UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Poland

Posted in Italy on 29. Nov, 2010

Set at the crossroads of major powers from north, south, east and west, Poland has been ruled by many countries, from Germany to Russia to Prussia to Austria.  As a result, Poland boasts a diverse cultural history, which is, at its heart, distinctly Polish. This cultural history can be experienced at each of the country’s 13 World Heritage Sites. Here are five:

Kraków’s Historical Centre

poland krakow

The first city centre to be designated in its entirety a World Heritage Site back in 1978, Kraków Old Town was the political center of Poland until King Sigismund III Vasa moved his court to Warsaw in 1596. “Stare Miasto” in Polish, the Old Town still follows the architectural plan dating from the Tatar invasions of 1259. The Rynek Główny (Main Square) is the largest medieval town square in European, and you will never forget the experience of visiting such historical treasures as St. Mary’s Basilica), the Church of St. Wojciech and the Church of St. Barbara. You can also marvel at the kamienice (row houses) and noble residences surrounding the square. The square’s Sukiennice (Renaissance Cloth Hall) houses merchant stalls, restaurants and National Gallery of Art, and the Wieża Ratuszowa (Town Hall Tower) next store is truly magnificent. To extend your experience, you can stay in one of the many Kraków hotels located in and around the Stare Miasto.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp

poland auschwitz

In addition to preserving mankind’s highest cultural peaks, World Heritage Sites can also ensure that we never forget history’s lowest valleys. Seventy kilometres from Kraków is the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp, now a memorial and museum.  The death-site of well over a million people, 90% of them Jewish, the museum allows you inside the barracks and gas chambers and offers exhibits including piles of shoes and a 30 metre-long display case filled with hair shorn from the victims. The gallows where camp commandant Rudolf Höss was executed on April 16, 1947 are also on display. As the ashes of the victims were scattered between the huts of the camp, the entire area is regarded as a gravesite. There are also many memorial plaques to be found in many languages, including Romani, in honor of the large number who perished here as well.

Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica

Poland peacechurch

On a lighter note, the charming villages of Jawor and Świdnica in Silesia boast the charming Kościoły Pokoju (Churches of Peace) that date back to the 17th century. Named for the 1648 Peace of Westphalia of 1648 which permitted the Lutherans to build three Evangelical churches, these are some of the oldest Protestant churches in the country. Because the construction time was limited to just a year, the simple structures are made from wood, loam and straw. The architectural innovations necessary to finish the job resulted in the churches becoming the largest timber-framed religious buildings in Europe. Two of the three churches are still standing, and inside you’ll find 200 beautiful paintings done by Georg Flegel in 1671–1681. Martin Schneider’s Altar dates to 1672, and the original organ of 1664 was replaced in 1856 by Adolf Alexander Lummert. The charming countryside Hotel pod Wierzba makes a great homebase from which to visit the churches.

Centennial Hall in Wrocław

Poland centenial

Fifty-two kilometres and several centuries from the churches is Wrocław’s Centennial Hall. Going by Hala Stulecia in Polish and Jahrhunderthalle in German, this pioneering architectural masterpiece was designed by Max Berg and constructed in 1913, when Wrocław was part of the German Empire. Celebrating the 1813 defeat of Napoleon in the Battle of Leipzig, the building’s 69 metre-diametre cupola made of reinforced concrete made it the biggest building of its kind at the time. Currently used as a congress centre, Centennial Hall is surrounded by many other attractions. Just outside is the Pergola featuring Wrocław Fountain, the Japanese Garden and the Wrocław Zoo. Many Wrocław hotels can put you close to the hall and the surrounding gardens.

Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork

Poland Malbork

A Polish landmark that is distinctly German, the majestic Malbork Castle was founded in 1274 by the Teutonic Order during its rule of Prussia. See, the knights had just recently been kicked out of the Holy Land, were looking for a place to re-group. Since they had a reputation as being a nasty group, the Prussians gave them land here in far-off Poland. The name Malbork comes from “Marienburg” after the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the Order. Completed in 1406, Malbork Castle was the world’s largest Gothic castle made of brick. The views of the River Nogat are phenomenal, and the history awaiting you inside is wonderful. The museum holds special events, and the castle is an easy 60 kilometre train ride from Gdansk. You can stay in Gdansk or find yourself a convenient Malbork hotel and linger in the town itself.

