The Berkeley Guides:
Berkeley Guide to Europe:
Poland:
Kraków
It's fitting that Joseph Conrad spent his formative years in Kraków, a city that sits in the heart of one of the darkest moments of the 20th century: During World War II, more people died in nearby death camps than reside in Kraków today. Paradoxically, the city has remained incredibly enlightened: Warsaw may be the capital of Poland, but Kraków is the country's cultural center. Home to Eastern Europe's second-oldest university, seat of the Polish monarchy from the 11th to 15th centuries, and former diocese of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (now Pope John Paul II), Kraków has had an indisputable influence on Polish history. Thanks to a surprise maneuver by the Soviet army, Kraków escaped destruction at the hands of Nazis during World War II and still boasts an enchanting collection of Renaissance arcades, onion-shaped domes, and baroque spires, as well as the imposing Wawel Castle and Cathedral.
|
