Kazimierz is a historical district of Kraków. From its inception in the 14th century to the early 19th century, Kazimierz was an independent city, a royal city of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom, located south of the Old Town of Kraków, separated from it by a branch of the Vistula River. For many centuries, Kazimierz was a place where ethnic Polish and Jewish cultures coexisted and intermingled. The northeastern part of the district was historically Jewish. In 1941, the Jews of Kraków were forcibly relocated by the German occupying forces into the Krakow ghetto just across the river in Podgórze, and most did not survive the war. Today, Kazimierz is one of the major tourist attractions of Krakow and an important center of cultural life of the city.
The boundaries of Kazimierz are defined by an old island in the Vistula River. The northern branch of the river (Stara Wisła – Old Vistula) was filled-in at the end of the 19th century during the partitions of Poland and made into an extension of Stradomska Street connecting Kazimierz district with Kraków Old Town.
The boundaries of Kazimierz are defined by an old island in the Vistula River. The northern branch of the river (Stara Wisła – Old Vistula) was filled-in at the end of the 19th century during the partitions of Poland and made into an extension of Stradomska Street connecting Kazimierz district with Kraków Old Town.
We arrive on Szeroka Road in the heart of the old Jewish district.
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Many golf cart ride tours are underway here in the Jewish district - we preferred walking our self tour.
A small memorial to the Holocaust.
The Remah Synagogue is a 16th-century Jewish temple and the smallest of all historic synagogues in the Kazimierz. The synagogue is named after Rabbi Moses Isserles (c.1525–1572), known by the Hebrew acronym ReMA (רמ״א, pronounced ReMU) who's famed for writing a collection of commentaries on Ashkenazi traditions and customs. It is currently one of two active synagogues in the city.
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"Live long and prosper."
We now walk about 800 feet east to the new Jewish cemetery (founded 1800):
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Restoration underway at the site of 148 graves of WWI Jewish soldiers
We then walked back past the Remuh Synagogue.
This is the "BMW" of scooters:
At the end of the road, we tour the Old Synagogue, restored and dating from the 15th century, housing a museum of Krakow Jewish culture & history.
The Old Synagogue is the oldest synagogue building still standing in Poland, and one of the most precious landmarks of Jewish architecture in Europe. Until the beginning of the Second World War in 1939, it was one of the city's most important synagogues as well as the main religious, social, and organizational centre of the Kraków Jewish community.
The Synagogue was built in 1407 or 1492; the date of building varies with several sources. The original building was rebuilt in 1570. The rebuilding included the attic wall with loopholes, windows placed far above ground level, and thick, masonry walls with heavy buttressing to withstand siege, all features borrowed from military architecture. There was further reconstruction work in 1904 and in 1913. The Old Synagogue is a rare, surviving example of a Polish fortress synagogue.
The synagogue was completely devastated and ransacked by the Germans during World War II. Its artwork and Jewish relics, looted. During the occupation, the synagogue was used as a warehouse. In 1943, 30 Polish hostages were executed at its wall. The Old Synagogue was renovated from 1956 to 1959 and currently operates as a museum. The exhibits are divid ed into themes dealing with birth, prayer rituals, diet, divorce and death.
The Synagogue was built in 1407 or 1492; the date of building varies with several sources. The original building was rebuilt in 1570. The rebuilding included the attic wall with loopholes, windows placed far above ground level, and thick, masonry walls with heavy buttressing to withstand siege, all features borrowed from military architecture. There was further reconstruction work in 1904 and in 1913. The Old Synagogue is a rare, surviving example of a Polish fortress synagogue.
The synagogue was completely devastated and ransacked by the Germans during World War II. Its artwork and Jewish relics, looted. During the occupation, the synagogue was used as a warehouse. In 1943, 30 Polish hostages were executed at its wall. The Old Synagogue was renovated from 1956 to 1959 and currently operates as a museum. The exhibits are divid ed into themes dealing with birth, prayer rituals, diet, divorce and death.
Looking back up Szeroka Road.
Time for lunch - Borscht of course.
Formerly a piano, now it holds liquors.
"Sewing Machine" cafe.
More lunch at a multi-shop lunchery - a Polish sausage for Tim, and falafel for Gerri.
A filming spot for Schindler's List.
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The Corpus Christi Basilica, located in the Kazimierz district, is a Gothic church founded by King Casimir III the Great in 1335.
And now another brewery.
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And now another brewery.
They had awesome gratis peanuts, and weren't stingy with them, the beer was pretty good also.
Continuing to wend our way "home", we find a dog memorial:
The inscription on the monument (in Polish and English) reads: "The most faithful canine friend ever, epitomizing a dog's boundless devotion to his master. Throughout the entire year / 1990-1991 / Dżok was seen waiting in vain at the roundabout Grunwaldzkie roundabout to be fetched back by his master (who died nearby of a heart attack).
The inscription on the monument (in Polish and English) reads: "The most faithful canine friend ever, epitomizing a dog's boundless devotion to his master. Throughout the entire year / 1990-1991 / Dżok was seen waiting in vain at the roundabout Grunwaldzkie roundabout to be fetched back by his master (who died nearby of a heart attack).
Then passing under Wawel Hill and the Castle...
...to the fire breathing dragon!
Back home at last - our view from our rooftop suite is of St. Mary's Basilica.
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