Mad About Krakow
Krakow is one of the oldest and largest cities of Poland. It was the capital of Poland until 1596 and the capital of Krakow Voivodeship from the 14th century to the year 1999. It is now the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in the Lesser Poland region. The city rests on the banks of the Vistula, in the southeast of the country, between the Jura uplands and the Tatra Mountains, has one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Europe.
The historic centre of Krakow lays at the foot of Wawel Hill, where the Royal Castle is located, a former residence of Polish monarchs. The surrounding, oldest neighbourhoods of Krakow include travel careers the Old Town, Wawel District and Kazimierz, originally divided into Christian and Jewish quarters.
Krakow has traditionally been one of the leading scientific, cultural and artistic centres of the country and Europe. Famous landmarks include the Main Market Square with St. Mary's Basilica and Sukiennice Cloth Hall, Wawel Castle with National Art Collection, Wawel Cathedral with Zygmunt Bell, and medieval Florian Gate with Barbican along the Royal Coronation Route.
The earliest known settlement on the present site of Krakow was established on Wawel Hill, and dates back to the 4th century. Legend attributes the town's establishment to the mythical krakow stag ruler Krakus, who built it above a cave occupied by a ravenous dragon, Smok Wawelski.