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Exploring Jewish Eastern Europe

Posted in Italy on 20. Jul, 2010

With over 2,000 years in Europe and 1,000 years in Eastern Europe, the Jewish people have left a rich cultural imprint on the continent. From architecture to art, from theatre to music, from brisket to bagels, western society has truly been touched by their presence. And though Eastern Europe’s Jewish population is just a fraction of its pre-World War II levels, there is still much to see on your visit through the region.

Prague

Boasting one of Eastern Europe’s oldest Jewish communities, Prague’s Jewish history is nothing short of magical. It was here after all, in the attic of the Old New Synagogue that Rabbi Leow breathed life into the clay figure that came to be known as the Golem, in order to protect the community from persecution. You can still visit this magnificent 13th century building, the oldest existing Synagogue in Europe. You can also visit Rabbi Leow’s 1609 grave, as well as 100,000 others in the 15th century Old Jewish Cemetery. Only around 12,000 tombstones are visible, as the cemetery contains many layers of graves, compiled over the centuries.

The Jewish cemetery in Prague

The Jewish Museum supervises the cemetery, the Old Ceremonial Hall and the Pinkas Synagogue, the walls of which are covered with the names of 77,297 Jewish Holocaust victims. Be sure also to visit the art exhibitions in the beautiful Baroque Klausen Synagogue, the Maisel Synagogue with its famous collection of silverware and the beautiful 1868 Spanish Synagogue. Most Jewish attractions are found in the old Jewish Quarter, known as the Josefov, and there are many Prague hotels that can put you close to these places.

Krakow

The Jewish Quarter of Krakow was named Kazimierz after the King who established it in the 13th century as a safe haven for the Jews. For 700 years, until its destruction during the Holocaust, this was one of Europe’s most vibrant Jewish centres, producing music, literature and some important religious scholars. Though the community is now gone (only 200 Krakow citizens identify themselves as members of the Jewish community), many of the Synagogues and cultural sites remain and are well worth a visit.

Now is a great time to visit the city, as its, hip young residents are bringing in a new wave of Jewish culture, with Klezmer bands playing alongside such western music as blues, jazz and rock-n-roll. Kroke and the Cracow Klezmer Band are quite popular, and there are also dozens of restaurants offering Jewish cuisine. The Jewish community is also attempting a comeback, with 2005 seeing the first full-time Krakow rabbi since before the war.

The best way to experience the Jewish Quarter is to spend the night in a Kazimierz hotel. Some historical sites to visit include the 1553 Remuh Synagogue and its ancient cemetery, the Temple Synagogue, which is still in use as a house of worship, the 1664 Izaak Synagogue, which holds events like movie screenings and many smaller prayer houses. There’s also the Galicja Jewish Museum which has a bookstore and coffee shop. The Museum also arranges coach trips to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, 65 kilometres from the city, where you can view the infamous death camp where many met their end.

Budapest

After witnessing the darkest hour of European Jewry, a trip to Budapest allows you to visit the site of one of its most hopeful moments; the spot where the European Jews’ wish of “Next year in Jerusalem” moved towards becoming a reality. Here you’ll find the birthplace of Theodor Herzl, the founder of the modern Zionism which led to the creation of Israel. Though his house is long gone, Budapest’s Jewish Museum now stands in its place, whose vast collection includes a Jewish tombstone from the 3rd century.

Budapest's beautiful Dohány Street Synagogue

Budapest's beautiful Dohány Street Synagogue

Towering over the museum is the awesome Moorish-styled 19th century Dohány Street Synagogue, which, at 75 x 27 metres is the second largest Synagogue in the world. Be sure to also pay a visit to the 15th century Medieval Synagogue, whose remains, including many beautiful frescoes, were discovered in the 1960s and have since been restored. There’s also a large Jewish cemetery, as well as a memorial to Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved many Jews from the Nazis. Contemporary Jewish life can also be found in Budapest, in the form of kosher restaurants, a kosher wine seller and several Jewish schools. Two hotels right across the street from the Dohany St. Synagogue and the Jewish Museum are the Budapest Karoly Central Guesthouse and the Amigo Panorama Guesthouse.

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