Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

There simply is no way to tour Europe & not be awestruck by its natural beauty, epic history, dazzling artistic & culinary diversity. From soaring mountains to golden sands, Central | Eastern Europe reveals a tapestry of quaint & contemporary cultures – always with enough rough edges to keep you intrigued.

Welcome to incredible Poland - with its beautiful Cities, stately Castles & of course on a more sombre note, Auschwitz-Birkenau. Elsewhere, woods, rivers, lakes & hills beckon for some fresh-air fun.  

Arrive in Warsaw. A phoenix arisen from the ashes, Poland's capital impresses with its resilience, respect for history, contemporary style & sheer joie de vivre.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Warsaw Chopin International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next day.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel unless advised.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the morning / afternoon is at leisure to relax or independent exploration or optional activities (we shall be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Diverse Architecture |Outdoor Spaces |Cultural Treasures |Eat & Drink

The capital of both the Mazovia province & of Poland itself, Warsaw situated right in the heart of Europe, at the intersection of Europe’s east-west & north-south transport routes, is a truly extraordinary city with a dazzling array of historical sites & tourist attractions that captivates everyone who visits.

A major economic, academic, cultural, political hub, Warsaw is the epitome of a dynamic European metropolis, its trademarks - besides a rich history - being its open-minded residents, the River Vistula & exceptional cuisine. It has now become one of Europe's most dynamic metropolitan cities, ranked as one of the most liveable in Europe.

Once believed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Warsaw has endured the worst history could throw at it, including near destruction at the end of World War II. Much has been rebuilt & the fragments that survived are now preserved in a superb selection of Museums & cultural storehouses. The exhibitions at the Warsaw Rising Museum & POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews leave practically no stone unturned on their respective subjects, while the National Museum will astound you with its art & design collection.

Then, there is Chopin, Warsaw's favourite son, who has his own Museum & whose romantic & dramatic music is played at nightly recitals.

Rather than being centred on an old Market Square, modern-day Warsaw is spread across a broad area & includes an eye-catching range of architecture: restored baroque, Gothic, neoclassical & Renaissance in the Old & New Towns; gems of the post-WWII socialist realist period, such as the phenomenal 3,000 room Palace of Culture & Science built in an Art Deco-meets-Stalinism style in the very heart of Warsaw has become a modern icon of the city. Towering over 230 metres into the sky, it is visible from practically every corner of the capital & houses a theatre, cinema, museums, cafes & the main Tourist Information Point. An unbeatable panorama of Warsaw can be viewed from the Observation Deck on the 30^th floor, including some spectacular new skyscrapers & both banks of the River Vistula.

After World War II, this socialist-realism style of architecture was applied to most newly built monuments, public buildings & even entire districts. Examples include the Marszałkowska Residential District (MDM) & contemporary beauties like the Copernicus Science Centre built on the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto.  This jumble reflects the city’s tumultuous past & makes for a fascinating collection of neighbourhoods & landmarks.

As the seat of Polish rulers for several centuries, Warsaw is blessed with impressive historical buildings lining the well-known Royal Route. The Presidential Palace, the Ministry of Culture & Art, the Academy of Fine Arts & the University of Warsaw as well as elegant former royal residences.

Among these is the stunning Baroque Royal Castle, the official residence of Polish kings from 16^th century onwards, where you can see royal insignia & thrones as well as paintings by famous artists, including Rembrandt, Canaletto & Matejko.

Another royal residence is the chic, serene classical Palace on the Water in royal Łazienki Park. If you visit its lavish interiors, do check out the paintings from the collection of Poland’s last king, Stanisław Poniatowski. Free piano concerts take place at the Fryderyk Chopin monument in the Park every Sunday in summer, which draw in people from near and far.

The nearby Sigismund Column is Poland’s most famous monument & a favourite meeting place of Warsovians & visitors alike.

The Royal Route ends at the former residence of King Jan III Sobieski in Wilanow aptly described as Poland's Versailles. In this vivid yellow Baroque palace surrounded by spacious gardens, richly decorated & furnished chambers show how the Palace’s successive wealthy owners lived & how they upheld the memory of the King who famously won the Battle of Vienna. Interestingly, this was one of the only buildings not damaged during the war.

The right or east-bank part of Warsaw was culturally, ethnically & religiously diverse for centuries. As it was, almost miraculously, not destroyed during World War II, it is now considered to be the most authentic part of the city. Whilst taking a walk along its streets, look out for surprises in the most unexpected of places - discover shrines hidden away in the courtyards, seek out the original murals found in the area & of course, pop along to visit the Polish Vodka Museum in the renovated Koneser centre in Praga district, fittingly a former distillery.

Not to be missed is a stroll beside the Vistula River: on the west bank runs the Vistulan Boulevard, a contemporary promenade dotted with waterside bars & cafes, while on the eastern Praga side nature holds sway with meandering, wooded pathways leading to sandy beaches.

If the city's architectural flourishes, lush outdoor spaces & cultural treasures haven't already seduced you, expect all resistance to fall at its superb selection of dining spots. Among its many titles, Warsaw is also the undisputed culinary capital of Poland with many bars & restaurants including “milk bars” established back in communist times.

As evening falls, the Saska Kępa neighbourhood is a great place to combine taking in some stunning examples of modernist architecture with a well-deserved stop at one of the many great eateries serving flavours from around over the world. Home to everything from bargain-priced, retro-trendy milk bars to chic Michelin star restaurants serving cutting-edge molecular gastronomy. No shortage of cool cafes or bars for creative cocktails, craft beers & vodka shots.

Anyone with a sweet tooth is really going to enjoy this city: local bakeries & cafes serve Warsaw’s traditional wuzetka cakes (a yummy chocolate & cream layered combination), Wedel chocolate & natural ice cream. Breakfast markets & food truck rallies as well as the Fine Dining Weekend & Restaurant Week festivals are also quite popular.

Greenery also abounds at the central Saxon Garden, Krasinski Garden & the rooftop garden of the University Library.  Evening, around 08.00 pm, accompanied by a Journey’s Rep, proceed for an exciting ‘Polish’ dinner with other Group members who would be travelling with you.

Come back to the hotel by 10.00 pm.

Overnight. D 

Morning meet the Tour-guide at 08:00 am  & proceed for a full day 8 hour sightseeing tour.

There is no better place to start your tour of Warsaw than the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town, whose history goes back 700 years. And it will feel as though the buildings are ancient as well, even though the truth, however mind boggling it is to comprehend, is that this incredible part of Warsaw was reconstructed after it was completely destroyed during World War II on - wait for it - the basis of paintings by Canaletto. It was recreated with such attention to detail.

Today, the Old Town is a beguiling, charmingly cosy area with a unique atmosphere & original architectural details, which becomes especially enchanting after nightfall. The Old Town Square is its lifeblood, packed in summer with outdoor cafes & people strolling around, making it one of capital’s most popular spots.

A statue of the Warsaw Mermaid, the city’s symbol, stands proudly in the centre. It may well be the only mermaid wielding a sword & shield you will ever see. According to legend, a mermaid was resting on the riverbank near the Old Town when local fishermen heard her song & fell in love with the fabulous creature. When a rich merchant trapped & imprisoned the mermaid, a young fisherman heard her cries for help & released her. By way of thanks, she promised to provide all fishermen with help if needed. Since then, the mermaid, armed with a sword & a shield, has been ready to protect the city and its residents.

Old Town Market Square is one of the most beautiful places in the city. Warsaw's main square has been in constant use since the late 13th century for celebrations & markets were held here. All of the Square's buildings were reconstructed following complete destruction in World War II & are supposedly a perfect match for the Square's original form in the 17^th & 18^th centuries.

Around the Square, the Historical Museum of Warsaw occupies a dozen buildings reconstructed after World War II. Its exposition & collections of historical artefacts presents the incredible story of the city & its residents since the dawn of its history to modern times.

Another historical treasure trove is found in the nearby Gothic 14^th century St. John’s Cathedral, built as a parish church for royal weddings, coronations & funerals with crypts housing the tombs of the last Dukes of Mazovia, plaques in memory of Polish patriots & statesmen, and the Chapel of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, often referred to as “Primate of the Millennium”.

The eventful & dramatic history of the city can also be experienced at the interactive Warsaw Rising Museum which documents the 63 day heroic struggle of Warsovians against the occupying forces during World War II. The tragic events of 1944 changed the Polish capital in every possible way forever & heavily influenced its present-day character. 

Warsaw is also home to the only theater in Europe that holds performances in Yiddish, the State Jewish Theater.

You will be driving along the Royal Route with a few photo stops at vantage points.

Time for lunch (not included - direct payment) at a nearby ‘kosher’ restaurant.

Post lunch, hit the Jewish trail to discover centuries of Judaism in Poland.

You will learn about the everyday life in the Ghetto, collaboration  with the Poles, resistance against the Nazis & about the Jewish Ghetto Uprising – the first such an attempt in the occupied Europe.

A tourist route running through the historical Jewish district will take you to the uber-modern multimedia POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the Umschlagplatz (from where the Germans transported Warsaw’s Jews to the Treblinka concentration camp), a fragment of the wall separating the ghetto from the “Aryan side”, & plaques in the pavement marking where the ghetto boundary used to be.

Poland holds an important place in Jewish history. Prior to World War II, the country was home to the world's largest Jewish community & consequently, had the largest number of Jewish sites & institutions in the world. Numbering more than 3 million, it was the largest Jewish population of Europe & 2^nd largest community in the world. The atrocities of World War II drove Poland's Jewish population closer to 3,000 mainly in Warsaw, but also in Cracow, Lodz, & Wrocław. A very significant number of American & Canadian Jews can trace their heritage back to Poland.

Over the centuries Polish Jews have created a rich culture. Interesting & meaningful sites were located throughout the entire country, although the cities that had bigger Jewish populations naturally have a higher concentration of heritage sites. Few remaining traces allow us to imagine what their world looked like, a world that no longer exists. Synagogues, mikvahs & prayer-houses, if they were lucky, were converted into libraries, cinemas or warehouse & the number of preserved monuments is a testament to its uniqueness & magnificence. But most disappeared in time, especially after the Nazi invasion in 1939. In some cities, which used to be the home of large & prosperous Jewish communities, a single impressive building might survive.

At the outbreak of the War, Jews made up 30% of Warsaw’s population (after New York) & it was the biggest centre for the Jewish Diaspora in Europe. In Warsaw alone, where there were over 300 synagogues & prayer houses. The most common traces of the Jewish presence are the kirkuts (Jewish cemeteries). Most of them are not difficult to locate but only a select few are widely known outside Polish borders.

The restored Nozykow Synagogue (only one in Warsaw that is still in use) & Jewish Historical Institute is a good place to learn all about the history & culture of Polish Jews past & present.

