14/08/2006

Small town founded in the 14th century by Polish king Kazimierz Wielki has only recently become a major tourist attraction. Nowadays it is fashionable to visit Kazimierz, it might be just for a weekend break, but it is a must, especially if you stay in Warsaw. For years this picturesque town has attracted all different kinds of artistic souls: poets, writers, painters, sculpturers, musicians who still live and work there, taking nearly no notice of the wondering aroung tourists.

The ruins of a gothic castle and the tower dominate over the town. From the top of the tower there is a magnificent view over the Vistula river, surrounding grounds and the town itself. Kazimierz in the past, back in 16th and 17th century, was a thriving commertial centre, where grain and salt were shipped to Gdansk, but after wars and epidemic of cholera in 1708 it has never reestablished its position in trade.
In the 19th century it became a turist spot, but disasters of WWI and WWII changed the face of the town. Nearly whole Jewish community which formed over half of the town population was killed in Nazi death camps. But the town's architecture, narrow streets, beautiful Renaissance houses, the gothic ruins and the very special atmosphere remained.

The best thing is to start sightseeing Kazimierz Dolny from Rynek / the Market Square, surrounded by houses, with two especially worth mentioning: the Houses of Przybyla Brothers, dating from 17th century. Both Renaissance houses are decorated with bas-relief figures of the owners' patron saints, St Christopher and St Nicolas. An old wooden well is the most popular view and is on most of the postcards one can buy in small turist shops situated around the market. When taking walk around the Market Square it is worth to visit at least some of the galleries and antique shops and to have a meal in one of the small restaurants.
Zamkowa street leads to Parish Church of Saints John the Baptist and Bartolomew. The church incorporates walls of an earlier  Gothic church. The interior has stuccowork decoration in the vaulting and early Baroque style. Further up the hill, on the left there is an old cemetery and a bit higher - the remainings of the castle. A few steps and there is the watchtower. After you took a good look fron the tower, the next stop should be the Three Crosses' Mountain. The crosses were founded to commemorate the victims of the plague. 
More on the outskirts is situated the Natural History Museum on the Pulawy road, which occupies the old granary building. Only a few of them remained from the total number of nearly 50. Another one was converted into hotel - Hotel Spichlerz, on Krakowska street.

There are more and more places to stay in Kazimierz Dolny, depending on the budget. These are only some to start with:
Youth Hostel Pod Wianuszkami on Pulawska 80
Youth Hostel Straznica on Senatorska 25,
Domek Goralski on Krakowska 47, all offering more than reasonable prices.
For those prepared to spend a bit more:
Hotel Spichlerz Krakowska 59/61
Hotel Dwa Ksiezyce on Sadowa 15
The easiest way to get to Kazimierz is to take a bus from Warsaw, which takes around 3,5 hour or from Lublin, which takes around 2 hours. Another option is to take a bus 12 to Pulawy and change for the train.
For more information, contact us.

Justyna Zielinska