Krakow
Poland
Distance 23km Climb 140m
Wednesday 6 December 2017
We left our hotel and took the short drive on a tram to the Centrum Kongresowe ICE, where we would start our walk/wander. We turned east towards the centre and after crossing the road and a large roundabout we were on the most Grunwaldzki a bridge over the wide river Wisla.
Turning left towards Wawel Castle walking by the river we saw an interesting statue of a dog. The dog visited the same spot waiting for his owner even after his owner had died. Much like Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh. It was bitterly cold as you can see from the photos.
At the foot of the Castle stands a sculpture of the Wawel Dragon. Anne had found out that every 5 minutes it breathed fire, so we waited. I missed taking a photo of it breathing fire twice. As it was so cold we decided to walk on.
Continuing on the west side of the Castle, we passed an area of cinema's great and famous who had left their handprints on the path.
The path as it turned towards the road took us by a number of skylight windows at ground level. On looking in this appeared to be for an exhibition. Not much was on show today.
On the road, after looking in a couple of gift shops we followed it round to the north side of the Castle and walked the path up to the entrance.
Inside the Castle is Wawel Cathedral, where Pope John Paul II had been Cardinal.
Walking round the inside of the Castle and as we looked over the walls at the Dragon, it breathed fire, fortunately I had my camera ready and it was timed just right. A blink later and it was gone.
After a quick wander round the Castle we left by the same path we had walked in on and crossed the road, onto Kanonicza. Anne who had done some research said the information shows this was the most picturesque street in Krakow. Walking down the street we passed what had been Pope John Paul II house while he was Cardinal in Krakow. It is now a museum.
A right turn across Mary Magdalena Square and we were on Grodzka, where we turned left, north. School groups and tour groups were swarming all over the place.
As always I have only shown a few of the many photos I took on the day. After crossing tram lines we continued north and walked a short distance before arriving at Rynek Glowny Main Square. We had spent a few hours wandering around here yesterday. In the centre of the photo is the Cloth Market with the Town Hall Tower to the left.
To our right across the square, St Mary's Basilica (Bazylika Mariacka).
The end of the Cloth Market as we walked to the Town Hall Tower.
The Cloth Market has a number of interesting carvings of heads.
After climbing the narrow steep, high steps to the Clock Room of the Town Hall Tower we walked across the Main Square and noticed more carved heads on this side of the Cloth Market.
A little bit of discussion as to where to go next led us down Florianska. Just by chance Florianska had a number of shops. At the end of the street we found the old defensive walls.
Through the gateway we found ourselves at the Barbican. It was just by chance we found this. According to Anne's research this is one of the very few barbican gates left in the world, along with York.
After a few more pictures we crossed a road where they were repairing or replacing the road and tram lines and continued in the same direction. Near the massive statue to the battle of Grunwald, we decided to have a short stop at a nearby cafe.
Inside the cafe we checked out the map to decide where we would go next. It was only now I found we had roughly followed the Droga Krolewska, the Royal Route.
Following our rest we set off again. Walking towards the Barbican it looks more impressive from this side, walking towards the Old Town.
From the Barbican we turned left through a park area onto the Planty. The Planty is a park or garden area where the Old Town Walls would have stood.
Following the Planty down the eastern side of the Old Town until we reached the Post Office. Where we crossed the road and turned left down Starowislna. Where I was distracted by a round looking building on our left, at the bottom of Wielopole. Changing direction down Wielopole the building turns out to be triangular and not round. I did not find out what it was but it did look interesting from the top of the street.
Turning right at the bottom of Wielopole we crossed over a green area with tram tracks called Planty Dietlowskie. A little way along here we turned left down Sw Sebastiana. We continued over a few streets and the street's name changed, until we found ourselves walking beside a high wall. On the other side of the wall was the Old Jewish Cemetery. This was an area called Kazimierz, the Old Jewish Quarter.
At the bottom of the street we turned right onto Jozefa and were on part of a walk round the Old Jewish Quarter.
This walk took us left from Jozefa passed an Old Synagogue.
Onto Szeroka where there were a number of bookshops and restaurants. At the top we turned left passed some very old looking buildings.
Turning right up a narrow street we passed a restaurant which had kept the look of how things would have been a number of years ago. What is interesting is that a lot of the signs have the notes in English not just Polish.
On Miodowa we turned left, we had done a big loop, and continued straight on to the Jewish Community Centre.
Another left turn took us on to Bozego Ciala, after a little bit wandering about and looking at a shop or two.
And walking by another high wall, we reached the Corpus Christi Basilica (Bozego Ciala).
A little further on is the plac Wollnica where an impressive Museum stands.
We would have liked to explore more but it was turning dark and we had a table booked for a meal in the Old Town, so we turned around and headed back. Wandering right and left making our way back to the Rynek Glowny Main Square.
After a lovely meal at Polish Cuisine we had one last look around the Rynek Glowny Main Square. The Christmas Market was still in full swing, as we headed to the tram that would take us to our hotel.
A lovely interesting place, if we had had more time we would have called into some of the places we had passed by. We had seen a few things the previous day, which I have not mentioned here, so much history in such a small place.
Overall with our wandering here and there today we had covered over 23km with 140m climb. I would like to come back to Poland. They say the hill walking in the south east is worth a visit, so we will see.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
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