The city has grown from a Stone Age settlement to Poland’s second most important city. It began as a hamlet on Wawel Hill and was already being reported as a busy trading centre of Slavonic Europe in 965. With the establishment of new universities and cultural venues at the emergence of the Second Polish Republic in 1918 and throughout the 20th century, Kraków reaffirmed its role as a major national academic and artistic centre. The city has a population of approximately 760,000, with approximately 8 million additional people living within a 100 km (62 mi) radius of its main square.

After the invasion of Poland by the Nazi Regime at the start of World War II, the newly defined Distrikt Krakau (Kraków District) became the capital of Germany’s General Government. The Jewish population of the city was forced into a walled zone known as the Kraków Ghetto, from which they were sent to German extermination camps such as the nearby Auschwitz never to return, and the Nazi concentration camps like Płaszów.

In 1978, Karol Wojtyła, archbishop of Kraków, was elevated to the papacy as Pope John Paul II — the first Slavic pope ever, and the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Also that year, UNESCO approved the first ever sites for its new World Heritage List, including the entire Old Town in inscribing Kraków’s Historic Centre. Kraków is classified as a global city with the ranking of high sufficiency by GaWC. Its extensive cultural heritage across the epochs of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture includes the Wawel Cathedral and the Royal Castle on the banks of the Vistula, the St. Mary’s Basilica, Saints Peter and Paul Church and the largest medieval market square in Europe, the Rynek Główny. Kraków is home to Jagiellonian University, one of the oldest universities in the world and traditionally Poland’s most reputable institution of higher learning.

In 2000, Kraków was named European Capital of Culture. In 2013 Kraków was officially approved as a UNESCO City of Literature. The city hosted the World Youth Day in July 2016.

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krak%C3%B3w

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Wrocław is the historical capital of Silesia and Lower Silesia. Today, it is the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. The history of the city dates back over a thousand years, and its extensive heritage combines almost all religions and cultures of Europe. At various times, it has been part of the Kingdom of Poland, Kingdom of Bohemia, Kingdom of Hungary, Habsburg Monarchy, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Wrocław became part of Poland again in 1945, as a result of the border changes after the Second World War, which included a nearly complete exchange of population.

Wrocław is a university city with a student population of over 130,000, making it one of the most youthful cities in the country.Since the beginning of the 20th century, the University of Wrocław, previously Breslau University, produced 9 Nobel Prize laureates and is renowned for its high quality of teaching.

Wrocław is classified as a Gamma- global city by GaWC. It was placed among the top 100 cities in the world for the quality of life by the consulting company Mercer.

The city hosted the Eucharistic Congress in 1997 and the Euro 2012 football championships. In 2016, the city was a European Capital of Culture and the World Book Capital. Also in this year, Wrocław hosted the Theatre Olympics, World Bridge Games and the European Film Awards. In 2017, the city was the host of the IFLA Annual Conference and the World Games.

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wroc%C5%82aw

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For its long-standing pottery-making tradition, Bolesławiec is celebrated as Miasto Ceramiki or “Town of Ceramics”.

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boles%C5%82awiec

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Here you will find long list of attractions in Szklarska Poręba:

http://www.szklarskaporeba.pl/en/szklarska/attractions-and-monuments.html

The highest-located part of Szklarska Poręba is Jakuszyce which is paradise for ski lovers. More info : Ski & Snowboard

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…and:

• Lutheran parish Wang, http://www.wang.com.pl/en.php
• Śnieżka – mountain on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland, the most prominent point of the Silesian Ridge in the Karkonosze Mountains-1603 metres,

Karpacz is an ideal starting point for visiting tourist attractions in the surrounding areas. The town lies almost at the heart of the region that is why nearly the same distances separate it from attractions located in western and eastern part of the Giant Mountains. It is not far to Jelenia Góra and Jelenia Góra Valley (Kotlina Jeleniogórska) where a picturesque route called the Valley of Palaces and Gardens goes. There are so many attractions and everyone can find something for themselves. Some of visitors will probably come back, because one trip is not enough!

Ściegny (3 km)

Western City

Wild West at the foot of Śnieżka mountain- dive into the world of sheriffs, gunslingers and gold prospectors. You may shoot an Indian bow, throw a knife at the target or compete in climbing to the Pile of Torment (Pal Męczarni), which stands proudly in the middle of the city. You may watch gunslingers’ duels and a bank robbery twice a day.

www.western.com.pl

Kowary (8 km)

Lower Silesia Monuments Miniature Park

Lower Silesia in a nutshell – miniatures of the most interesting and most precious monuments imitated in the scale 1:25. Models of palaces, monasteries, churches and Old Towns of urban area of Lower Silesia are presented in their natural surroundings, among flowers and greenery.

http://www.park-miniatur.com/en/

The Underground Tourist Routes „Kowary Adits”(Sztolnie Kowary)

A mysterious and magical path 1200 m long which includes pavements, chambers and caves inside the Sulica mountain. An underground exhibition of tools connected with exploration of precious stones, iron ore and uranium.

http://www.jeleniastruga.pl/en/sztolnie/about-us

Executioner’s House (Dom Kata)

Come and learn more on the dark side of history. Here you may see how various torture equipment was used and you may even play the role of a person who maintained law and evoked fear and terror at the same time!
www.domkata.com

Mysłakowice (8 km)

Miniature Park – Buildings of the World

Miniatures of the most famous buildings from five continents. You can see here existing buildings and those which were destroyed or only their ruins remained. Models are made in 1:25; 1:50; 1:100 scales.

www.budowleswiata.com

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It’s a city in Lower Silesia, south-western Poland. Jelenia Góra is located within the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, close to the Krkonoše mountain range running along the Polish-Czech border – ski resorts such as Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba are situated 10 to 15 kilometres (6 to 9 miles) from the town. The city constitutes a separate urban gmina and city county, as well as being the seat of surrounding Jelenia Góra County. In 2009 the population of Jelenia Góra was 84,564. The area, including the oldest spa district of Cieplice, is one of the most valued recreational and leisure spots in Poland.

It’s my town: http://visitpoland.eu/my-town/

The town’s history dates back to as early as the 10th century, but the settlement was granted town rights under Polish rule in 1288.[2] Jelenia Góra was founded on important trade routes linking the Holy Roman Empire and Bohemia with Eastern Europe.[3] The region flourished as a result of trade privileges that became the basis for the establishment of weaving and mining industries during the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance periods.[3] In 1392, the town was incorporated into Bohemia and subsequently into the Habsburg Empire. Jelenia Góra witnessed many historical conflicts such as the Thirty Years’ War and the decisive Silesian Wars for which it was ceded to Prussia. During World War II, the town miraculously survived from destruction and was handed over to Poland following the Potsdam Agreement in 1945.

The central suburb of Jelenia Góra possesses many historical and architectural structures of great significance, including the 17th-century Town Hall, baroque churches and a restored central marketplace as well as parks and gardens. The name of the town translates to Deer Mountain in Polish and the original German name due to its geographical and topographical location.[4] The nearby Karkonosze National Park, visited by over 1.5 million tourists annually, has its headquarters in Jelenia Góra.

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelenia_G%C3%B3ra

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