A walk around the former Jewish district will be memorable journey to the past.

Start at the Warsaw Ghetto, a prewar Jewish district in Warsaw does not exist today. 

You can see only the remnants of the Ghetto but the essence of this part of the city has disappeared into oblivion, now hidden from us by earth, asphalt & foundations of new buildings.

The fragments of Ghetto Wall that once enclosed the Ghetto is also an interesting sight.                  

Follow the Path of Remembrance - a walk through the heart of what was once the city’s vibrant Jewish community & view the Ghetto Heroes Memorial commemorating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (first armed clash of the uprising took place here) of 1943 during the Second World War.

See Ulica Miła 18, the headquarters "bunker" (actually a hidden shelter) of the Jewish Combat Organization, a Jewish resistance group in the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland during World War II. The 23 year old commander of the Organization, Mordechai Anielewicz committed suicide here in 1943.

If time (& Tour-guide) permits, we recommend, a brief visit POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

The edifice, facing the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, surrounded on all sides by grey apartment buildings raised after the war on the ruins of the Ghetto, illuminates a Square that was once was the heart of Jewish Warsaw, a hub of city life, with cafes, theaters, cinemas, cabarets, shops & boutiques, schools, synagogues & markets crowded into every corner. One could hear laughter, shouting & conversations: in Yiddish, Hebrew, Polish. During World War II, the Germans turned this area into the Warsaw Ghetto. After the war, it became a place haunted by ruins.

The simple, cool, static mass, clad in copper & glass, is split by an undulating, living, dynamic fissure. The monumental main hall will be where visitors begin & end their journey. A bridge suspended over it connects the two parts of the structure, as if binding the past with the future, bridging the rift.

In June 2009, two years after the design was selected, an official ground breaking ceremony took place and the construction of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews began. It was completed in 2012. The Museum comprises 12.8 thousand square meters of usable space, of which approximately one third will be occupied by the core exhibition, while the remainder will support various types of program activities: temporary exhibitions, a multifunctional auditorium that will also serve as a 450-seat cinema & concert hall, two screening rooms, an Educational Center complete with workshop rooms, a Resource Center, a children's area, a restaurant & a shop.

Stroll through a testimony to hundreds of years of Jewish life in Poland.  Okapova Cemetery is one of the largest Jewish cemeteries (called kirkuts) in terms of the number of tombstones & containing an estimated 250,000 individual graves as well as mass graves of thousands of residents of the Warsaw Ghetto. Located on Okopowa Street & abutting the Christian Powązki Cemetery, the Jewish necropolis was established in 1806 & occupying 33 hectares of land, it has been in continuous use since then.

You will also visit another invaluable repository of Polish Jewish records, the Jewish Genealogy & Family Heritage Center at the Cemetery & meet with the Director for a family roots' discovery. Thousands of individuals, from Poland & abroad, turn to the Genealogy Center to help them uncover documents, contact long-lost relatives, or research their ancestral home.

Walk to the former old railway station, called Umschlagplatz from where in 1942 - 1943, 300,000 Jews were transported by the German military to the extermination camp in Treblinka.

Umschlagplatz was a general term used during The Holocaust to denote the holding areas adjacent to railway stations in occupied Poland where Jews from Ghettos were assembled for deportation to Nazi death camps.

On 18 April 1988, on the eve of the 45^th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, a stone monument created by architect Hanna Szmalenberg & sculptor Władysław Klamerus, resembling an open freight car symbolic of the cattle trucks into which the prisoners were herded, was unveiled here.

The entry gate is surmounted by a syenite grave stone (donated by the government & society of Sweden) with a motif of a shattered forest - a symbol of the extermination of the Jewish nation. The selection & sequence of colours of the monument (white with the black stripe on the front wall) refer to the Jewish ritual clothing. It replaced a commemorative plaque unveiled in the late 1940s.

The rectangular monument’s marble walls are carved with 400 most popular Jewish-Polish first names from Aba to Zygmunt. The inscription on 4 commemorative plaques  (each commemorating 1,000 victims of the Warsaw Ghetto)  in Polish,Yiddish, English & Hebrew reads: ‘Along this path of suffering & death over 300,000 Jews were driven in 1942 - 43 from the Warsaw Ghetto to the gas chambers of the German extermination camps’.

Last stop will be neo-Romanesque style Nozykow Synagogue (the last remaining pre-Holocaust synagogue in Warsaw) built in 1898 - 1902 and was restored after World War II.

As the sole surviving synagogue of Warsaw, the Nozyk Synagogue stands as a reminder of how Jewish Warsaw used to be before the Shoah. Visitors to the Synagogue imagine the past: the times of glory, the praying crowds, the great rabbis & the brilliant cantors, as well as the desolation that followed their disappearance.  

Zalman Nozyk, a Warsaw retailer & his wife Rivka built the Synagogue in the Romanesque Revival style incorporated with Byzantine & Moorish style ornamentation. The seating capacity of the men’s section on the ground floor & the women’s section on the balcony stands at 350.

In 1940 the Synagogue was shut down by the Nazis & converted into horse stables & a feed storehouse. But, in May 1941 on the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the German authorities authorised the ceremonial re - opening of Nozyk Synagogue in the Warsaw ghetto.

During the Warsaw Uprising, Nozyk Synagogue was severely damaged, but remained structurally sound & did not collapse. The provisional repairs carried out immediately after the war allowed it to function once again as a place of prayer. In the years 1977 to 1983 the Synagogue building underwent a major renovation with the aim of restoring it to its original appearance of the early 20^th century. Its handsomely restored interior features grand metal chandeliers & tall vaulted colonnades.

The Nozyk Synagogue organises lectures & celebrations of the Sabbath & other Jewish holidays. Joint prayers are also held on the occasion of extraordinary events, threats or disasters, important anniversaries, etc. Whilst praying within its walls, it is difficult not to sense the immense scale of the crimes committed in this city.

The sightseeing ends & you are transferred back to the hotel.

Balance of the afternoon is free for independent exploration (we will be happy to offer suggestions).

Evening, meet a Journeys Rep & proceed for dinner & an interaction at Beit Warszawa (Union of Progressive Jewish Communities, Warsaw's liberal congregation), with community members.

Morning, around 07.00 am, Check-out & depart for Lublin, enroute stopping at Kazimierz Dolny.

Kazimierz Dolny has always been popular with artists.

Perched high above the Vistula river, populated for centuries by artists & artisans, this small town has always been a hidden gem in the east of Poland. It is no surprise to find it referenced so often in music & literature. 

The town has been painted by Gerson, Andriolli, Gierymski & Pankiewicz; described in literature by Prus, Czechowicz, Słonimski & Kuncewiczowa ; filmed by Ford, Gliński, Bromski & Waszyński - the man who later discovered Sophia Loren & Audrey Hepburn

Singer-songwriter Marek Grechuta described Kazimierz Dolny as ‘a jewel among the hills, lighting up with unique beauty’ whose ‘houses shine like brand-new shoes’ against the backdrop of ‘a stately landscape, a panorama of green hills.

Kazimierz Dolny was a wealthy trading centre in the 16^th – 17^th centuries & prosperous traders built grand houses around the market square. These well-preserved Renaissance townhouses are some of the best in Poland.  The Przybyła Tenements have intricately ornamented attics & geometric decorations on the façades. Whilst the stunning Celej Family Tenement on the Town Square (now Kazimierz Dolny Museum) houses a collection of painting & artifacts.

The rich trading history of the town has also left a series of granaries along the Vistula Boulevard, including the Ulanowski Granary which now houses a Nature Museum.  Shops run by the local artistic community fill Klasztorna Street & the quaint avenues that lead off the marketplace are filled with galleries.

From the charming Town Square with stunning Renaissance architecture & art galleries, to a historic hillside Castle & poignant memorial to the lost Jewish community, this market town has a lot to explore.

The former bath house is currently used as the Polish Filmmakers’ Association Artists’ Retreat. The walls of its restaurant are covered in photos of film stars while the garden is decorated with Andrzej Pągowski’s film posters.

Discover the Jewish heritage of the town. Before the World War II, Kazimierz Dolny was home to a bustling Jewish community who made up 50% of the population & the poignant story of their life & death is an important part of the town’s history.  On the slope of Czerniawa Gorge, the old Jewish cemetery destroyed by the Nazis, now features a Memorial made from pieces of gravestones, with a wide crack symbolizing the tragic fate of the town’s Jewish people. 

In the Town Square you will find a renovated Synagogue where you will find photos of pre-war Jewish life in the town.  Don’t miss the old parish church at the foot of the castle, which is known for its extraordinary number of sculpted, carved & painted putti (or cherubs). 

The hills above the city are known as Three Cross Mountain, because of the wooden Crosses that adorn the slope there.  Also, on the hillside are the ruins of a Castle from the time of Casimir the Great, which hosts music concerts during the summer.  From the castle ruins, walk up the Trzech Krzyzy Mountain to the viewing tower for a spectacular panorama over the whole town - with its characteristic red roofs & whitewashed walls & the Vistula river. 

If you enjoy exploring religious sites, you won’t want to miss the imposing Renaissance Church of John the Baptist overlooking the market Square, providing a sanctuary from the hustle & bustle of the town. It houses one of Poland’s oldest church organs as well as an impressive Baroque interior.

The 16^th century Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a monastery complex with a small Museum & a tranquil courtyard garden.  The Shrine is famous for many miracles.

Sarzynski Bakery has been baking Kazimierz’s famous bread roosters for half a century & whether you are a meat eater or a vegetarian, you must taste the town’s famous delicious roosters   that have become the town’s symbol & today, sold on every corner. 

Spend an hour walking around before continuing your drive to Lublin.

Arrive by noon & Check-in at the hotel.

The  charming capital of the Lubelskie province, in the South-east of Poland -  Lublin, though  inhabited by Polish, Jews, Russians, Catholics, Orthodox & the others through ages. was often called Polish Jerusalem as it was a home to a large Jewish community with flourishing Yiddish culture & also boasted what was then probably the world's largest &  best-equipped Talmudic school.

Before the Second World War, Jewish people made up about one third of the city’s population but they were practically wiped out during the German invasion. The oldest Jewish cemetery in Poland can be found here, which contains tombstones that date back to the 1500s. The tombstone of the Seer of Lublin is a pilgrimage site for many Jews.

Cultures of the East and West meet here. The colourful city attracts tourists in droves thanks to its fascinating history, cobbled streets & vibrant architecture. Bursting with museums, historic buildings, traditional flavours and with legends hidden among its streets, lanes & tenement walls, this dynamic city is fast becoming one of Poland’s most popular destination.

For centuries, Lublin was a city of key importance for relations between Poland & Lithuania. In fact, it was  right here in Lublin where the papers were signed in 1569 to form the historic union of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in a Castle from Casimir the Great’s time that was unfortunately destroyed during a 17^th century war.

