Do you already have your ticket for Krakow? A destination that, without a doubt, keeps many secret corners to discover.

With more than a thousand years of history and declared a World Heritage Site in 1978, Krakow is the second-most populous city in Poland, located on the banks of the Vistula River.

To get to know this place full of history, it is essential to visit the Jewish quarter of Krakow, an emblematic route that will take you to discover a city anchored in time, full of memories and legends.

History of the Kazimierz neighbourhood

Let's start by calling things by their name. The Krakow Jewish Quarter is popularly known as the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, and today, it is the historical centre of the city.

Kazimierz became the cultural and spiritual centre of all the Jewish inhabitants of Poland, consolidating itself as one of the largest in Europe, since it began to receive Jews from all over the continent.

The visit to the Jewish quarter of Krakow that you cannot miss

After this brief historical introduction to the Kazimierz neighbourhood, we are going to dig into what to see in the Jewish quarter of Krakow, a mandatory route on your visit to the city.

Wolnica Square

The start of the route through the Kazimierz neighbourhood takes place in Wolnica Square, the market square of the old town of Kazimierz, which anecdotally represents the Christian part of this Jewish neighbourhood.

The Basilica of Corpus Christi

If we move north from Wolnica Square, we will come across the Corpus Christi Basilica, the most prestigious former parish church in Kazimierz.

With an attractive mix of Gothic and Baroque architecture, this temple houses the largest organ in the city, although one of the most outstanding elements is the boat-shaped pulpit held by sirens.

The Nowy Square

The next stop on our route through the Jewish quarter of Krakow is Nowy Square, the illustrious square in the historic centre of the city where you can enjoy a zapiekanka.

Isaac's Synagogue

Following the Nazi occupation and World War II, seven major synagogues survived, including Isaac's, the largest in the city.

It is worth mentioning as a curiosity that when this synagogue was built, the ground level was lowered so that it would not appear higher than the Corpus Christi basilica.

Remuh Synagogue and Cemetery

The Remuh Synagogue pleasantly surprises tourists as it is the smallest in the city. Together with the cemetery, both become one of the most interesting visits to the Jewish quarter of Krakow.

Szeroka street

The center of the Jewish soul of Kazimierz is Szeroka Street, where four of the seven synagogues in Krakow's Jewish quarter are located: Remuh Synagogue, Popper Synagogue, High Synagogue, and Old Synagogue.

In this square, you can also see a monument to the victims of the Holocaust and the statue of Jan Karski.

 

Strolling through the Jewish quarter of Krakow is the best way to get to know the secret corners that this historic place awaits. An opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the Jewish population in a city rich in memories.