Cracovie

Kraków, the former royal capital of Poland, lies along the Vistula River in the south of the country. Its historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is arranged around the Main Market Square (Rynek Główny), one of the largest medieval squares in Europe, overlooked by the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) and St Mary's Basilica, from whose tower a trumpet call (hejnał) is played every hour. Wawel Hill houses the Royal Castle and Cathedral, once the site of Polish coronations. The Kazimierz district, the former Jewish quarter, retains its synagogues and lively streets filled with cafés and markets. Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364, ranks among the oldest in Europe. Nearby, the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial draw many visitors. Local specialities include pierogi dumplings, the pretzel-like obwarzanek krakowski and smoked oscypek cheese. The continental climate brings warm summers and cold winters, the latter suited to the Christmas markets held on the main square. Kraków serves as a convenient base for exploring the wider Małopolska region.