The original building was replaced with a new Castle, built in an Anglo-Saxon neo-gothic style, which served as a prison for 128 years; first for the Tsarist authorities, then the Second Republic of Poland, followed by the Nazis & finally, the Stalinist secret police. Today, transformed into Lublin Museum, it is a cultural institution & the city’s number one historic building. Hard to find a building with more stories to tell!

South of the Castle, there is the charming historical Old Town, which fortunately emerged largely unscathed from the war. Although it has since undergone several renovations, it still boasts as much as 70 percent of its original buildings & just 1 square kilometre is packed with as many as 110 historic buildings.

It delights visitors with its eye-catching, colourfully decorated Renaissance & classical houses; the old Town Hall & the Basilica of the Dominican Order, representing styles from Gothic to classical which houses the famous painting The Fire of Lublin as well as the magnificent Tyszkiewicz & Firlej chapels. There is also the Stary (Old) Theatre, the 2^nd oldest in Poland after the one found in Krakow, which offers a varied & dynamic repertoire.

To reach the Old Town, you will need to pass through one of 2 gates, positioned at opposite ends of the quarter in what little remains of the historical city walls. To the south-west of the Old Town stands the Krakow Gate, which, as its name suggests, was the point of entry for visitors from Krakow. Its red-brick base is crowned with an elegant white tower with a pointy roof & its interiors house part of the provincial Lublin History Museum, which is definitely one to visit.

On the other side of the Old Town, the beautiful, pale yellow Grodzka (Town) Gate, was once known as the Jewish Gate, owing to the fact that it linked the part of the city belonging to Christians to the Jewish quarter. In the 16^th - 17^th centuries, after King Stephen Bathory founded Europe’s only Jewish parliament, called the Council of Four Lands, Lublin was actually the seat of the strongest Jewish community in Poland & boasted a thriving Jewish & Hebrew culture, which was sadly completely destroyed during the Holocaust.

You can get a better appreciation of what the Jewish quarter looked like thanks to a model at the Grodzka Gate - NN Theatre Centre. Photographs from those times can also be viewed at the Alter Hotel & the Jewish yeshiva, home to 2 preserved Jewish cemeteries.

Also worth seeing is the Holy Trinity Chapel with its valuable Russian-Byzantine wall paintings dating back to the 15^th century. In June 2008 the Graffiti Festival took place in Lublin & main theme were frescoes from above chapel. Visitors can still see artists’ work on the wall in the nearby Cultural Center.  

In 2006, the authorities opened an interesting & unique attraction.  The 300 meters long Underground Trail runs beneath the streets of the Old Town, featuring heritage exhibits & a multimedia show.

The trail winds its way through 14 chambers of different size ranging from 12m² to 50m² & was created by the merger of a number of interconnected 16^th - 17^th century Old Town cellars, which in the past were used by traders for storage.

Throughout the halls along the entire length of the route, there are models depicting the most important periods of the development of Lublin, from tribal times, via the 14^th century when it was walled city till about 1670. The entire route is a kind of historical journey through the most important events of the city.

The exhibitions show moments of glory & splendour of the city, the famous Lublin fairs or the conclusion of the Union of Lublin, as well as the tragic events including fires, epidemics & invasions.

The route ends with a walk through the dungeons of the Court of the Crown under the Market Square, showcasing nearly 1,000 years of history.

Another place worth seeing is the Open Air Village Museum where the cultural landscape of Lublin is presented.

Located on the Observation Decks on the roof of the uber-modern Centre for the Meeting of Cultures (CSK), there is the Urban Artistic Apiary. A popular & trendy chillout zone, the CSK organises Opera, Ballet, Theatre, Chamber Performances, Concerts, Cinema screenings & Conferences. It also houses open & enclosed exhibition spaces and is definitely a place to keep an eye out for by culture lovers.   

A big hit for all the family is the multi-media Fountain, the pride of Litewski Square, the city’s largest, which puts on regular light & sound shows. Its numerous benches invite visitors to make themselves comfortable while they enjoy the many events that take place in the Square, and while they are there, to also admire the monuments dedicated to Marshal Jozef Piłsudski, the Unknown Soldier, the May 3^rd Constitution & an Obelisk commemorating the signing of the Poland-Lithuania Union in 1569.

Of course, there is much more to Lublin than the Old Town. The Perła Brewery in Bernardynska Street is a unique historical site of Lublin’s industry. The interiors of what used to be the monastery & church belonging to the Order of the Reformati were subsequently converted into a Brewery, where beer was produced from 1846-2001.

Touring the Brewery cellars gives visitors the chance to learn about its history, the secrets of beer making, the evolution of bottle shapes & labels and of course, after so much talk of beer, ending with a well-deserved tasting!

At 2.00 pm, meet the Tour-guide in the lobby & proceed for a 4 hour ‘walking’ sightseeing tour of Lublin, exploring some of the places mentioned above.

Continue exploring on your own or come back to the hotel.

Balance of the evening free. Or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 09.00 am, & proceed to visit a somber illustration of history on a 3 hour tour of Majdanek Concentration Camp, one of the best preserved Nazi concentration camps in Poland.

In 1942 the Nazis established a concentration camp in Majdanek (a major suburb of Lublin). Until 1944 over 60 000 Jews died there. The death camp is now home to a Museum, founded immediately after expulsion German army from this territory & before the end of II World War, that documents its history as well as a monument that was made out of the ashes of the victims killed there. The exposition is prepared with great care & encompasses prisoners’ baths, barracks, gas chamber, crematories & warehouses. The mission of the Museum is to tend memory and evolve education about German occupation in Poland.

The location of the Majdanek Camp is in an area of rolling terrain & can be seen from all sides, it could not be more public or accessible. Located in an entirely open area with no trees around it to hide the activities inside the camp, there was no security zone established around the Camp. Besides being bounded on the north by a busy main road into the Ukraine & Russia, the Camp was bounded on the south by 2 small villages named Abramowic & Dziesiata. 

People driving past the camp, while it was in operation, had a completely unobstructed view, being able to see the tall brick chimney of the crematorium wafting smoke from the top of a slope not far away & the gas chamber building which is very close to the street.

Lublin, which formerly had a large Jewish population, was transformed into a Jewish ghetto by the Nazis before the Camp was opened. With its increased population, the Camp is now within the city limits, like a municipal park. There are several modern high-rise apartment buildings overlooking the Camp & on one side, right next to the camp, is a Roman Catholic cemetery which was there even when the Camp was in operation.  During World War II, the street that borders the Camp was the main route to the eastern front for the German army.

The Camp was initially called the Concentration Camp at Lublin (Konzentrationslager Lublin); then the name was changed to Prisoner of War Camp at Lublin (Kriegsgefangenenlager der Waffen-SS Lublin), but in Feb. 1943, the name reverted back to Concentration Camp.

Majdanek was originally a labor camp but was later transformed into a death camp. Unlike Belzec, it had some industrial activity & non-Jewish prisoners were admitted.  From October 1941 to July 1944 about 150,000 of people were working in this camp & also in German industrial companies placed near Lublin.

Throughout its existence, Majdanek received transports of Prisoners of War, including a few Americans. Although the first prisoners at Majdanek were Russians, the Camp soon became a detention center for Jews. Mass transports of Jews began arriving at the Camp, beginning in April 1942, during the same time period that Auschwitz was also being converted to an extermination camp. It is estimated that 80,000 inmates including 60,000 Jews, were killed – shot or murdered in gas chambers here.

After Russian troops discovered the Camp on July 23, 1944, Konstatin Simonov, a Soviet writer, wrote a full account for Pravda, detailing the death camp with photographs of the gas chambers & ovens. London Illustrated News in a special issue carried the Pravda article, bringing it to the western mainstream.

There is a gigantic stone monument called Monument to Struggle & Martyrdom. It is like suddenly coming upon Stonehenge is the middle of a city. After you descend the steps on the back side of the Monument, you are on what is now named (in English) Road of Homage, but was called the "black path" when the Camp was operational. Seeing this gigantic monument is like being hit between the eyes with a sledge hammer.

The grounds of the Camp slope down from the street & then gradually slope upwards again towards the Mausoleum & the Crematorium building. Now, visitors can see prisoners’ barracks, Monument & Mausoleum containing ashes of victims. Both the Mausoleum & the Monument were designed by Wiktor Tolkin in 1969.

After spending a couple of hours here, continue on to Zamosc, the pearl of Renaissance.

Zamosc in southeastern Poland, not far from the Polish-Ukrainian border, is unique as an almost perfectly preserved example of 16^th century Renaissance town planning.

The town owes its origins to a wealthy Polish nobleman & visionary Crown Chancellor, Jan Zamoyski (1542 - 1605), who came up with the idea to put a “perfect city” here in the middle of nowhere, far from the main towns of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth & to the Paduan architect Bernando Morando he hired to realise his dream.

Zamosc, an under-appreciated Polish treasure, wears its Renaissance roots on its sleeve, embracing not one, but two grandiose nicknames: the ‘Pearl of the Renaissance’ & the ‘Padua of the North’.

Zamosc has rejuvenated its social media–perfect Main Square & the impressive fortifications that surround the UNESCO World Heritage listed immaculately preserved Old Town, the main attraction.

Buried with other family members in the vault of the Renaissance Cathedral Zamoyski built, he continues to watch over the town from the equestrian statue in front of the former Zamoyski Palace, today a secondary school.  The Cathedral has beautiful Baroque decorations & Renaissance paintings inside.

The first Castle was constructed in 1579, followed soon after by the Arsenal, which would be the saviour of this besieged town.

In 1941, the Nazis renamed Zamosc “Himmlerstadt” & began to replace Poles with German colonists. It became the SS special Eugenics laboratory. Around 30,000 children from the region were taken from their families & if “racially valuable” were chosen for Germanisation (Eugenics) & sent to German Reich. Others found themselves in Concentration Camps where they usually died of starvation or disease.

At the heart of the Old Town is the perfectly proportioned Market Square, measuring exactly 100m x 100m. Lined with cafes & restaurants, this pleasant Plaza is dominated by the Town Hall on its northern boundary. This magnificent dusky pink building has a sweeping double stairway & 52m clock tower crowned by a distinctive cupola.

If you are visiting in summer, try to catch the trumpeter who plays from the tower at noon. Note they don’t play in the direction of Krakow, which - legend has it - Jan Zamoyski had taken a dislike to.  

The Market Square also features Poland’s longest-operating Pharmacy from the early 17^th century, called the Rector’s Pharmacy in honour of its founder Szymon Piechowicz, Rector of the Zamoyski Academy. 

