Kraków, Historical capital in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
Kraków is a historic capital in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in the south of the country, set among hills near the Slovak border. The city spreads along the Vistula riverbank, while Wawel Castle rises above the medieval lanes of the Old Town.
The city served as Poland's political center from 1038 to 1596 and hosted the coronation of kings in the cathedral during that time. After losing its capital status, it remained an academic and religious center for the country.
Street musicians and students fill the Old Town around Rynek Główny, where cafés and food stalls serve regional specialties throughout the day. A trumpeter plays a signal from the tower of St. Mary's Basilica each morning at the same time, a tradition locals and travelers alike have come to expect.
The central square offers direct access to museums, churches, restaurants, and the Cloth Hall, where regional crafts are sold. The Old Town is mostly reserved for pedestrians, while public transport connects the outer districts.
The underground museum beneath the square displays archaeological finds through glass floors that reveal medieval structures of the original settlement. Nearby, a corridor between two buildings connects the Old Town with the former Jewish district of Kazimierz.
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