Did You know?

  • In 2014 the historic part of Kraków (so-called Stare Miasto) has topped a Which? Travel magazine survey to find the best cities in Europe outside the UK.

  • Jagiellonian University in Kraków is the oldest in Poland and it is one of the oldest universities in the world. The medieval building of the University is now turned into a lovely museum, which is highly recommended to visit.

  • Kraków is the former capital of Poland. A famous Polish song pleads for not moving the capital back to Kraków. This would supposedly ruin the bohemian atmosphere for which Kraków is well known. 

  • Nicolaus Copernicus studied at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.

  • Ladies painted by Leonardo da Vinci are famous for their unusually melancholic face expression. Two most world-famous Leonardo's ladies are in Europe: Mona Lisa in Louvre in Paris and Lady with an Ermine in the National Museum in Kraków (Wawel).

  • You can go 20-m deep scuba diving just 1km from the main Campus of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków (Zakrzówek).

  • You can go limestone rock climbing just 1 km from the main Campus of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków (Zakrzówek).

  • You can go horse riding just 1 km from the main Campus of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.

  • The smallest national park in Poland is just 20 km north from Kraków (Ojców National Park).

  • The highest peak of Carpathian mountains stands just 100 km south from Kraków (Gerlach).

  • Poland grows the world-largest population of huculs, an old primitive breed of horses from Carpathian mountains. You can ride a hucul just 20 km from the main Campus of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków (Nielepice).

  • One of the icons of Kraków are four man-made giant mounds. The age and the original purpose of two of them still remains a mistery.

  • Once upon a time, the legendary Dragon of Wawel was killed deceivingly by one of Kraków's citizens. This might be one of the earliest examples of predator-prey interactions.

  • Pan Twardowski is a Polish Faust who lived in Kraków and sold his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge. Nowadays, almost 50 000 students each year sacrifice their effort to get the best-quality education at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.

  • Rynek Główny (Main Square of Old Town in Kraków) was planned in 13th century and since then its ground level raised by even 5 meters. Now you can explore old parts of the square and its buildings in the below-ground museum under the square.

  • The largest Gothic altarpiece in the world - the altar (called in Polish Ołtarz Wit Stwosza) of St. Mary's Basilica in Kraków (Main Square of Old Town) was made from wood by Veit Stoss. The figures were sculptured so realistically that you can recognise health issues of citizens of the 15th-century Kraków who served as models.   

  • Hejnał Mariacki, the anthem of Kraków, is played every hour by a trumpeter from the highest tower of St. Mary's Basilica on the Main Square of Old Town of Kraków. To follow a legend about a hero trumpeter who was shot while playing an alarm upon an attack of Mongol worriors, the anthem is abruptly finished before completion.