Tour guides in period costume will take you to the Underground Route in the Cellars of the Town Hall with fantastic archaeological finds like a water tank from 200 years ago, to the Laces, Bustles, Velvets exhibition of historical costumes & an enclosure with a model of Zamosc.

Next to the Town Hall, is an iconic rainbow of merchants’ townhouses, the Armenian Tenements, the historic homes with delicate white ornamental facades & decorative crenulations, designed to reflect the wealth & refinement of their Renaissance burgher owners. They are a colourful reminder of the times when Poles, Italians, Germans, Ruthenians, Armenians, Greeks & Jews lived here in harmony.

Surrounded by a ring of 2.5 km long fortified walls with 7 bastions & only 3 gates leading to the city, Zamosc was one of the greatest fortresses of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The fortress went through 6 sieges, the first of which was the Khmelnytsky Uprising of 1648. This saw the town surrounded by joint Cossack-Tatar forces & many surrounding villages torched. But the town’s defences finally deterred the insurgents & a truce was called. 

A few years later, it resisted the attempts of Swedish forces to capture it during the Deluge of 1656. The Swedes attacked the town with artillery barrage, but the fortifications frustrated their attempts & the forces withdrew. 

The fortress was also considered the toughest prison of Congress Poland after 1813. Walerian Łukasinski, founder of the Patriotic Society, was held here by the Russian imperial authorities. You can explore the history of the town’s fortifications & military history in the Arsenal Museum located in the remains of the Old Town fortress.

The Museum houses weapons & equipment from the 17^th - 19^th centuries. There are 2 permanent exhibitions: one features historical uniforms & weaponry such as cannons from the Khmelnytsky’s siege; the other houses more modern military technology including tanks, heavy artillery & a helicopter. Your guide at the Arsenal will be a hologram of Andrea dell’Aqua, successor to the town’s first architect Bernardo Morando. At the fortress, hear from a hologram of Jan Mallet-Malletski, the last fortification engineer to work on the fortress, about how the town held off invaders through the ages. 

Another notable religious building is the beautiful, old Renaissance Synagogue, preserved as a memorial of the Jewish people, reflecting the pre-war period when Jewish communities made up a large proportion of Polish population. In 1939, Zamosc had a Jewish population of 12,000 which was almost wiped out during the Holocaust but the Synagogue survived the war.

You will also have the opportunity to see the ritual baths (mikvah). 18^th century Zamosc was the only religious community of Sephardic Jews in Poland who later probably assimilated into the Ashkenazi community.

Find out more about the history of the town in the red townhouse, which houses the Zamojskie Museum. The Museum of Photography, which houses old cameras & historic town photos is another popular place to visit.

There are historic churches & market squares and a myriad of colorful boulevards & quaint lanes housing shops, cafes & restaurants.

The Old Town’s main square is the site of many regular & popular events like Eurofolk International Folklore Festival, the Hetman Fair, the Street Art Festival, Arlekinada - a Venetian-style carnival, Zamojski Festival of Culture  & the Film Festival.

Zamosc Theatre Summer features open air performances in the Market Square, fortifications & backstreets (including Grodzka Street & its Avenue of Stars, with shoe imprints of many Polish celebrities). It attracts theatre troupes from across Poland who perform & compete for the honour of opening the festival next year. 

The Storming of Zamosc Fortress is a spectacular theatrical re-enactment of the defence of the town against the Cossack insurgents in 1648 & against the Swedish Deluge in 1656, featuring clashing troops, tournaments, displays of sword fighting & archery as well as courtly customs & old crafts.  

Explore the stunning Market Square, with the striking architecture of the Town Hall & colourful Armenian townhouses, before getting to grips with the military history of the town at its Fortress & Arsenal.

In time, drive back to town.

Balance of the evening free. Or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Morning, around 06.00 am, meet the Tour-guide & embark on a full day excursion to follow the Jewish Heritage Trail to Lezajsk & Lancut.

Reach the small town of Lezajsk in southeastern Poland.

Once a typical Galician shtetl town, it is a major centres of Hasidism, known to Jews even today as the burial place of Elimelech Weisblum (1717–1787), one of the Hasidic movement's founding Rabbi.

Following the first partition of Poland (1772), Lezajsk was annexed by the Habsburg Empire & remained in Austrian Galicia until November 1918. In 1809, the town was captured by the Duchy of Warsaw, but soon afterwards, it was retaken by Austrians. The town suffered during World War I, as Austro-Hungarian & Russian armies fought here in 1914 & 1915 and it was occupied by Russians for a short while. On September 13, 1939, Lezajsk was captured by the Wehrmacht & during World War II the Home Army was very active in the area.

Lezajsk crossed by a forest creek ‘Jagoda’, is famed for its Bernadine Basilica & Monastery, one of Poland's official National Historic Monuments, built by the architect Antonio Pellacini. The Basilica contains a highly regarded pipe organ from the 2^nd half of the 17^th century & organ recitals take place there.

From the early 1500s until the advent of World War II & the Holocaust, more than 3.5 million Jews lived in Poland & there was a major Jewish presence in Lezajsk. After the Jewish expulsions from Spain in 1492, many Jews ended up in Lezajsk. According to the census of 1764, the community numbered 909 people & by the turn of the 20^th century, there were 1,700 Jews in the community. Between the 2 World Wars, 4,500 Jews were living in the beautiful town Lezajsk, full of greenery.

The population consisted of 3 segments: Jews, Poles & Ukrainians and each one of these groups lived in their own quarter, although there were a few individual Jews who lived in the Polish or Ukrainian quarter. The main street leading to the Market Square & Zhowski St., Boznica St., & other side streets nearby were inhabited entirely by Jews.

When the Nazis arrived in September 1939, almost all Jews in the town were brought to the Soviet-Occupied zone, where they were later massacred by the Einsatzgruppen. A few Jews who were saved from the destruction but were found murdered by the Poles who were members of the Z.A.K. The majority of the survivors today live in Israel & some scattered in other parts of the world, including South America, the United States, and Australia.

Jewish life here was similar to Jewish life in other towns. Most people supported themselves through business. There were rich people, poor people, as well as very poor people who supported their families with difficulty. But, the well-known Jewish sense of brotherhood prevailed & people assisted one another. Jewish life pulsated there with Jewish stores, bakeries & workshops with a solemn & spiritual atmosphere. There were 2 Synagogues on Boznica St., the Beis Midrash (House of Study) & the beautiful Shul known for its impressive dome & its beautiful wall paintings. But, they were burned down by the Nazis.

Over the centuries Polish Jews have created a rich culture. The number of preserved monuments is a testament to its uniqueness & magnificence but very few remaining traces allow us to imagine what their world looked like, a world that no longer exists.

In Warsaw alone, where there were over 300 Synagogues but only Nozykow Synagogue can be visited today. Synagogues, mikvahs & prayer-houses, if they were lucky, were converted into libraries, cinemas or warehouse.  The Tarnow Synagogue no longer exists & the only trace on the map of the city is the surviving brick bimah & its forged metal surround with a Star of David.

The most common traces of the Jewish presence are the Kirkuts (Jewish cemeteries). Most of them are not difficult to locate but only a select few are widely known outside Polish borders. The Jewish Cemetery in Lezajsk is a place of pilgrimage for Jews from all over the world, who come to visit the Tomb of the great 18^th century Hasidic Rabbi.

After a time of decay of religious life in Poland, today we can see its rebirth. The holiest day of the Jewish year is Yom Kippur. The largest crowds flock on Purim which has also been called the "Jewish Carnival" because of its joyous nature. This is the time to sample the traditional biscuits that have been called "Haman's Ears".

Every year on the 21^st day of the month of Adar, tens of thousands of Orthodox Hasidic Jews from around the world make a ‘right of passage’ pilgrimage to pray at the grave. They believe that anyone who at least once visits the grave of Tzadik Elimelech will not die in sin & the believers leave on his grave, cards with written requests, the so-called kvitelach - which the Rabbi passes directly to God. According to legend, the Rabbi comes down from heaven on the anniversary of his death (March 11, 1787) & sends God the Hasidic’s requests for health, well-being for their children & success at work.

Surrounding the grave of Rabbi Elimelech, inside the cave & outside of it, are found the graves of his children & his holy students. Daily, Jews would come from within the city & vicinity to pour out their hearts at these graves. A great many Hungarian & Slovakian Jews used to come to Lizhensk in throngs to visit the grave of the great Tzadik. The burial place was desecrated by the Germans as was their custom, with great barbarism.

A different atmosphere begins to prevail in the city already several days prior to the 21^st of Adar (March). The modest town turns into the center of the Jewish world. The crowds resemble a beehive as thousands of Hassidim mull about the vicinity of their revered Rabbi. Various merchants, primarily merchants of holy books, as well as of food & drink would set up their stalls in the vicinity of the Cemetery & the large Beis Midrash Synagogue. Numerous stalls selling holy books & holy objects were set up both inside & outside.

They merchants eagerly look forward to these days as they are able to supplement their meager income. They also sell food & beverages to the numerous visitors.

The entire path to the Cemetery, up to the cave, is filled with a large crowd comprised of both young & old and inside the cave itself, the crowding is very intense. Everyone desires to approach nearer to the holy grave in order to pour out their supplications & requests. Candles are lit surrounding the grave & in all of the windows. The supplicants spend time reciting the names of all those people who have texted them asking that their prayers also be sent by proxy at the graveside and some of the pilgrims have long lists to read out & to perform traditional dances & sing psalms.

Hasidic Jews' prayers are believed to be most effective up until nightfall on the day of the anniversary of the Rabbi Weisblum’s passing. It is often assumed that Hasidic Jews are a community closed off to the outside world with unshakable beliefs.

The Orthodox Rabbi Elimelech Weisblum was one of the great founding rebbes of the Hasidic movement & a leading figure in bringing Hasidism to Poland, from its original centre in Ukraine. He was a leading member of the Chevra Kadisha (Holy Society) & authored the classic Hasidic work Noam Elimelech, which instructs in the mystical paths of the Hasidic rebbe.

During the lifetime of Dov Ber ben Avraham of Mezeritch who was chosen as the successor of Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidic Judaism, his disciple Rabbi Elimelech traveled widely with his brother all over Poland to spread Hassidism. After Dov Ber's death, Rebbe Elimelech settled in Lizhensk which turned into a center of Polish-Galician Hassidism & attained great fame, thanks to his lofty life & his name spread out in fame & praiseworthiness to all corners of the Jewish world.  Many famous Tzadikim & Hassidic activists of Galicia were educated & obtained their inspiration during the 18^th century.

Spend a few hours here & post lunch (not included – direct payment), drive on to visit another Jewish cultural center.

Arrive in Lancut - a charming town reminiscent of Jewish culture boasts of Poland’s largest & richest aristocratic home with 300 rooms.

