Jewish Heritage in Cracow

Itinerary

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  Meeting of our tourguide at your hotel or at a meeting point in Kazimierz district. Sightseeing of Kazimierz district and its synagogues: Old, Remuh, Tempel, Kupa and High. Visit in Galicja Museum and a meeting with the Holocaust survivor. Lunch in Jewish restaurant and a concert of Klezmer music. Walk in the area of former Jewish Ghetto. Visit in Schindler's Factory Museum. 

  

  Old Jewish district of Kazimierz

  The Jewish people have always played an important role in the history of Krakow and Kazimierz and its Jewish population have always played an important role the history of Krakow and have had a great impact on regional economy as well as culture. Kazimierz, that is known as a district of Krakow, used to be a stand-alone city. It was granted city rights in early 14th century, not too long after Jews in the Kingdom of Poland received numerous rights, such as freedom of religion, trade and travel. Since the very beginni...

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  Old Synagogue

  The Old Synagogue is currently a branch of Kraków City’s Museum and is situated in the very heart of Kraków’s Kazimierz at 24 Szeroka Street. It is one of the oldest buildings of this type in Poland and in Europe. It was built in the second half of the 15th century. Unfortunately, during its history it has burnt a few times. Still, the most tragic period was of course the World War II when the Nazis devastated the building completely. It wasn’t rebuilt till 1956. Then it regained its Gothic-Renaissance look. Nowadays...

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  Remuh Synagogue

  Remuh Synagogue is the only active synagogue in Krakow. It is situated in the old Jewish Kraków district – Kazimierz, at 40 Szeroka Street. It is the only synagogue in the city which has regular religious services and the second oldest synagogue in Kraków. The construction of the synagogue started in 1558 in the place of a former wooden building which had burned. IThe building was rebuilt many times. Unfortunately, during World War II the synagogue was deeply devastated and its interior design was stolen. After the ...

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  Tempel Synagogue

  Tempel Synagogue is situated at 24 Miodowa Street, which is only 500 meters from the Old Synagogue at Szeroka Street. It is one of 4 synagogues in Kraków but services aren’t held hear on regular basis. The building was erected in 1860-1862 in a rectangle shape in a Mauritanian-Renaissance style. Later on the synagogue was rebuilt twice in 1883 and 1924. During World War II the Nazis devastated the building. After the war it become the synagogue again and regular services were held here up till 1968. In 1994-200 the s...

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  High Synagogue

  The High Synagogue is located in Kraków's Kazimierz, at 38 Józefa Street. It is called the High Synagogue because it is the only synagogue in Poland with a prayer room on the first floor. It was built between 1556 and 1563 and was one of the richest Jewish synagogues in the city of Kazimierz. Devastated during the Second World War, it was not renovated until the 1960s. After 2005, it started to host exhibitions devoted to the history and culture of Jews. In 2008, the building was finally regained by the Jewish Comm...

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  Kupa Synagogue

  The Kupa Synagogue is a synagogue built in the 17th century, in the Baroque style, with beautiful polychromes renovated at the beginning of the 21st century with biblical motifs and signs of the zodiac. The synagogue was erected right next to the city walls of Kazimierz. Originally, its floor was approximately 80 cm below the current level. Thanks to such a low position, it was completely hidden behind the city wall. There was a hospital for poor Jews nearby, which is why the synagogue was often called the Hospital o...

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  Schindler’s Factory

  The Schindler's factory presents an exhibition commemorating the fate of Krakow and its inhabitants during the occupation in 1939-1945. During World War II, Schindler employed Jews who were threatened with extermination. In 1944, together with his accountant, he prepared the famous "Schindler's List", on the basis of which he bought and then transported over 1,100 Jewish workers to the territory of today's Czech Republic, thus saving them from extermination. The place itself was popularized by 1993 film “Schinler’s ...

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  Meeting with the history witness

  Meeting with the Holocaust Survivor, Former Prisoners of Nazi German Concentration Camps and Righteous Among the Nations, is possible in the Galicja Museum. This will be unique history lessons. By showing the fates of real people and their experiences makes the facts and figures from textbooks closer and more real. The stories of older people who have gone through so much have a great impact on young people by changing their worldview. The meetings are translated by museum staff who are experienced in working with Wi...

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  Galicia Jewish Museum

  Galicja Jewish Museum is located in the Jewish district of Kazimierz in Kraków. The museum commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, and also introduces Jewish history and culture. Offers three permanent exhibitions: Traces of Memory (a contemporary look at the Jewish past in Poland), An unfinished memory (Jewish heritage and the holocaust in Eastern Galicja) and Ten Polish Cities — Ten Jewish Stories (history of ten Polish Jews who told about growing up in pre-war Poland, about surviving during the Holocaust and ab...

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  Themed dining: enjoy your meal with live performance of Klezmer tunes

  A themed dining is always a good choice when visiting another city. It is an amazing opportunity to experience first-hand some of the tradition and culture. And there is no better way than to have an authentic and tasty meal while enjoying a local band. An evening with live Klezmer music and Jewish cuisine will almost directly transfer you to the beginning of 20th century giving you insight into the Jewish culture of the old days. Please note that ITS-Poland works with groups only (10 participants and more).

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  Klezmer Hois

  Klezmer Hois is an absolutely unusual and climatic place. It is in the very heart of old Jewish district in Kraków – Kazimierz. It is situated in the 16th century building which up to the Second World War was one of the oldest mikveh in Kraków. It is a unique place which in its interior design and cuisine draws from pre war traditions of Jewish Kazimierz district. It is an excellent place to taste Jewish cuisine. The restaurant has three rooms, which can host an event for 130 people. Everyday at 20:00 there are klezm...

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  Ariel

  Ariel restaurant is situated in the very heart of bohemian Kazimierz District. In 200 meter radius there are 5 synagogues. Ariel is located in the old historic tenement house from inter world war period. In the interior design we will find Jewish district climate and many paintings as also in this place we can admire Kraków’s first private Judaist art gallery. It is quite a big restaurant as it has 6 rooms that can host 310 guests. The restaurant often offers live Jewish and Galicia music. There is also a possibility...

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  Ghetto Heroes Square

  Ghetto Heroes Square The Ghetto Heroes Square is one of the most significant places in the history of Krakow and Jewish communities. Formerly known as Zgody Square in Krakow’s district of Podgorze – an area that was transformed into Krakow Ghetto under Nazi rule during WWII. It was as this very square that Nazi occupants gathered Jewish people before deporting them to nearby Auschwitz and Plaszow concentration camps. With its redesign in 2005 a living monument of 70 larger-than-life chairs was set up on the square to...

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