our body. Mineral waters from Małopolska are rich in ingredients and bioelements, but also a variety of aromas, taste and degree of mineralization.

The Małopolskie Voivodeship, in cooperation with hydrosommeliers, has developed the first mineral water charter in Poland. Visit the health resorts of Lesser Poland: Kraków-Swoszowice, Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój, Piwniczna, Szczawnica, Wapienna,
the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Wysowa, and Żegiestów.

Tastes of Małopolska

The cuisine of Małopolska is famous for its traditional dishes and local products. It has over 198
of them. Anyone who has tried unique regional products made according to old recipes or from organic farming will remember their taste forever.

The Małopolska Festival of Taste attracts gourmets from all over the country to Krakow. The best products from the voivodeship are presented under the “Małopolski Smak” brand. These are
i.a. krakowski obwarzanek, Prądnik bread, Ojców trout, meats from Podstolice, cream from Skała, oscypek, bundz, sheep cheese from Nowy Sącz, apples and plums from Łącko, honey from Nowy Sącz, carp Zorski, cabanian potato, sour soup, etc … and Małopolska wines.