Archeological investigations carried out in the region of Lancut confirm the existence of human settlements from about 4000 years B.C

In 1772, after the First Partition of Poland, Lancut belonged to the Habsburg Monarchy where it remained until 1918 when it became part of reborn independent Poland.

The first owner of the town was Otton Pilecki, who was gifted the estate by the Polish king, Casimir III the Great, in 1349, as a reward for his service. At the same time, the king also granted Lancut its city rights according to Magdeburg law & it remained under the ownership of the Pilecki family up to 1586. The city was then owned consecutively by aristocratic landowning Polish families of Stadnicki, Lubomirski & Potocki.

At the end of the 18^th century, Duchess Izabela Lubomirska established a Distillery on the vast estate. Count Alfred Wojciech Potocki, a grandson & heir of the Duchess, started to run the Lancut & Lwow Lubomirski estates in 1823 & modernised the management of these properties & the Distillery well known for producing flavoured & sweetened vodkas. The still active Distillery has changed ownership several times & now exists under the brand name of Polmos Lancot.

The last owner of Lancut, Alfred Antoni Potocki, (14 June 1886 - 30 March 1958), was one of the richest men in prewar Poland, accumulating a fantastic collection of art during his tenancy. Shortly before the arrival of the Red Army in 1944, he loaded 11 railway carriages of a specially chartered train to Vienna, with his most valuable possessions (about 700 boxes of movable property) & fled to Liechtenstein. Most of these valuables were gradually sold off to finance a lavish lifestyle.

During the German invasion of Poland, which started World War II, on September 9, 1939, Lancut was a place of fierce defense by Poles under the command of Colonel Stanisław Maczek, who would become one of the Polish heroes of World War II. During the subsequent German occupation, the Einsatzgruppe I entered the town between September 17 & October 5, 1939 to commit various atrocities against Poles.

In November 1939, the Germans deceitfully requested the presence of Polish intelligentsia from the town at a supposed conference on the county's economic matters, at which they then arrested over 200 people, including local officials, teachers & priests. A temporary prisoner-of-war camp for Polish soldiers was operated here in 1939 & around 25,000 people were held there. Some of them were imprisoned in nearby Rzeszow along with Poles from other towns of the region.

Jews began to settle in Lancut in the 16^th century: the earliest mention of a settler is 1554. The landowner Stanisław Lubomirski employed a Jewish factor for his Lancut estate in 1629 & in 1707, the Council of Four Lands (the Polish Jewish Parliament) met here. Prior to World War II, Lancut had a thriving Jewish community constituting about one-third of the city population. In 1939 there were 2,750 Jews here. From 1942 onwards the German occupiers began transportation & murder of the Jewish community & very few of the community survived.

Lancut is more famous as the site of the 15^th century aristocratic home of Stanisław Lubomirski (known as 'the Devil of Lancut due to his violent behaviour) who commissioned architect Matteo Trapola & the stuccoist Giovanni Battista Falconi to build a fortified residence.

The grand 300 room French Neo-baroque. Style Castle situated on a hill in the centre of the town, is Poland’s largest & richest home.

Completed in 1641, it was a modern, “palazzo in forteza” type of residence, consisting of living quarter with donjons at the corners, surrounded by bastion fortifications. It was reconstructed many times since & assumed its current magnificence in the 17^th century when the Palace filled with excellent works of art, was owned by Izabella Lubomirska, who had the interiors remodelled & added extensions. Druzyna, the coat of arms of the Lubomirski family is prominent above the main entrance to the Castle. She employed outstanding artists such as Szymon Bogumił Zug, Jan Christian Kamsetzer, Christian Piotr Aigner, Fryderyk Bauman & Vincenzo Brenna.

The most important changes were made to the layout adapting them to the needs of the fashion of the times. In the 1870s, work started to create the Park surrounding the Castle. After levelling the embankments & re-aligning the road surrounding the moat, lime-trees were planted out creating an avenue. An Italian garden was created near eastern side of the Castle, while a rose garden was arranged on the southern side of the Orangery. The picturesque English style Park is filled with pavilions & little romantic castles, a Coach house with an extraordinarily interesting collection of horse-drawn carriages, guest-houses & farm buildings, all part of the former the daily life of the castle. It also featured an active musical & theatrical life.

The Palace, one of the most luxurious residences in the continental Europe, became a place for social meetings & was visited by famous diplomats & politicians and representatives of famous aristocratic dynasties including the Romanian King Frank Ferdinand with his wife & George, the Duke of Kent etc.

In 1816, after Princess Izabela Lubomirska’s death, the whole estate became a property of her grandson Alfred Potocki who (& his descendants) was tightly connected with the ruling house of Habsburgs. In 1944, the last Potocki had to leave Lancut & settle in Switzerland, where he died in 1958.

Just after WWII the Castle designated as a Historic Monument of Poland, was taken over by the government & opened as the Castle Museum particularly well known for its large collection of historic carriages.

The interiors hold numerous works of art which come from the old Lancut royal collections. The oldest exhibits include a part of Collection made by Princess Lubomirska herself which were used both as decorations & as everyday use objects. Some of the most valuable exhibits from this Collection may be admired in the Gallery of Ancient Art in the National Museum in Warsaw.

Since 1961, it is also the site of the annual Music Festival - a series of modern & classical music concerts performed by distinguished European soloists, ensembles & choirs.

In the city, there is an architectural complex of the ancient Parish Church of Saint Stanislaus & the Dominican Monastery rebuilt repeatedly, the oldest phase of the construction going back to 15^th century.

Lancut also has a functional baroque style Synagogue completed in 1761 with its interior walls & ceiling decorated with restorations of paintings & stuccowork from the 18^th century & polychromies from 19^th - 20^th centuries. German invaders in 1939 attempted to burn it down, but were prevented by Count Alfred Antoni Potocki. A wooden Synagogue burnt down in 1716 & a new brick one was built in 1726, supported by the Lubomirski family.

Local Jewish cemeteries are the resting place of the famous Rabbi Zvi Naftali Horowitz, the Grand Rabbi of Ropczyce & Rabbi Ahron Moshe Leifer, the Grand Rabbi of Zołynia & every year, thousands of followers of the Hasidic Judaism come to pray at their graves.

In the 1830s, Ignacy Lukasiewicz, Polish pharmacist & inventor, known as the pioneer of the world's petroleum industry, was an apprentice in a pharmacy in Lancut. At that time he joined the Polish secret resistance movement & the Austrian police conducted the first investigation against him.

Spending a few hours walking around, hop in the vehicle & drive back to Lublin.

Balance of the evening free to relax or walk around on your own (we will be happy to offer suggestions).

Morning, around 06.00 am, depart for some more discoveries on the Polish & Jewish Heritage trail.

Fist stop will be small village of Bobowa, once a dynamic centre of Chassidism. The village was granted town status on 1 January 2009.

It is not known when the village of Bobowa appeared on the map of Poland. Probably it was a Slavic gord, destroyed in 1240 by the Mongols. By 1346, the town belonged to the Gryfita family & had a parish church,

In the 1460 register Liber beneficiorum by Jan Długosz, one can find the information of Bobowa’s stone parish church, as well as 2 smaller, wooden churches. Bobowa also had a court. In the mid-16^th century, Bobowa emerged as a local center of the Protestant Reformation & sometime in the early 17^th century, the town was purchased by the Jordan family. In 1740, its owner was Stanisław Lętowski & following the Partitions of Poland in 1772, Bobowa became part of Austrian province of Galicia, where it remained until late 1918.

Jews were first brought to Bobowa in 1732 by its erstwhile owner, Michał Jaworski, who was seeking to revive the struggling local economy. In 1765, there were 44 Jewish families living here & by 1900, the Jewish population numbered 749.

During the Second World War, Bobowa became a "concentration village" where the Jews from the surrounding area were imprisoned. Almost all were finally killed. One of the very few survivors, rescued by a Polish peasant woman called Balwina, was Professor Samuel P. Oliner of Humboldt State University, California who devoted his academic career to the study of Altruism.

Stanisław Lętkowski, the owner of Bobowa, regulated the legal status of the Jews in 1773 imposing higher taxes but in lieu, the Jewish merchants were granted a number of individual & group privileges, including personal liberty with permissions to trade in certain goods. This soon led to the Jewish community fully dominating the local trade.

A mortgage was established to pay for the construction of a Synagogue to serve the needs of the 44 families.

Source documents indicate that by the First Partition of Poland, the Jews of Bobowa constituting over 40% of the population had already formed a compact & efficient community. In the interwar period, Jews constituted 70% of the Municipal Councillors in Bobowa & the population was clearly divided. For example, there were 61 Jewish & only 7 Polish stores in the town, while the number of Jewish & Polish craftsmen amounted to 17 & 33, respectively. They played an important role in the local economic life as they owned 90% of stores & 18% of artisan workshops.

On the night of 10/11 October 1889, a great fire broke out in Bobowa. Jews were accused of starting it & blamed for their sluggishness in extinguishing the flames. According to the local records, the fire was started by a candle burning in a Jewish hut during the Sukkot festival. One house after another caught fire & soon the entire town was ablaze. The fire raged throughout the night & almost completely destroyed the town, consuming all arcade houses around the marketplace, the parish church, town hall, manor house & hospital.

Before the Holocaust, the town was home to a Yeshiva, notable as a one of the largest historic centres of Hasidism in Polish lands, created & led by Shlomo Meyer ben Nathan Halberstam (1847-1906) who arrived in Bobowa in 1893.

He had earlier served as Rabbi in Bukowsko, Oswięcim & Wisnicz. In his Etz Chaim Yeshiva in Wisnicz, he came into conflict with more progressive Jews as he was fervently & rabidly opposed to secular education & sought to exempt Jews from the obligation of attending public schools.

He established the Bobowa Yeshiva, emphasising the importance of Talmudic studies & modest living and Bobowa soon became a pilgrimage site for Jews from all Eastern European countries, as the Tzaddik was widely respected not only by his fellow believers, but also by Catholics. He was considered a half-God & miracle-maker. He died in a German health resort & his ohel in the cemetery in Bobowa continues to be visited by pilgrims from all around the world.

The Wehrmacht entered the city on 7 September 1939 & soon started to persecute the local Jewish community, which was harassed, assaulted & had its property confiscated.

By virtue of a German order, a Judenrat (Jewish Council) was established in Bobowa in early 1940, responsible for providing forced labourers to the occupier - at first, they were mostly people apprehended in roundups.

The Judenrat also supervised the Social Service Committee which provided assistance to the poorest residents of Bobowa & to displaced people.  On 3 November 1940, a folk kitchen was opened in the town, serving 1,000 dinners a day. The kitchen charged a nominal sum for each meal but only half of the patrons were able to pay.

