Interesting Places Near the Together School in Krakow

Our cozy guide to Krakow starts not with the most obvious, but with the most delightful districts and places. So, let's begin with Kazimierz: a mind-blowing Jewish quarter where seemingly incompatible things come together harmoniously (and it’s also where the famous "Schindler's List" was filmed).

Rewinding a bit in time, until 1800, Kazimierz was a separate city – and quite an ancient one at that, founded in 1335 by King Casimir the Great (hence the name). In the early 19th century, when this part of Poland was under Austro-Hungarian rule, Kazimierz was merged with Krakow and became one of its districts.

Today, you’ll find a fascinating mix of old buildings and graffiti, cobblestone streets and neon signs, synagogues, and hipster hangouts. Vintage shops, flea markets, craft beer bars, unique restaurants, a full-fledged market with food trucks, and of course, an abundance of signs in Hebrew – this is just a glimpse of what awaits you in Kazimierz. It's a place you can explore endlessly.

Image source: www.pexels.com

We continue sharing our list of must-visit places in Krakow. This time, let's talk about Planty Krakowskie – one of the most interesting parks in all of Poland, which you can easily see from the windows of our Krakow school.

Planty is a rare example of a "circular park": it completely encircles the Old Town and serves as its boundary. In the 19th century, Planty replaced the demolished defensive structures that once stood under the walls of the Old Town. Between 1822 and 1830, instead of rebuilding towers or digging moats, it was decided to create a large park. The site of the fortifications was transformed with carefully planted lime, ash, maple, and poplar trees, as well as neat lawns and cozy flower beds. Later, stalls with lively vendors selling sweets and other goods appeared.

Today, the park stretches over 4 kilometers and covers an area of 21 hectares. Within its boundaries, you'll find numerous points of interest: monuments, sculptures, a military necropolis, and a chapel are just a few. We recommend walking the entire park in a circle before diving into the streets of the Old Town, which we will tell you more about next time.

Image source: www.pexels.com

In our cozy guides to Krakow, we've spent a lot of time exploring the surroundings of the Old Town, such as Planty Krakowskie and Kazimierz. But now it's finally time to tell you about Rynek Główny. Here, you'll find a wealth of important historical buildings and monuments. Get ready to count them on your fingers (and swipe through the carousel):

• St. Mary's Basilica (Kościół Mariacki) – arguably the most iconic building in all of Krakow. Built in 1221, it remains one of Poland's most important (and beautiful) churches. You can appreciate its beauty firsthand by stepping inside (tickets cost between 5 and 10 zł).
• Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) has been a trading hub since 1257. In 2021, not much has changed: you can still buy souvenirs and various tourist trinkets here.
• Looking for a viewpoint? No problem: just climb to the top of the Town Hall Tower (Wieża Ratuszowa). But it’s not just a viewing terrace. The tower also houses a museum, a theater, and a café.
• An unexpected sight in the Old Town – the sculpture "Eros Bendato." To the surprise of its author and city authorities, the giant bronze head of Eros with blindfolded eyes (a not-so-subtle allusion to the idea that love is blind) has become very popular with tourists.

Image source: www.pexels.com

When discussing Krakow, it's almost impossible not to mention Oskar Schindler – the man who single-handedly saved more than a thousand Jews during the Holocaust. The famous enamelware factory he managed, called "Rekord," is located at Lipowa 4. It was from here that Schindler, spending all his money on fake documents for Jewish workers, transported people who were destined for Auschwitz to his factory in Brünnlitz. In total, Schindler saved about 1,200 people (800 men, 300 women, and 100 children), who later became known as "Schindler's Jews."

Today, the factory grounds house two museums: the Schindler Museum (which tells the story of Oskar himself, his factory, the life of the Krakow ghetto, and the fate of the Jews who worked there), and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow (MOCAK).

And of course, we personally recommend rewatching Steven Spielberg's great film "Schindler's List" before visiting the museum, as it made this incredible story known to the world.

To end our cozy guide to Krakow on a high note, we've gathered a collection of diverse places that will interest everyone.

Let's start with the highlights: Piwnica pod Baranami (Rynek Główny 27) – perhaps the most iconic music bar and cabaret in Krakow, frequented by the local artistic elite.

If there's a bar, there must be snacks – authentic and interesting, of course. Head to Ambasada Śledzia (Stolarska 8/10), a famous establishment where nearly every dish features Poland's beloved fish, herring.

Next up is the cultural program. Our favorites include the Mirror Maze (Grodzka 14), perfect for selfie enthusiasts. For art lovers, we recommend the Bunkier Sztuki Center for Contemporary Art (Szczepański 3a), the excellent Ethnographic Museum of Krakow (pl. Wolnica 1), or the National Museum in Krakow (Aleja 3 Maja 1).

For dinner, you can visit a real-life "Leaky Cauldron" from Harry Potter (Grodzka 50/1), where you can enjoy butterbeer and a "survivor" muffin. Alternatively, check out the local cat café Kocia Kawiarnia Kociarnia (ul. Krowoderska 48) and have coffee in the company of purring felines.

Image source: piwnicapodbaranami.pl