Kraków is one of the oldest and largest cities of Poland.
Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading scientific, cultural and artistic centres of the country. It was once the national capital and is considered by many to still be the heart of Poland, due to its history of more than a thousand years. Kraków is also a major centre of local and international tourism, with more than two million visitors annually.
The oldest parts of Kraków, united in late 18th century are:
Old Town (Stare Miasto) - the area once contained within the city walls, now encircled by a park known as Planty.
Wawel - a limestone hill south of the Old Town, the site of the Royal Castle and the cathedral.
Stradom and Kazimierz - south of Wawel; the latter was once divided into Christian and Jewish quarters.
Kleparz - north of the Old Town.
Areas added in the 19th and 20th centuries include:
Podgórze - built across the Vistula by the Austrians in the 19th century.
Nowa Huta - built east of Kraków by the Communist regime after the Second World War.