In October 1942, the Germans established a ghetto, comprising the entire town centre, where they placed around 2,200 Jews. Poles were only allowed to enter its perimeter to access the parish Church. Several Polish families who lived in the marketplace received special passes. At first, the ghetto was open, but it was later encircled with a fence in the summer of 1942.

In January - March 1942, several executions were held in the local Jewish cemetery & the corpses were buried in a mass grave in the cemetery. Among the victims of the executions were 5 Jews closely associated with Rabbi Halberstam.

In the winter of 1941-1942, Jews from smaller localities were imprisoned in the extremely overcrowded Bobowa Ghetto. In the spring & summer, many Jews from the Ghetto were deported to labour camps.

On 13 August 1942, the Ghetto was liquidated. Nazis murdered 25 people in the marketplace while all other were transported to other execution sites. The president of the Judenrat, was offered a chance to survive, but he declined. Once the execution was over, the Germans demolished 82 Jewish houses, loaded the construction material & valuables collected from the rubble & sent them to the Reich on a train.

After the war, not even one Jew returned to Bobowa. Today, former Jewish residents of the town live in England, the USA, Israel, Argentina & Belgium.

After the war Grand Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam (1907 - August 2, 2000) re-established the Bobov Hasidic dynasty in America & the current seat is in Borough Park in Brooklyn, New York. There are also communities of Bobov Hasidim in Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal; Toronto; Antwerp, London & Israel under the leadership of Rabbi Shlomo's son Rabbi Ben-Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam.

Deviating from the Jewish heritage, there are other attractions to see. 14^th century All Saints Church & St. Sophia Church at the local Cemetery built in the late 15^th century & surrounded by a picturesque wall.

There is also a 17^th century szlachta manor house (or castle as referred by the locals) belonging to Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski, an early Polish follower of Unitarianism. They cremated their dead & the massive fortified walls of the house contain cremation urns buried within them.

Bobowa is renowned for original handmade lace textile - a long term tradition in the region. The unique handicraft is a real work of art & in the 19^th century, every noblewoman was obliged to have lingerie & linen embellished with characteristic lace in their trousseau.

Beautiful & unique artefacts of bobbin lace-makers have brought fame to the village & to this day, bobbin lacemaking has been cultivated & promoted through organizing exhibitions, competitions, fairs & artistic workshops.

The Gallery of Bobbin Lace presents a fine collection of lace products which will enchant you with their beauty & precision. It is also possible to watch the lace-makers at work as well as purchase their products.

Since 2000, the International Festival of Bobbin Laces has been organized here & the village turns into a European Centre of Lace. Lace-makers come from Slovakia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain, Russia, France, Austria, Germany, Hungary & Poland and display their works of art in the stalls. Visitors admire their wares - from fine delicate doilies, through lace jewellery to the elements of dresses & elaborate tablecloth. And the Folk Art Fair is a perfect place to buy bobbin laces & other souvenirs.

In response to an increasing interest in this craft, lace making workshops & individual courses have been organized in Bobowa. It is a great opportunity to learn the technique of making of this special handicraft in the regional capital of bobbin lace.

Time to move on to Tarnow, which also has a history associated with Jewish culture. 

Tarnow is a city in southeastern Poland in the Małopolska Province that is too often overshadowed by the province’s capital, the world-famous Krakow.

Though you probably wouldn’t guess it while strolling about its beautifully preserved Old Town, Tarnow is an important regional industrial centre & transport hub.

First mentioned in a document dated 1124, Tarnow was granted city rights by King Władysław Lokietek in 1330 - an event celebrated by erecting a fine monument in homage to the King. It was at this time that the medieval layout the city retains to this day was created, with its latticed streets & central Market Square, reached by stairways from a lower, surrounding loop (formerly the city walls & defensive towers).

A privately owned city until 1787, Tarnow’s greatest period of growth came under the illustrious, avant-garde nobleman Jan Tarnowski during the 16^th  century when the Old Town was largely reconstructed in the manner that today earns it the accolade of being Poland’s ‘Pearl of the Renaissance’.

The Tarnowski clan expired without an heir in 1567 & the city was later incorporated into the Austrian-Hungarian Empire during the era of Polish Partitions. Tarnow’s citizens were quick to join the Polish Legions when WWI broke out & the region saw many battles between the Russian & Austro-Hungarian armies, resulting in a trail of WWI memorial sites & cemeteries in the city’s vicinity.

The first Jews settled in Tarnow in the mid15^th century & by 1939 their numbers had reached 25,000 - nearly half the city’s total population. On June 14^th 4th 1940, 728 Tarnow residents (mostly Poles, in fact) became the first victims of Auschwitz; of 40,000 Jews crammed into Tarnow’s ghetto, over 10,000 were executed & the rest deported to the Bełzec death camp.

Today Tarnow’s Jewish heritage remains only through several historical monuments & sites in and around the former Ghetto as no active Jewish community has survived.

In October 1918, Tarnow gained notoriety when it became the first Polish city to reclaim independence after 146 years of occupation & again on August 28^th, 1939 when German terrorists detonated an explosive in the city’s train station killing 20 people, injuring 32 & & leading some historians to claim that WWII officially started here in Tarnow. The bombs would start falling from the sky 6 days later & by September 07^th the Nazis had captured the city.

Tarnow was a stronghold of resistance during Nazi occupation, before eventual ‘liberation’ into the Communist regime on January 17, 1945. The city developed rapidly in the postwar period as the monstrous Soviet-era residential blocks in the north-east part of the city became home to over one-third of its 100,000 population in the mid-70s.

The rise in the prices of meat in July 1980 inspired a series of strikes in Tarnow predating the Gdansk shipyard strikes that would eventually lead to the Communist regime’s collapse. Since Poland’s ascension to the EU in 2004, Tarnow has enjoyed the revitalisation of its Old Town & is gaining an increasing reputation as a noteworthy tourist destination.

For the intrepid tourist, there are some interesting things to check out, a true reward for venturing here.

Tarnow has a historic Town Hall, sitting in the heart of its typical Polish Old Town Square. It began life as an impressive 15^th century red-brick building. The architectural styles vary from Neo-Gothic to Renaissance right up to the post-war constructions. Radiating out from the handsome Market Square are its 16^th century streets, lined with tenements.

You can go inside into the little Museum in the Town Hall, which has relics in silver & glass of the noble family who used to rule over Tarnow.

Add fine churches (earliest traces of a Church here dates back to 1330), a few Museums, good food & the traces of a vibrant pre WWII Jewish population & you have a thoroughly appealing tourist destination. There are new cafes, international restaurants & even a cosy Irish pub (called Leprikon) in which to relax.

Near the Old Town Square is Tarnow’s finest Gothic church - Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary which was visited by the Pope in 1987.

The grounds of the Cathedral contain an iconic bronze statue, one of the first in Poland, showing Pope John Paul II with wide open arms. Statues of the Pope are few & far between in Poland, at his own request. Before he died, Poland’s iconic Pope told the Polish people not to waste their money making statues of him, but instead to put the money towards charities & orphanages.

The city contains the Mausoleum of General Jozef Bem who was born here & considered a national hero in Poland, Hungary &the former Ottoman Empire. Bem was an engineer & army general who fought for what he believed in - to maintain & protect Poland’s borders. There is also a statue of Bem on Forteczna Street.

As mentioned, Tarnow has a huge Jewish history to explore. The Cemetery might be intact, but all that remains of the Old Synagogue is this small brick ‘bimah’ actually a little bit hidden & out of the way. It was here on this platform that the Torah was read. The first Synagogue here was in 1582, but it was affected by a few fires & always rebuilt until the Nazi Invasion in 1939, when it was completely destroyed, never to be rebuilt.

Understand the sad history at the Mikvah (Jewish Bath House) where Jews used to meet socially & bathe for generations. However, on June 14, 1940, Nazis took 753 convicts (most of whom were not actually Jewish) from the local prison & locked them here overnight. The next morning they were all escorted at gunpoint to the notorious Nazi Concentration Camp known as Auschwitz & were the first prisoners to enter that death camp.

Surprisingly, the Bath House has since been used as a bar & nightclub & houses an up-market restaurant.

It is worth making the 10 minute walk north of the Old Town to the Old Jewish Cemetery. With thousands of gravestones in a huge area, this is one of the largest Cemeteries in Poland. What is more astonishing is that they remain fairly intact, surprisingly not destroyed by the Nazis.

If time permits, a trip to the nearby village of Zalipie could well be the highlight of your time in Tarnow.

Zalipie, a small village of just 743 residents, is completely covered in flower art! Women in the village have been painting floral designs on the houses for over a century. The art can be seen not just on the outside of buildings, but also in the kitchens & bedrooms. You can visit the Museum & tour one of the houses where the Painters work.

Finally, drive to the final stop where you will stay for the night.

Reach Paderewski's manor-park complex in Kąsna Dolna village.

Built in 1833, this Manor House surrounded by large Park, become famous when in late 19^th century, it was purchased by acclaimed Polish pianist, composer, independence activist, statesman, politician, Prime Minister & Foreign Secretary Ignacy Jan Paderewski.

His plan was to make it his main house, but he never moved in. The house was later sold to Gostowski family. After WWII, it became a state property & today, it is the only preserved residence of this great pianist & composer, functioning as a Concert Centre & a Museum commemorating the great composer.

Situated on the small hill facing east, the single-storey manor house has a plastered, brick construction with a partial basement. The interior includes a small living room, a Chinese room, a master’s room, a bedroom, living rooms (classicist & neo-rococo).

In 1970, Tarnow Musical Society moved in, restoring the place to its former glory. A series of Summer Concerts are arranged here & have become renowned for classical music performed by the best players. Bravo Maestro Chamber Music Festival, held once in 2 years, is among the most prestigious festivals in Poland, focusing on the best Polish performers. Its programme comprises the most outstanding works of chamber music.

There is also a Poland Talents’ Week promoting young artists and the laureates of national & foreign contests. For many young artists, Talents’ Week is the first step in their career & has launched many famous performers such as Waldemar Malicki, Tomasz Strahl & Rafał Kwiatkowski.

Check-in & relax.

 Morning, spend an hour exploring the Paderewski's Museum.

In time, depart for Krakow.

Situated on the famous River Vistula, Poland's former royal capital Krakow is one of the oldest & 2^nd largest city dating back to 7^th century.

Riveting History| Stunning Architecture| Cultural Treasures |Eat & Drink

Traditionally Krakow, named the European Capital of Culture in 2000, effortlessly fuses medieval pomp & pageantry with modern-day, student-fuelled fun into a harmonious whole & is one of the leading centers of Polish academic, cultural & artistic life and an important economic hub.

