Krakow, a place worth a visit

By Stephan Ladics, 5BHEL 2023/24

Krakow is a city with a very interesting history full of culture and tradition. Before Warsaw was announced as the capital of Poland, Krakow was the residence of the Polish king. Today it is likely the most well-known city in Poland.

The history of Krakow

Krakow has been the capital of Poland since the founding of the country. Since then the king had been residing in a castle called Wawel. It is located on the riverbank of the river Weichsel. The city also has a painful and tragic history regarding the Nazi occupation. In the Second World War Poland was a victim of the Nazi regime. After occupying the territory the camps in Auschwitz-Birkenau were constructed. If you manage to travel to Krakow, it is worth visiting the memorial. It is also highly recommended to visit Schindler's Factory to experience the life of the Jewish community during World War II.

My personal experience

Since I was born I have lived in a wealthy city called Vienna. Here we have high environmental standards. But you can't compare the cleanliness of the two cities. Krakau is the cleanest town I have ever been to. There is no waste littering the public space. Furthermore the traffic works perfectly, even without traffic lights, as all drivers seem to be highly disciplined.

Traditional food

Poland is also very famous for its traditional cooking, especially pierogi, Polish filled dumplings, or oscypek, a traditional goat cheese. In comparison to Austria the prices seem to be lower, but you can still taste exceptional food.

In conclusion I can only say that a visit to Krakau is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can learn very much about the history of the country and have great meals. So convince your head teacher or history teacher and your classmates to travel to Krakow - you are going to have a great time!