Jewish City
Everyone visits Jewish Kazimierz according to their own key. Someone is sticking to the guide, someone else lets himself be carried along by the tangle of streets, often returning to the same place five times. One is enough 10 minutes of walking and leave disgusted with "prettier and less shabby" regions, others spend long hours here, therefore, it is difficult to dictate the directions or order of visiting this strange district. Half ruined, it has retained its unique atmosphere, which arouses such different emotions.
Two important attributes of Kazimierz's urbanity remained from the period of Kazimierz's autonomy: former town hall – today the seat of the Ethnographic Museum, and the market – today Wolnica Square.
Bright, the angular building of the Ethnographic Museum was erected in 1414 r. intended for the town hall of Kazimierz. After rebuilding and renovating it, it managed to survive in the Renaissance style, the most decorative element of which is a battlement attic. After Kazimierz was incorporated into Krakow, the town hall lost its raison d'être and the building was put up for auction. Do 1947 r. it housed various offices and schools – including Jewish, later, the former town hall was returned to the Ethnographic Museum.
Collections of the Ethnographic Museum. Seweryn Udziela will not get bored. Moreover – they can inspire and amaze. Among over 60 thousand. of the exhibits, the folk art of Poland is the most frequently presented. Among other things, a collection of Polish folk costumes has been gathered here, the most beautiful (all awarded) Krakow nativity scenes and a fantastic collection of Easter eggs. The next rooms bring closer the dying world of the Polish countryside: You can see the reconstructed interiors of the huts here, tools, works of folk art, everyday items. Lots of travelers, donating their travel trophies to the museum, diversified the collection with exhibits from Africa, South America, Indonesia.
Medieval dimensions of today's Wolnica Square (195 on 195 m), do XIX w. called the Kazimierz Market Square, equaled the Main Market Square in Krakow. Built in the 19th century. new residential buildings narrowed down its area and today only memories remain of the cloth hall, the weight of metals and numerous stalls. The name comes from the law, which the local residents received for free trade in food and handicrafts. Wolnica Square, as usual, secondary city squares, He is always happy to shelter blue birds. More or less in the middle, accompanied by two tangling willows stands a fountain entitled Three Musicians (Author: Bronislaw Chromy), and her musicians: trumpeter, the violinist and the cellist grapple with the incessant scherzo to the rhythm of the trickling water.
An extremely optimistic initiative was the creation of 1995 r Local Office “We dig” within “Plan for the revitalization of Kazimierz”. The office provides information to both investors, entrepreneurs, tourists, as well as residents who want to find out about plans for their street. The office is used to revive and integrate the local community, and also supports local initiatives. As part of its activities, it organizes events such as “Christmas tree at Wolnica Square”, “balconies in flowers”, departure of the children to Paris, and also publishes the local newspaper Praktyczny Kazimierz. The office is located at ul. Joseph 7.
