Kraków could not all the time high the record of Europe’s most well-known cities, however it’s a hidden gem awaiting discovery. With its exceptional Renaissance structure, charming outlets, and pleasant eating choices, the town entices a various array of vacationers.

Editor’s be aware: This text is a part of our sequence on journey guides to your favourite locations. Try our Vienna, Berlin, Budapest, Toronto and Milan guides, and look out for guides to different cities coming quickly.

Amongst these are a big variety of Jewish guests, drawn by Kraków’s wealthy and sophisticated Jewish historical past. This historical past spans from the primary recorded Jewish presence within the thirteenth century to the devastating affect of the Holocaust and the revival of Jewish tradition and life within the metropolis at this time.

Whether or not you’ve gotten every week or only a few hours to discover the town’s Jewish previous and current, we’ve received you coated for what to see, the place to go, and (as a result of no good Jewish journey could be full with out it) the place to nosh.

What to see

Remah Synagogue and Cemetery 

Positioned within the coronary heart of Kazimierz (the Jewish Quarter) is the historic Remah Synagogue, one in every of two energetic synagogues within the metropolis at this time. You may attend providers there, which happen every Friday night.

Constructed in about 1558, the synagogue is called after Rabbi Moses Isserles, a Kraków native referred to as the Remah. Isserles is famed for writing commentaries to enhance Rabbi Joseph Karo’s Shulchan Aruch, with Ashkenazi traditions and customs. 

Adjoining to the synagogue is the Remah cemetery, which dates again to the identical period and is the resting place of Isserles and plenty of different notable Polish Jews. Yearly, on the anniversary of Isserles’ passing, Jews come from close to and much to pay their respects to the influential rabbi. 

Throughout World Conflict II, the Nazis destroyed the positioning and stole the tombstones, utilizing them as paving stones in focus camps. After the conflict, the tombstones had been returned to the cemetery and it has since undergone a number of restorations. Although it closed for burials within the nineteenth century, guests can nonetheless discover this website, one of many oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe.

The Austeria bookstore

Tucked away in a quaint alleyway off Kazimierz’s principal road, Austeria is a literary haven housed within the historic Seventeenth-century Popper Synagogue. 

As you step into this charming bookstore, you’ll encounter an enormous vintage map of Galicia — a historic area in Central and Japanese Europe, as soon as dwelling to a vibrant Jewish neighborhood.

Inside, the house is a treasure trove of Jewish and Yiddish literature, that includes an intensive assortment of historic books, poetry, and extra. You’ll additionally discover an array of Yiddish postcards, maps, jewellery, posters, and different superbly crafted Jewish artifacts.

The bookstore additionally affords a big collection of books in a number of languages together with Hebrew, Yiddish, Italian, French, German, Hungarian and English.

Podgórze District

When you enterprise past Kazimierz and cross the Vistula River, you’ll attain the Podgórze District, the positioning of the Kraków Ghetto and Oskar Schindler’s manufacturing facility throughout World Conflict II (learn extra about Schindler’s manufacturing facility under).

In March 1941, the Jewish neighborhood of Kraków was forcibly relocated to the Podgórze District, which was then sealed off to create the Kraków Ghetto. Two years later, the ghetto was brutally liquidated. Lots of its residents had been murdered inside, whereas others had been killed within the KL Płaszów focus camp, Auschwitz, and Bełżec. 

At present, this space educates guests in regards to the Polish Jewish neighborhood’s expertise in the course of the conflict and the devastating affect of the Holocaust. Visiting right here, you will notice the memorial to Jews from the Kraków Ghetto and the remnants of the unique Ghetto wall. 

Each function plaques that present a complete look into life within the Jewish ghetto, the functioning of native factories, and the harrowing occasions that transpired in the course of the two years of Nazi operation.

The New Jewish Cemetery

A brief stroll from the bustling principal road of Kazimierz, you’ll discover the New Jewish Cemetery. Established in 1801, it’s presently the one working Jewish cemetery in Kraków. 

Spanning 11 acres of land, the cemetery was severely destroyed by the Nazis throughout World Conflict II, however luckily was restored within the early twenty first century.

The cemetery is dwelling to over 7,000 graves, together with these of recognized Holocaust survivors and notable people, like well-known composer and conductor Leopold Kozłowski. 

Kozlowski, a famend Kraków native, earned the nickname “the final klezmer of Galicia” for his contributions to klezmer music. 

What to do

Galicia Jewish Museum

Positioned in Kazimierz, the Galicia Jewish Museum affords a singular and transferring exploration of Jewish historical past within the Galician area. The museum’s exhibitions delve into varied facets of Jewish life in Galicia, from pre-war traditions and neighborhood life to the affect of the Holocaust. The museum additionally focuses on Jewish renewal in modern Poland.

“The targets of the museum are to problem the stereotypes and misconceptions usually related to the Jewish previous in Poland and to coach each Poles and Jews about their very own histories, whereas encouraging them to consider the longer term,” in response to the museum web site.

The museum’s everlasting exhibitions embrace “Traces of Reminiscence,” which commemorates the 800-year Jewish presence in western Galicia and “10 Polish cities — 10 Jewish tales,” highlighting the private tales and household images of 10 Polish Jews.

Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Manufacturing facility

Oskar Schindler, the central determine within the 1993 movie “Schindler’s Listing,” was a German industrialist who saved over 1,000 Jews within the Holocaust by using them in his Kraków manufacturing facility, Emalia.

To delve deeper into the story of this Holocaust hero, go to Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Manufacturing facility, a museum situated within the Podgórze District. Housed in one in every of Schindler’s manufacturing facility buildings, the museum affords exhibitions detailing Jewish historical past, life within the Kraków Ghetto, Schindler’s life-saving efforts, and extra.

Jewish strolling tour

For a complete understanding of Kraków’s Jewish historical past, think about taking a Jewish strolling tour by the Jewish Quarter and past. These excursions are available varied codecs with each free and paid choices obtainable. 

Every tour affords distinctive insights — some guides delve into the Jewish historical past of Kraków from centuries in the past as much as the post-World Conflict II period, whereas others deal with Jewish life within the metropolis at this time.

Plac Nowy Market 

For nice meals, drinks and superb thrift procuring, go to Plac Nowy Market. Positioned within the coronary heart of Kraków’s previous Jewish quarter, this historic sq. is now the epicenter of procuring and nightlife within the metropolis.

As soon as a middle of Jewish life within the Twentieth century, the world now hosts an vintage and classic items flea market on the weekends. 

The central constructing, as soon as a kosher slaughterhouse, now sells a few of the finest open-faced sandwiches (recognized by locals as “zapiekanki”) within the metropolis. With over 300 service provider stands and a various vary of foods and drinks choices, Plac Nowy Market is a haven for foodies and customers alike.

The Jewish Tradition Pageant 

Some of the well-liked vacationer sights in Kraków is the Jewish Tradition Pageant, held each June within the historic Kazimierz district. 

Based in 1988, the pageant has sparked a revival of Jewish tradition within the metropolis by its concert events, dance performances, artwork exhibitions, workshops, and guided excursions.

When you’re visiting in the course of the 10-day pageant, you possibly can select from roughly 300 occasions and immerse your self in Jewish tradition in Kraków. The pageant is a singular alternative for these of all ages to discover the range of Jewish tradition whereas connecting with others from all over the world.

How one can spend Shabbat

If you end up in Kraków throughout Shabbat, you possibly can attend providers on the Remah Synagogue or Tempel Synagogue, each of which have wealthy historic significance within the metropolis’s Jewish life. 

The Remah Synagogue is the oldest energetic synagogue in Kraków, constructed within the mid-1500s, and hosts Friday night providers. The Tempel Synagogue was constructed within the 1860s and hosts occasional providers.

It’s also possible to attend providers and have Shabbat dinner with locals and vacationers on the JCC in Kraków. Chabad Lubawicz Kraków is one other wonderful useful resource that may provide help to discover Shabbat-friendly lodging, kosher eating places, and extra.

The place to eat

Kraków’s culinary scene extends far past the normal Polish pierogies and pink borscht. It displays the town’s various historical past, particularly within the Jewish Quarter, the place the restaurant scene, reflecting a fusion of Israeli, Polish, and Galician Jewish influences, is booming. Listed below are a few of the hottest Jewish eating places and cafés to attempt.

The kosher scene 

There are a number of nice kosher eating places in Kraków, catering to varied tastes and budgets. Within the coronary heart of Kazimierz, you’ll discover Falafel Shelanu and Hachnosat Orchim Krakow, each providing mid-range Israeli fare.

For a extra upscale and distinctive expertise, attempt Klezmer Hois, situated close to the Remah Synagogue. This former mikveh turned lodge and restaurant focuses on Japanese European Jewish fare. Their menu consists of Viennese schnitzel, duck, lamb, beetroot soup, and extra. Benefit from the stay performances of klezmer music whilst you dine.

Conventional Polish-Jewish fare 

For conventional Polish-Jewish delicacies, head to Ariel and Chajim Kohan. Positioned in a refurbished Twentieth-century constructing within the coronary heart of Kazimierz, Ariel serves as each a restaurant and artwork gallery. 

Their menu consists of traditional dishes like stuffed cabbage, matzah ball soup, and kofta, permitting you to savor the normal flavors of Polish-Jewish delicacies.

Chajim Kohan, often known as As soon as Upon A Time, is a cool gastropub, efficiency venue, and museum multi functional the place you possibly can take heed to stay music, be taught in regards to the historical past of Kazimierz, and take pleasure in traditional dishes like gefilte fish, pierogies, cholent, and borsch. 

Israeli eats

Positioned simply steps away from Ariel, Hamsa is an Israeli restaurant appropriate for vegans, vegetarians, and meat-lovers alike. Their menu contains a mix of Israeli, Moroccan, Lebanese, and North African Jewish delicacies, providing a wide range of dishes like tagine, falafel, labneh, harira, kebabs, and pastrami. 

Journey again in time and take within the ornate light frescos, classic furnishings, and Polish posters at HEVRE Bar & Restaurant.

The restaurant, as soon as a prayer home, now operates as a bar and restaurant serving Jewish-Galician delicacies and signature cocktails. Whether or not you’re there for brunch or a late-night snack, don’t miss their signature dishes like shakshuka and falafel.

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