They watched, and waited. Poland Rediscovered: Krakow, Auschwitz and Warsaw . Proud miners carved figures of great Poles out of the salt. Rate. Read more. I can't imagine how cold they must have been…wet, hungry, and dressed in rags. The big, round defensive fort standing outside the wall is a barbican. To get away from the tourists' Kraków, bike or hike around the Planty and up the park that lines the Vistula River. Hopefully they take away a determination to learn from the holocaust, and never let it be repeated. The population of the ghetto was down to about 60,000 when those who remained realized that they would die even if they did nothing. Nearby, a visit to Auschwitz teaches us a timeless, soul … Rick: Show me. 3. The grand city of Warsaw experienced more than its share of hardships in the 20th century. He granted them special banking and trading privileges, and established the long-standing tradition of Poland being a safe haven for Jews in Europe. Rate. One of Europe's most gasp-worthy public spaces, it bustles with life. At Birkenau the Nazis gassed and cremated over 4,000 people per day. On a balmy summer night, Kazimierz's main square, ulica Szeroka, is filled with the haunting strains of klezmer — traditional Jewish music from 19th-century Poland, generally with violin, string bass, clarinet, and accordion. We'll visit its historic capital, Kraków, side trip to a salt mine, and to a concentration camp, then head for Poland's modern capital, Warsaw. The mine’s enormous underground church, carved in the early 20th century, is still used for Mass. 0:55:02. ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Former cellblocks tell the story. Also: a romantic forest; sampling chocolate-cherry cake. And salt preserves everything. Written and hosted by best-selling guidebook author Rick Steves, each half-hour show takes viewers to Europe's most interesting places, from great cities to off-the-beaten-path discoveries. As we ramble through the heart of Rome, we'll admire breathtaking Bernini statues and ponder sunbeams inside St. Peter's Basilica. 9 Oct. 2004 Highlights of Paris. Rate. People were given hooks to hang their clothes on, conned into thinking they were coming back. One of the most impressive medieval woodcarvings in existence, it depicts the death of the Virgin with emotion rare in Gothic art. Travel with Rick on this video guide to Poland and find out what to do on your next trip. Crowds got you down? Na zdrowie. The city's history is rich, its sights are fascinating, and the prices are some of Europe's lowest. Several eateries on ulica Szeroka offer klezmer music, typically starting between 19:00 and 20:00. Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on December 28, 2018 December 19, 2019 by Cameron Hewitt. Local merchants then resold their wares at a profit…and the city thrived. Barcelona and Catalunya. Rate. Rick Steves TV Episodes. Back then you couldn't just sell things anywhere. Since liberation day in 1945, millions have visited this place. Get inspired with Rick Steves’ recommended places to go and things to do, with tips, photos, videos, and travel information on Poland. Hi, I'm Rick Steves, back with more of the Best of Europe. Auschwitz was the biggest and most notorious concentration camp in the Nazi system. Go 1,000 feet underground in the vast Wieliczka Salt Mine, near Kraków, to tour the inactive mine and see the statues and chapels the religious miners carved out of the black salt over the centuries. 13. Please try again. Share your comments on Rick Steves’ Europe TV shows with other travelers and with Rick! The Nazis didn't like this inefficiency, so they built a far bigger camp two miles away. The remarkable Wieliczka Salt Mine — just outside of Kraków — has been producing salt for eight centuries. Poland's two must-see cities are Warsaw and Kraków. Plaques — in each of the languages spoken by camp victims — explain the purpose of this memorial. Rick Steves' Europe. Old world charm is how I would describe it. The resilience of Poland's culture and the warmth of its people inspire me. The Old Town's many restaurants provide a good introduction to Polish cuisine…and central to that is vodka. Terms of Service | Privacy, Kraków, Poland: Countryside and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Kraków, Poland: Rich History, Vibrant Culture, Warsaw, Poland: Heroes, Memorials, and Restoration, Poland Rediscovered: Kraków, Auschwitz, and Warsaw. Kazimierz the Great turned the Cloth Hall into a permanent structure in the 14th century. When built, in the 13th century, this was the biggest square in medieval Europe. My Account. Poland Rediscovered: Krakow, Auschwitz and Warsaw | KCET. 5 days in poland. Birkenau is on a much bigger scale and mostly outdoors, with the infamous guard tower, a vast field with ruins of barracks, a few tourable rough barracks, the notorious "dividing platform," a giant monument flanked by remains of destroyed crematoria, and a prisoner processing facility called "the Sauna.". Kaisa: Ok, first of all, na zdrowie (toast). And