Alternating themes of destruction & rebirth run throughout Krakow's history, all the way back to the 13^th century, when marauding Tatars sacked the city & pierced the town crier's throat with an arrow. A century later, Krakow was back on top as Poland's capital & then dashed again in the 16^th century when the capital moved to Warsaw. In more recent times, Krakow re-emerged after WWI only to be occupied by Nazi Germany 20 years later. After that came Communism & another chapter of rebirth.

Krakow may no longer the political capital, but it makes a strong case for being the country's cultural capital. The annual list of festivals & events features a celebration of theatre, the arts, music, film, dance, literature and, yes, food almost every week. Outside the festival calendar, Cracovians are inveterate theatre-goers, jazz aficionados, poetry lovers, film buffs & klezmer listeners, and seemingly every corner of the city, every dark basement & hidden garden, buzzes with artistic anticipation.

It’s hard not to admire Krakow. Over the 1,000 years of Krakow's existence, all of the great European architectural styles - Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, baroque & art nouveau - have left their traces behind.

The number of monuments & places of cultural importance are almost intimidating. Delighted by the Jagiellonian-Habsburg glamour of the city, foreign tourists happily stroll through the narrow streets.

The Old Town district alone is home to about 6,000 historic sites & works of art.  The most popular landmarks include the Main Market Square, St. Mary's Basilica, the Sukiennice Cloth Hall, Wawel Castle.

National Art Museum is just one of the over 25 Museums & public Art Galleries throughout the city. Luckily Krakow escaped from most of the destruction that many other parts of Poland suffered in the 20^th century wars.

Because of this, the rich history of Krakow can be seen today and provides a showcase for it' historic styles of architecture which are easily recognizable throughout the city as you travel outward from the center.

See the world's largest late-Gothic Altarpiece within the darkened interiors of St Mary's Basilica & then step out into the sunshine to see the gleaming 16^th century Renaissance Cloth Hall, built at a time when Krakow's royal authority was at its apex.

No accounting of Krakow's charms would be complete without a nod toward the culinary delights. Noteworthy classic Polish dishes include the delicious dumpling snack of pierogi, kiełbasa (Polish sausage), mouth-watering open sandwiches known as zapiekanka &, for a sweet treat, placki ziemniaczane - fried potato pancakes sprinkled with sugar served everywhere from grand Gothic cellars to simple stands. Try the sumptuous blueberry mazurka, a Polish wedding offering created from layers of crumbly pastry, spiked with blueberry vodka (naturally). But Cracovians also love to expand their palates. French, Italian & Asian-inspired restaurants are popular, while vegan & vegetarian foods are experiencing something of a moment - vegan sushi & meatless kebabs are all the rage. Finish off with lody (ice cream), a national mania.

Immediately on arrival, proceed to visit Schindler’s Factory, one of the most fascinating Museums in Poland.

Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory is a former metal item factory in Krakow that now hosts the Museum of Contemporary Art in the former workshops & a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow.

Steven Spielberg's film "Schindler's List" (which was shot almost entirely in Krakow) immortalized Oskar Schindler, showing how the factory owner saved 1,200 Jews from World War II Concentration Camps. The story is covered in detail on the original site where many events took place & Spielberg brought it to audiences across the world in 1993 & the place became a ‘must see’ for anyone coming to Krakow.

Now the true story - both heroic & human - of Schindler & his wife, Emilie, is detailed in an exhibit at Pellissippi State Community College.

Today, many of the surviving Schindlerjuden & the actors who portraying them in the film, visit Schindler's grave & place stones on its marker (the traditional Jewish sign of respect on visiting a grave), with Liam Neeson laying two roses.

Schindler established Oskar Schindler Enamelled Goods Factory (its full name) during World War II & transformed from a regular collaborating entrepreneur to heroic savior.  In 1943, he actually contributed to the establishment of a sub-camp of Plaszow Concentration Camp, where the prisoners who worked in Schindler's factory lived.

But, as one of the survivors explains in the 30 minute movie shown at the Museum - believe it or not - that, given the circumstances, working at the Schindler factory was the best that you could possibly hope for during WWII & the Nazi reign of terror, if you wanted to survive. 

Factory building has been preserved almost intact throughout the years & in 2010, Schindler Factory re-opened to the public as a world-class Museum to pay tribute to the brave deeds of Oskar Schindler & to recreate the atmosphere of Krakow during the World War II. It is a place to learn about the plight of Polish Jews during World War II. After years of preparations, it has now become one of the most visited Museums in Krakow.

The Museum makes clear that Oskar clearly risked his life to help Jews - even if he did not know them well - by smuggling information & goods. Whereas it is not only the story about his life, in Schindler’s Factory you can experience the tough everyday basis of Poles.

On a ‘guided’ tour of Schindler’s Factory, you will become familiar with ethnic Jewish community habits & everyday life basis.

Over wartime history, you will also discover the culture, routine, traditional dishes & far more. In Schindler’s Factory Museum you will get familiar with Jewish culture as the Guide takes you through a journey around Nazi-occupied Krakow

You can see original artifacts from the time & hear stories of Krakow's residents.  A replica of Oskar Schindler's desk & accessories are on display in one of the rooms, including actual photographs of him with his horse.

In the cafe, after exiting the Museum exhibit, you will find still photos from Schindler's List, & also, in red leather, the genuine script that was used in the filmmaking.

There is a permanent exhibit entitled Krakow under Nazi Occupation 1939-1945, which presents a fascinating, graphic - & horrifying - story about what actually happened during those years. The Museum’s interior will let you feel as you were walking the streets of Krakow from occupation times.

The beginning of the exhibit is intentionally not well-lit with the ground filled with cobblestones, just as you would have found in Krakow at the time. Individual histories of Krakow’s wartime inhabitants guide visitors through the exhibit which covers the war of 1939, everyday life under occupation, the fate of the Jews, the city’s underground resistance etc. using vast archival documents, photos, radio & film recordings, period artefacts & dynamic multimedia installations.  

One section shows the building of the Ghetto & the design of the walls resembles tombstones, with a curved top, just like you would find in the Cemetery. To impart the subliminal message that there was no way you would get out alive.

Other exhibits change regularly (currently about underground activities of the Polish Home Army), while a separate section of the original factory is reserved for film screenings, lectures & other cultural events, and another large part of the factory hosts MOCAK - Krakow's excellent contemporary Art Museum which opened in 2011.

Due to many interactive exhibitions & plenty of historical photographs & objects, you will feel as you were one of the old-time Krakow citizens.

One of the interesting point of the Memory Trail that incorporates the Schindler factory - is the Eagle Pharmacy.  Apparently, in the Ghetto during the war, there was a man named Tadeusz Pankiewicz - who so deserves to be recognized. The Pharmacy that he owned was the only one allowed to operate within the closed Jewish district & Pankiewicz was the only Pole to have the right of permanent stay in the Ghetto.

The Pharmacy was a meeting place for Jewish intellectuals, scientists & artists staying in the Ghetto. Pankiewicz & his 3 Assistants served as liaison officers between the Jews in & beyond the Ghetto, providing information & smuggled food products. A Polish hero, no doubt, just like Mr. Schindler.

The guided 2 hour tour concludes & you are transferred to the hotel.

Check-in & relax.

Balance of the afternoon is free for independent exploration (we will be happy to offer suggestions).

Evening, meet a Journeys Rep & proceed for dinner to the popular Kosher Delight’s restaurant located in the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, near the Chabad House & Chabad Center.

Come back to the hotel.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 08.00 am & proceed for a full day sightseeing tour of Krakow.

You will visit the ‘some’ touristic places as well as the Jewish District.

The capital of Małopolska province is a veritable gem of national cultural heritage, overflowing with legends, priceless historical architecture & art, as well as fabulous leisure & entertainment options.

The rich history of Krakow can be seen today & provides a showcase for it's historic styles of architecture which are easily recognizable throughout the city as you travel outward from the center. Luckily Krakow escaped from most of the destruction that many other parts of Poland suffered in the 20^th century wars.

The city is famous for its unique Nativity scenes (this local craft is included on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity), the biggest collection of which can be found at the National Art Museum Krakow, just one of the over 25 Museums & public Art Galleries throughout the city.

Krakow’s greatest artistic treasure is the Princes Czartoryski Collection, which includes paintings by Leonardo da Vinci & Rembrandt.

Another must-see is the magnificent, modern, timber & glass fronted Małopolska Garden of Arts, which combines sound, theatre, installation & multimedia art. It also happens to be the experimental space of the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre, an institution founded more than a century ago & the 2^nd oldest in Krakow after the Helena Modrzejewska National Stary Theatre. 

The beautiful red-brick Muzeum Armii Krajowej (Home Army Museum) roofed with armoured glass, within the renovated 19^th century walls of a former auxiliary building of the Krakow Fortress features a unique collection of mementos & personal effects donated directly by veterans is really nothing short of amazing.

No talk of Krakow’s architecture would be complete without a mention of Nowa Huta, the socialist town that appears in Andrzej Wajda’s film “Man of Marble”. Standing among the box-like blocks of flats is the unusual Church of Our Lady Queen of Poland - Ark of Our Lord. Unusual because it may well be the first Church you see that is shaped like a boat. Yes, a boat. Inside, the evocative figure of the Rising Christ, who seems almost to be taking flight towards heaven from the Cross hanging above the altar, was sculpted by an outstanding contemporary artist Prof. Bronisław Chromy.

Before you leave the communist town, the Nowa Huta Culture Centre, the Ludowy Theatre & the Cistercian Monastery in Mogiła are all worth a visit. 

The Nowa Huta Meadows in particular is an attractive protected area with educational paths where you will find Jan Matejko’s manor house, with an original porch designed by the artist himself, as well as several mementos of him and also constitutional reformer & educationalist Hugo Kołłątaj.

Start the tour by following the traces of the medieval route, from Barbican & St. Florian’s Gate, which in the Middle-Ages was the main gate of the city. The second you pass the Gate, you will find yourself in a completely different world: the oldest part of Krakow, which somehow survived the turmoil of war.

Every elegant, stylish building here has a story to tell. In the Main Market Square of the Old Town, stop to smell the floral aromas coming from Krakow’s famous flower sellers, as the familiar clip-clop sound of the horse-drawn carriages passes you by. Overhead, pigeons fly over St. Mary’s Basilica. The brick Gothic church is an absolute must see & there is even a revolving hologram encouraging people to visit. Those different-sized church towers are allegedly the result of a deadly quarrel between 2 competing builder brothers! We can’t be sure of this, however we are sure that the breath-taking darkened interiors are something visitors will never forget, especially the priceless & world's largest late - Gothic Altar carved by Veit Stoss.

The 16^th century Renaissance Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) built at a time when Krakow's royal authority was at its apex, where trade continues to flourish today as it has throughout the ages. You could even pick up traditional regional costumes or opt for other more typical souvenirs (that may be easier to fit in your suitcase!).

