Krakow is the second largest city in Poland with a population reaching one million, which includes the nearly 200,000 students studying at Krakow’s universities. As a former capital of Poland (until 1609), Krakow used to be the seat of the Polish royal families who resided at Wawel Castle. The city is regarded as the cultural capital of Poland and a place of the most treasured national heritage.
Krakow and the surrounding area boast seven UNESCO Heritage Sites, among them The Historic Old Town with its Medieval and Renaissance Market Square, The Sukiennice building, a former Town Hall, St Mary’s and St Adalbert’s, the smallest of Krakow’s churches. Within a walking distance is the magnificent Wawel Castle with its Renaissance courtyard and cathedral housing the tombs of Polish kings and queens and one female king. The oldest buildings of the Jagiellonian University, the oldest university in Poland, founded in 1364, are located in Krakow’s Old Town (see Social Programme). If you can spare the weekend after the conference, other must-see places include the stunning 13th-century Wieliczka Salt Mines and Kazimierz Jewish Quarter.
Krakow’s Old Town and Kazimierz Jewish Quarter are unique in that they remain the two hearts of the city, traditional evening-out venues for the locals, which are generously shared with the 12 million tourists that visit the city each year.
Come and enjoy the medieval bugle call played (by a real person) from one of St Mary’s towers every hour on the hour to the four corners of the world. Come and meet the Wawel Dragon that breathes real fire in front of its cave under the castle. Come, hear the many legends of Krakow and enjoy its unique ambiance.