Warsaw, decades after it was systematically destroyed during World War II, is a lively, thriving capital once again. I mean it's just like…wow! This hill is where Kazimierz the Great turned a small fortress into a mighty Gothic castle in the 14th century (only bits of its foundation remain, as the original fortress burned to the ground in 1499). Back then, parents announced that their daughters were now eligible by getting out the paint. By the 19th century, the city wall was no longer necessary. Auschwitz II, or Birkenau, was a vast factory of death holding 100,000 people. It's a member of the European Union, its economy is thriving, and it's never been more fun to visit. You’ll see legends from the days of King Kazimierz, when one-third of Poland’s income came from these precious deposits: the famous astronomer Copernicus, and even the region’s favorite son, Pope John Paul II. 7. S3, Ep6. Perhaps the best way to enjoy that is at a klezmer dinner concert. He spent his last years in Paris, where he wrote most of his greatest music. Today, this delightful and people-friendly green belt — a park called the Planty — circles Kraków's Old Town. Rick Steves Snapshot: Kraków, Warsaw & Gdańsk contains all the complete chapters on Poland, excerpted from Rick's full-length Eastern Europe guidebook — and leaves out the chapters on other Eastern European destinations. That's why I like it. Nineteenth-century houses — the few that survive — often sport colorful stripes. Kaisa: What a question! Kasia: Let's go to a very special place. You'll explore this unique gallery — learning both about the art and about medieval mining techniques — on a required tour. 6. Sigismund III — the great king who moved Poland's capital from Kraków to Warsaw in 1596 — stands overseeing everything. With Rick Steves. This exquisite Gothic polyptych — an altarpiece with pivoting panels — was carved in the late 1400s by Veit Stoss. Start a New Topic. Kazimierz was one of those larger-than-life medieval kings who left his mark on all fronts. They poured out of the sewers and caught the Nazis off-guard, initially having great success. Rick: So, vodka has long been part of Polish culture? Crutches and prosthetic limbs remind us that the first people exterminated were mentally and physically ill German citizens; children's clothing — the Nazis spared no one — and a seemingly endless mountain of shoes…it's hard to comprehend the numbers. If you don't trust me you can taste it. With its bubbly Baroque and cobbled charm, exciting Kraków is emerging as the "next Prague" — a vibrant city that's a surprise hit with many first-time visitors. Paperback $37.30 $ 37. RICK STEVES EGYPT: YESTERDAY & TODAY sails beyond Europe, exploring the historic and cultural wonders of Egypt. Thanks for joining us. More Buying Choices $1.98 (18 used & new offers) DK Eyewitness Krakow (Travel Guide) by DK Eyewitness | Feb 20, 2018. ...and experience the phoenix of Europe — Warsaw. Rick Steves' Europe Greek Islands: Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes. In the Middle Ages, this was the place where cloth-sellers had their market stalls. Wawel Cathedral is Poland's national church — its "Westminster Abbey." Though the sight is a bit overrated, it's unique and practically obligatory if you're in Kraków for at least two days. The Jewish cemeteries of Kazimierz were defiled by the Germans, bulldozed by Nazi tanks. After descending 200 feet below the surface, you follow your guide on a mile-long downhill stroll, getting a memorable peek at life in the mine. Rate. Tour Account › Travel Forum › Home / Travel Forum / Poland / 5 days in poland; Please sign in to post. But the Nazis regrouped, and brutally put down the Warsaw Uprising. Tour Account › Travel Forum › Home / Travel Forum / Poland; Please sign in to post. Poland is ready to be rediscovered as the old "east" transforms itself into the new heart of Europe. Kaisa: Do you know how to drink vodka? Join Rick as he explores the most surprising and fascinating land he's ever visited - Iran. Complete Video Script. It began as a simple, stripped-down Romanesque church in the 12th century. It's free to reserve, but spaces book up very early. Train tracks lead efficiently past the main building, into the camp, and to the dividing platform. Fixed iFrame Width: in pixels px Height: in pixels px. It provided extra protection at the town's main gate. Now what? Guide: Visitors expect salt white, but it's black, but it's salt. Episode 313: Sevilla. The crematorium is marked by its chimney. Today this city is Poland's leading tourist attraction…with plenty of top-notch sights. The Nazis turned this army base into a death camp. Season 10 Episode 1006 | 25m 2s | Video has closed captioning. The charm of today's Kraków lies in its medieval roots. All the full length Rick Steves Europe PBS Episodes that I could find. Collapse. It's Wawel, and Poland actually begins in Wawel. About a year later, the rest of the city staged another ill-fated uprising: the Warsaw Uprising. For centuries, generations of Wieliczka miners spent