The Art Gallery located on the 1^st floor of the Cloth Hall features 19^th century Polish Art that includes Władysław Podkowinski’s famous painting Frenzy, depicting a naked woman on a black horse as well as paintings by Jan Matejko, Jozef Chełmoski & Henryk Siemiradzki, among others. Treat yourself to some amber & silver goods, arts & crafts or even miniatures of the unique Krakow-style nativity scenes.

Venture underground, underneath the main Square, to enjoy an interactive multi-media exhibition called “Following Traces of Krakow’s European Identity”, that takes you back through 1,000 years of history of the city’s beginnings.

The Royal Road & the Stanisław Wyspianski Route cut right across the Square, leading along the green Planty Park that surrounds the Old Town to the stunning complex on Wawel Hill, a microcosm of Polish culture, that was formerly the home to 3 dynasties of Polish monarchs - the majestic Wawel Castle. The walk up the hill is an unforgettable experience in itself. From the walls of the Castle you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Vistula, Podgorze district & Old Town.

At the Castle, tourists can visit some of the exquisite stately chambers as well as the private royal apartments with their historical interiors filled with priceless art & rare ancient objects, collection of matchless 16^th century monumental Flemish tapestries of Sigismund II Augustus, royal portraits, Italian Renaissance furniture, Italian & Dutch paintings of the 14^th - 17^th century. The Crown Treasury & Armoury features royal regalia, precious jewelry, weapons & armors, Turkish tents & banners, Turkish & Persian carpets, Chinese & Japanese ceramics.

Poland's impressive pearl of Renaissance architecture & national shrine - the Wawel Cathedral (Metropolitan Basilica of St. Stanislaus & St. Wenceslaus) - shelters plenty of superb church art with every inch of its ideally proportioned stone walls & dome covered with fine sculptures. 

The royal tombs under the floor Cathedral below their sarcophagi, dating back to 16^th & 17^th century entomb 10 Polish monarchs together with their spouses & occasionally children. The National Bards’ Crypt, where several famous Poles are buried, including Jan Długosz, Stanisław Wyspianski & Czesław Miłosz, are worth seeing. It also contains a symbolic tomb of Cyprian Kamil Nowid, another great poet & a plaque commemorating Frederic Chopin.

Continue onto its necropolis to the National Pantheon at the striking, cream-walled-green-roofed Church on the Rock

Stop for lunch (not included - direct payment).

Post lunch, embark to explore the Jewish Heritage.

With its abundance of well-preserved historical sites, Krakow is a good place to find sites with Jewish cultural significance. In the beginning of the 14^th century, Krakow inhabitants led a popular rebellion against King Ladislas. In order to avoid similar events from occurring in the future, the next king of Poland, Casimir the Great, founded a separate town located on a large island on the Vistula River in 1335, which was to take over as Poland's capital. That is how Kazimierz on the eastern outskirts of Krakow was created. The construction of the city was never completed & the quarter was not very attractive, which, paradoxically, was to become a reason for its future glory.

For centuries, Kazimierz remained an independent town & was only joined with Krakow at the end of the 18^th century. Later, Austrian authorities ordered the demolition of the town walls & allowed Jews to settle anywhere in Kazimierz & eventually also in Krakow. Soon, the wealthier members of the Jewry moved to the town centre, and Kazimierz remained the quarter of the poor, resulting in its unique atmosphere.  

But when in 1495 Jews were prohibited to settle within the main Krakow city walls, Krakow's sizable Jewish diaspora  began to move to Kazimierz, taking over a fifth of the town's area & consequently, it was Europe's only Jewish-governed town at the time it was created, surrounded by city walls & subject only to the King's power.

The city & its Jewish population suffered terribly during WWII as its inhabitants were murdered in the Nazi death camps in nearby Bełzec, Płaszow & Oswięcim-Auschwitz and the Jewish part of Kazimierz lost its soul.

Even if its architectural frame was not destroyed by war, Kazimierz was badly damaged. But it has bounced back & is now a thriving cultural district dotted with old historical buildings, monuments & artefacts of intermingled Polish Christian & Jewish cultures, giving a special ambience to the area, making it one of the city's most attractive districts with numerous cosy art cafes, galleries & antique shops along paved streets. 

Kazimierz vibrates with cultural life. Due to the efforts of both the city authorities & a group of aficionados, every year in June/July, Kazimierz hosts one of the world's finest festivals - Festival of Jewish Culture attracting hundreds of performers & thousands of spectators from all over the world.

During the festival days Kazimierz  turns into a magical place when the labyrinth of the narrow streets resound with many tongues, the courtyards are filled with Klezmer music & singing & dancing crowds enjoying open-air concerts .

Start at the Judaica Foundation Center for Jewish Culture, a fine example of the regeneration that took place in Kazimierz after the fall of Communism.

Designed & built in the 1880s, it was used as a prayer house by the B'Nei Emuna Prayer & Benevolent society and continued to be used for religious purposes up until the outbreak of World War II. During the war & afterwards, it was used for business purposes, first as a carpentry workshop & then a warehouse. The building has a cafe (a rooftop terrace that's open during the summer) & an antique shop which sells books, ceramics & lots more besides!

Renovated in 1980, the Center’s activities are wide & varied, from exhibitions, study programmes, conferences & seminars, to concerts & showings of documentaries & films. The main aim of the centre is  to preserve the Jewish heritage in the area, perpetuate the memory of the centuries-long presence of the Jews in Poland, living side by side with Poles, to disseminate knowledge of the history & culture of Polish Jews among young people & to create a platform for Polish-Jewish dialogue.

Walk down Kazimierz’s narrow streets, have a look at the Synagogues & Jewish cemeteries & sit down in stylish cafe terraces. The quarter is still in the renovation phase, but has already become a serious competitor for Krakow’s Market Square & adjoining areas.

There are a number of restored Synagogues in the district but 16^th century Remuh Synagogue is the only one still used for worship today. The original was founded in 1553 but was destroyed by fire & reconstructed in 1557. The building's current architecture can be traced back to 1829 when latest restoration work was undertaken.

The smallest Synagogue in Kazimierz it has an atmosphere all of its own.  A cobbled courtyard with white walls greets visitors. These walls contain stone tablets commemorating deceased Jews, some of them victims of the Holocaust.

During the Nazi occupation, the Remuh's interior was decimated, ceremonial objects were robbed & furnishings destroyed but was restored in 1957 to its pre-war appearance. Despite the damage caused during the war, some original elements remain, for instance, a 16^th century Collection Box by the door to the prayer room. The Aron-Kodesh, in which the Torah is stored, is also an original feature dating back to 1558.

The adjoining Rema Cemetery, where many great rabbinical leaders of Polish Jewry - well-known Krakow rabbis, scholars & outstanding community seniors -.are buried, was founded at around the same time as the Synagogue & is one of the oldest in Poland.  It is a place of pilgrimage, considered a historical treasure & was used for burials up until 1800.

It still retains a huge significance for many Jews across the world who come to worship at the grave of Rabbi Moses Isserles, who was regarded as a great author & scholar. Perhaps his most notable piece of work being the Mappa - the Tablecloth, a religious legal work which focuses on Ashkenazic customs.

The Cemetery was destroyed during the Second World War. Remarkably, one of the few gravestones to survive was that of Rabbi Moses.  Some Jews take this as a sign of his holiness & power and many pilgrims leave notes on the Rabbi's grave asking him to intercede on their behalf with God. 

In 1959, the Cemetery was renovated in the present form. Many of the tombstones are no longer in their original place having been dug out of the ground during the renovation.  Small fragments from tombstones that were too small to be used again were used to create what is now known as Krakow's Wailing Wall.

The Tour concludes & you are transferred back to the hotel.

Evening, meet a Journeys Rep & proceed for dinner accompanied by concert of Klezmer music in typical Jewish restaurant.  

Come back to the hotel.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 09.00 am & proceed for a 4 hour sombre tour of Auschwitz.

UNESCO World Heritage listed Auschwitz & Birkenau Concentration Camp became the symbol of Holocaust & the “centre of the world’s conscience”.

Poland was the site of several Nazi Concentration Camps & Auschwitz-Birkenau established in April 1940 on the outskirts of Oswiecim, was the most notorious due to its enormous size & the number of prisoners who met their unfortunate end there. The first transports came in June of the same year.

In 1942-1945, approx. 1.5 million people lived & died here in gas chambers, crematories & as a result of the horrendous & inhuman conditions. Most of them (90%) were Jews, others were Poles, Gypsies, Russians & prisoners from 28 nationalities of Europe and a myriad of political & religious persuasions.

Block no. 11, known as the Death Block, was where people were murdered & also at the “Wall of Death”. Outside the Camp, there is a Crematoria & Gas Chamber, where an estimated 70,000 people were killed in 1940-1943. Since 1944, transports of prisoners from all over the continent entered directly through the “Gate of Death”.

The main extermination center & the world’s largest Cemetery, Birkenau, was built in the suburbs of Oswiecim in 1942. Some barracks & ruins can be seen there today.

Today it is the site of Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum & Memorial where visitors can learn about the things that transpired there during its years of operation. Heads of state on official visits to Poland & visitors come here to pay homage to the victims of Nazi genocide. Visitors can see displays & exhibits related to daily life in the Camp & pay their respects. It is an educational & emotional experience that serves as an important reminder that hatred cannot be allowed to proliferate.

After entering the site through the Camp Gate with the inscription “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work Makes Free), the visitors tour prison blocks in which an exhibition of the Auschwitz- Birkenau State Museum was arranged. The display contains evidence of the genocide, including personal items taken from the victims as well as photographs and documents. A film made after the liberation of the Camp is shown in various language version in the Museum.

The sombre tour ends & you are transferred back to the hotel.

Balance of the day is free for independent exploration. Or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Alas, the experience comes to an end & it is time to say good-bye to the warm Polish hospitality & heritage and go home.

Check-out of the hotel by 11: 00 am (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the usage of the facilities & to leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

You say: ‘Europe’, you think: ‘Poland’. Still Europe’s secret, a hidden treasure on the touristic map with beautiful clean cities. It is where East meets West, North meets South – literally & lyrically. It is where you can see influences of different cultures intertwine.

Because over 1000 years of history give you over 1000 reasons to come. Because every brick of old Castle walls has a fascinating story to tell. Because of the well-preserved nature & picturesque landscapes. Because of the tasty food & friendly people. Because a visit to Poland will give you a more profound understanding of the history of Europe. Not to forget the 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites out of more than a thousand historical remnants.

Enough reasons, we are sure, that will entice you to come back to Polska.

“When you leave Poland, as the plane lifts, you feel that more than leaving a country you are leaving a state of mind. Whatever awaits you at the other end of your journey will be of a different order of existence”  – Anonymous

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? -Krakow John Paul II International Airport, for your onward journey.  B

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