Two major cultural centres in southern Poland: Wrocław, the former capital of Silesia, and Kraków, the historic capital of Poland. Their heritage was shaped by diverse influences, Lower Silesia being particularly impacted by Polish and German culture, which is visible when visiting Świdnica and Książ Castle. The itinerary also offers an overview of the profound impact of the Second World War through visits to the Gliwice Radio Tower, the former Kraków Ghetto and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum.
Itinerary: Wrocław — Świdnica — Książ Castle — Gliwice — Kraków — Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum
Duration: 7 days
Afternoon: Arrival in Wrocław and check-in at the accommodation.
Evening: Dinner
Morning: Guided tour through the historic Old Town of Wrocław to discover the eventful history of this city. The tour starts at the Main Market Square, laid out in the 13th century, with its magnificent gothic Old Town Hall. It continues via the medieval Salt Square and St. Elizabeth's Church, a prominent feature in the Old Town's panorama, and leads to the main building of the University of Wrocław which houses a beautiful gem: Aula Leopoldina, lavishly decorated in the baroque style. Crossing the Oder branches, the tour reaches Sand Island and then Cathedral Island, the spiritual centre of Wrocław.
Afternoon: The Racławice Panorama (1893-1894) - an impressive cycloramic painting created by a group of Polish painters led by Jan Styka and Wojciech Kossak. The canvas, measuring 15 x 114 metres, depicts the Battle of Racławice which took place during the Kościuszko Uprising.
Evening: Dinner.
Morning: Transfer to Świdnica, located around 55 kilometres from Wrocław. It's a city with a thousand-year-old history, which played a prominent role in the Middle Ages as one of the main cities of Silesia. Visit to the Church of Peace in Świdnica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest wooden Baroque church in Europe.
Afternoon: 20-minute drive to Książ Castle, which holds the title of the largest castle in the region of Silesia and the third largest in Poland, following Malbork Castle and Wawel Castle. Constructed in the 13th century, it combines three architectural styles: Gothic, Baroque and Rococo. Walk through the impressive park, featuring 12 terraces which surround the castle. Return to Wrocław.
Evening: Dinner.
Morning: Transfer to Kraków, around 300 kilometres to the south-east. Stop in Gliwice, a city in Upper Silesia, to see the Gliwice Radio Tower. It's a transmission tower erected by the Nazis, which was then a German territory. On 31 August 1939, they staged a false-flag "Polish" attack on the station, using it as a pretext to launch the invasion of Poland the following day.
Journey to Kraków. Arrival and check-in at the accommodation.
Afternoon: Guided exploration of the Kraków's historic Old Town. Impressive sights such as the Market Square, St. Mary's Church, the university, winding alleys, as well as the majestic Wawel Royal Castle with Wawel Cathedral convey the unique atmosphere of this city.
Evening: Dinner.
Optional: Bowling or karaoke night.
Morning: A guided tour of the former Jewish quarter of Kazimierz leads through a history full of contrasts. As one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe, it offers visitors a chance to admire examples of pre-war Jewish architecture and historic synagogues, such as the "Remuh" synagogue with its historic cemetery from the 17th century.
Afternoon: A guided visit to the former ghetto area in the Podgórze district, where the Eagle Pharmacy is located / viewed from the outside /, which served as the heart of the Kraków ghetto during the Nazi occupation. This district was used as a filming location for scenes in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning film "Schindler’s List".
Visit to Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory to see a moving exhibition "Kraków during the occupation 1939-1945".
Evening: Dinner.
Optional: Dinner at the Jewish restaurant "Klezmer - Hois" with Jewish Klezmer music.
Morning: Transfer to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, located in the city of Oświęcim, about 60 kilometres from Kraków. A guided tour consisting of two parts: a visit to the blocks at Auschwitz I – Stammlager, which includes the "death block", the execution wall, a gas chamber and a crematorium – the only ones to have been preserved, and a tour of Auschwitz II – Birkenau, the site of the extermination of the Jews: the prisoners’ barracks, the ruins of the gas chambers and the memorial to the victims. Return journey to Kraków.
Evening: Dinner.
Return journey.
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