A province in southeastern Poland, encompassing Krakow, Zakopane, and a range of national parks to explore, Lesser Poland Voivodeship is a region you’ll definitely want to add to your travel list.
Known for its historical landmarks, wooden churches and mountainous landscape, the province has Kraków at its heart, which is home to a medieval-era old town overlooked by Wawel Royal Castle, a sprawling Gothic palace with an art museum. It is also the perfect centre from which you can explore the whole region. Here are some of the best destinations to consider when you are next headed to this area.
Krakow
The city’s Old Town is centred by the main square (Rynek Glowny) – Europe’s largest medieval town square. Image credit: bloodua/Bigstock.com
Starting with the beating heart of the region, the popular city of Krakow, the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts an exciting range of sights to see, so starting your travels here makes perfect sense. Head to the historic Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, where you’ll find lively bars, cafés and shops alongside the Galicia Jewish Museum, which celebrates local Jewish culture and the 16th-century Old Synagogue.
One of the city’s highlights is the aforementioned Wawel Castle, the walls of which have many stories to tell and consists of the Crown Treasury and Armoury, Lost Wawel, Royal Private Apartments, State Rooms, and the Exhibition of Oriental Art. The city’s Old Town is centred by the main square (Rynek Glowny) – Europe’s largest medieval town square – and holds the Cloth Hall and St Mary’s Basilica, both of which are well worth a visit.
Auschwitz and the medieval salt mines
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is located just outside of Krakow and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring stunning underground chapels and sculptures. Image credit: kruwt/Bigstock.com
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum is sometimes referred to as a must-see eye-opener and is indeed a significant site for reflection and educational purposes. The former Nazi concentration camp is located approximately 60 kilometres west from Krakow. The guided tour is two hours long and you’ll see places and objects preserved at the Museum, which really make the experience unforgettable.
During the same day, you will be able to travel even further back in time if you take the combined Auschwitz and Salt Mine tour – two of the most notable attractions in the region. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is located just outside of Krakow and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring stunning underground chapels and sculptures carved from salt. Guided tours will take you through its fascinating tunnels, exploring mining traditions that go deep into the medieval period.
National parks in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship
You can enjoy rafting on the Dunajec River with a real góral (a Polish highlander) onboard and, from the raft, you will be able to admire the scenery. Image credit: lenaivanova/Bigstock.com
There are also excursions available, which allow visitors to explore pure Polish nature at its finest. At the Pieniny National Park, you can enjoy rafting on the Dunajec River with a real góral (a Polish highlander) onboard and, from the raft, you will be able to admire the scenery of a mighty canyon. The park also offers hiking trails and stunning viewpoints, without the necessity of trekking equipment, making it perfect even for kids.
Ojcowski National Park is worth visiting, too. It’s much closer to Krakow, but still offers beautiful limestone cliffs to marvel at and it has a castle of its own, which is open to visitors. According to some, the best time to visit this location is autumn due to magnificent foliage colours, whereas the Pieniny National Park is more suitable in the summer, especially if you’re interested in the rafting experience.
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains attract skiers, hikers and cyclists to its snowy mountains and wooded hills. Image credit: ature78/Bigstock.com
If you’re a big fan of the outdoors, then continue your journey south to the Carpathian Mountains, which attract skiers, hikers and cyclists to its snowy mountains and wooded hills. Resting on the border with Slovakia and Ukraine, the most notable destination here is Zakopane, an Alpine resort sitting at the foot of the Tatra mountains. An artists’ colony in the early 20th century, visitors should head to the high street to check out the restaurants, bars and souvenir shops, while the Museum of Zakopane Style and the Old Church and Cemetery are worth a visit.
Be sure to make your way to Morskie Oko, an emerald green mountain lake and walk the trail to marvel at its natural beauty. More enthralling views can be found at the Mt Kasprowy Wierch summit – take a cable car from Kuznice, climb to the top and admire the stunning vista.
Final thoughts
As you can see, there’s a lot to do in Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Krakow itself has plenty of attractions, and nearby there are some phenomenal locations to visit as well. The Auschwitz and Salt Mine tour is especially unique due to its value, both historical and cultural. All of these places are available via short excursions from Krakow, making for a perfect weekend getaway.