The Federation’s guides have extensive knowledge of Krakow. They can show Krakow and its neighbourhood, its history, its inhabitants and its traditions in a variety
of ways. History, architecture, painting, photography, gastronomy, nature, active recreation, etc. – they can give a sense and need to visit Krakow.
The guides create original, thematic routes tailored to the individual wishes and interests of tourists. Below are some standard routes, and there can be thousands of them.
An icon of Krakow, Stanisław Wyspiański (1869-1907) was one of the most outstanding and versatile artists of the Young Poland period. Because of his wide-ranging interests – painting, graphics, stained glass, typography, poetry, theatre, design – he is referred to as the “Polish Leonardo da Vinci”. He devoted almost all his activity to Krakow.
The Wyspiański Route includes many places where you can see the artist’s works, follow his biography and remember him. To know and understand Wyspiański is to see the places where he frequented, lived and worked.
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Jan Matejko (1838-1893), a Cracovian, one of the most outstanding Polish painters in history.
The author of over three hundred oil paintings and several hundred drawings and sketches.
With his paintings he taught history to Poles, and reminded the world that there is such a country as Poland. The first director of the Academy of Fine Arts.
When visiting Krakow in the footsteps of the great Master, we will see where he lived, worked and created, what he collected and what awards he received for his work. We will see his paintings. We will learn what kind of husband and professor he was and who his students were. The first biographical museum in Poland has been dedicated to him.
Karol Wojtyła, known to the whole world as Pope John Paul II, left in Krakow tangible signs of his Holiness. At almost every turn, we find souvenirs, we talk about him, we reminisce.
Papal Krakow – this is where he lived, studied, taught, worked, prayed and visited; where he met with representatives of the world of work (also with guides); where several of his monuments stand. Krakow – his dearest city.
In 1596 Giovanni Paolo Mucante – master of ceremonies of the papal court wrote: “If there were no Rome, then Krakow would be Rome”. Krakow is called the Polish Rome, the city of saints.
It has its own patron saints. Here in Krakow not only pilgrims seek holiness, they participate
in indulgences.
In many churches of Krakow we have the relics of saints, the mortal remains of the saints, the blessed, the servants of God. In many places in Krakow we can find traces of their activity. Legends and stories connected with them, miracles performed – this is the Krakow Trail of Saints.
Young Poland – the Polish variety of modernism in literature, music and art from 1890 to 1918 – still has a tangible trace in Krakow.
The places where Kraków’s bohemia used to meet still exist. It is not only Michalik’s Den with the “Green Balloon” cabaret. These are many wonderful works of art and the memory of many eminent artists, painters, musicians, and social activists.
Young Polish artists travelled around the centres of European culture and brought new artistic and intellectual currents to Krakow.
Krakow was not built in a day. Krakow has been fascinating and constantly changing for centuries. The evidence of passing time is the rich architecture of Cracow. We can find here various styles from ancient times (in museums), through Romanism, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism, etc., to the modernity boldly created, which many cities may envy Krakow.
The culinary history of a city situated on major trade routes, inhabited by a number of nations, almost all of which have influenced its culture, architecture, and cuisine is very rich.
In 2019, Krakow was chosen as the European Capital of Gastronomic Culture.
The city is a partner in the international Slow Food Central project, promoting local culinary heritage. Obwarzanek krakowski is a culinary symbol of Kraków. It has been baked since medieval times. It has its own museum where you can make it yourself.
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