Cracow, the former capital of Poland, was established at the junction of trade routes. Cracow in named after a tribal ruler called Krakus. According to its legend, Krakus established a fortified castle on the left bank of the Vistula River.
In 1241 Cracow was destroyed after the Tatars invasion. During the reconstruction a chessboard arrangements of the streets and the main market was traced out. The main market is the largest existing medieval square in Europe.
Nowadays, together with Warsaw, Cracow is considered to be a very popular tourist destination for visitors keen on history, art and culture. This marvelous town and its people are happy to host guests from all around the world.
Cracow is often host to international seminars and conferences. As an example of its importance we should mention that in the year 2000 Cracow was "The Cultural Capital of Europe".
Moreover it is an excellent place to start different excursions to places of interest located nearby. Among them there are venues that are very known, like Wieliczka Salt Mine, the former concentration camp in Auschwitz - Birkenau, raft down Dunajec gorge, the highest Polish mountains south of Zokopane, Pieskowa Skala castle or John Paul II Museum in his place of birth in Wadowice.