their daylight hours underground, rarely seeing the sun. Paperback $19.21 $ 19. Rick Steves' Europe. This monument recalls the 50,000 Polish resistance fighters — the biggest underground army in military history — who launched a surprise attack on their Nazi oppressors. Through all this, the Soviets sat here, across the river. While Poles and Jews managed to live together relatively well, the story became a nightmare with the rise of Nazism in the 1930s. So it hurts only once. 4.6 out of 5 stars 13. Travel with Rick on this video guide to Prague, Czech Republic and find out what to do on your next trip. Because it was to be "Soviet in substance and Polish in style," Soviet architects actually toured Poland to absorb the local culture before starting the project. People were told they'd be starting new lives and to bring luggage — clearly labeled with their names. Jump to bottom. In 1555, it burned down, and was replaced by the current building. And learning from this country's recent past, I'm reminded we have much to be thankful for and much to be vigilant against. Proud miners carved figures of great Poles out of the salt. A few buildings survive. Episode 311: Budapest: The Best of Hungary. And salt preserves everything. It's also the city's edgy, hipster culture center — jammed with colorful bars, creative eateries, and designer boutiques. Take me as example, I’m 65 years old and I’m still fresh, still young. As more Jewish people were moved in from the countryside, Warsaw's ghetto was soon the miserable home of well over a million people. Check your local listings for air dates. The camp monument represents gravestones and the chimney of a crematorium. Kaisa: Okay, let's do it. Romania. P.S. Back in Kraków, cap your day in one of the town's many jazz clubs. Skilled klezmer musicians can make their instruments weep or laugh like human voices. Until next time…keep on travelin'. Today, as you explore, it's hard to imagine that by 1945 nearly two-thirds of the city's prewar population was dead, and not a building was standing in Warsaw's "Old" Town. Like much of Poland, Kraków pulses with cool jazz nightly. This square is where Kraków lives…kids practice breakdancing, horse carriages take you for a ride, and folk bands add traditional color. So if all you want is the best of Poland, this compact Snapshot guide delivers everything you'll need to know — for about half the price and half the bulk. The ruins stand as a memorial. The Palace of Culture and Science — Poland's tallest building, at over 700 feet — is a Warsaw landmark. Some come to worship and others to remember leading figures in Polish history, such as Kazimierz the Great. In the northeast corner of Europe, Poland is one of the largest countries on the Continent. But the most powerful Holocaust memorial — I think in all of Europe — is the concentration camp here at Auschwitz, an hour's drive from Kraków. For centuries, generations of Wieliczka miners spent their daylight hours underground, rarely seeing the sun. CATALOG NUMBER 310.3. Video: Watch Prague, an episode of the Rick Steves' Europe TV show. In the 14th century, when other nations were deporting Jews, King Kazimierz actively welcomed them. Today it’s busy not with miners, but with tourists. Then the inmates piled into the "shower room." The neighborhood of Kazimierz, 20 minutes by foot southeast of Kraków's Old Town, is the historic heart of Kraków's once-thriving Jewish community. Rick: Oh my! Today Wawel is the most-visited sight in all Poland. They decided to stage a courageous uprising. After a three-hour train ride from Kraków, we arrive in Warsaw. Kazimierz the Great and his predecessors gradually surrounded the cathedral with some 20 chapels, which were further modified over the centuries — making this beautiful church a happy hodgepodge of styles. Ghetto Heroes Square — now surrounded by bland Soviet-style apartment blocks — marks the heart of what was the Jewish ghetto. Though legendary saxophonist Janusz Muniak passed away in 2016, his famous club is still the best for all-around jazz in a sophisticated cellar environment. With a million and a half visitors each year, Auschwitz struggles with crowd control. Rate. 8. Episode 312: Lisbon and the Algarve. A Nazi doctor stood here and evaluated each prisoner as they stepped off the train. The castle long served as a royal palace. Halls are lined with photographs of victims, each marked with dates of arrival and dates of death — inmates rarely survived more than a couple of months. (The Nazis didn't want a panic.) Pope John Paul II was a hometown boy and served right here as archbishop of Kraków before being called to Rome. Posted by apyfiz19 (India) on 03/22/17 04:57 PM. Respectful tourists are welcome. We're having some traditional Polish dishes that go well with vodka: herring, cold cuts, Polish pickles, and steak tartare. For more information, contact Lisa Werner at lisaw@ricksteves.com or Hope Reed at 520-622-1393. Each midday, crowds gather for a medieval moment as a nun swings open the church's much-adored altarpiece.