WALK 8: From a slightly different angle…

Kopiec Kościuszki ,Kraków http://www.krakow.pl/english/instcbi/10257,inst,12289,1201,instcbi.html

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The centre of Krakow is a very picturesque place, and the city has many beautiful spots from where its panorama can be admired. The most important and best known is the Kościuszko Mound – a destination of many trips. Due to the fact that the entire historic and modern Krakow can be seen from here, it is worth picking out the well-known places – this time viewed from a distance and at a different angle. The mounds are some of the greatest tourist at­tractions of Krakow. Two of them – the Krakus Mound in Podgórze and the Wanda Mound in Nowa Huta – are mysterious barrows from pre-Christian times, erected by local tribes. What prompted the ancient inhabitants of these lands to undertake such a huge effort Are these the burial mounds of rulers Undoubtedly, they were also used as strategic observa­tion points. In modern times, more struc­tures of this type have been erected in honour of national heroes – the above-mentioned Kościuszko Mound and the Józef Piłsudski Mound in Sowiniec. The Kościuszko Mound, built during the time when Poland's territory was partitioned between three powers, was a symbol of aspira­tions of independence for Poles. If we leave the city centre and walk along Piłsudskiego Street in the direction of the main building of the National Museum and the nearby Jagiellonian Library, we will reach Błonia, another of Kra­kow's attractions. At a distance of several hundred meters from the Market Square, there is a huge flat meadow, functioning as a recrea­tional area and a meeting place. Papal masses attended by John Paul II brought over one million of followers here. Various types of festivals are organised here, as well as balloon contests. Błonia is neighboured by Park Jordana and the facilities of the "Wisła" and "Cracovia" sports clubs. One can see the Kościuszko Mound from here, and the Wolski Forest is nearby – another recrea­tional area of great scenic value. There is also the Krakow zoo, the Piłsudski Mound and, in the vicin­ity, the Renaissance Decius Villa with a charming park. The road on the other side of the Vistula leads to Tyniec, a settle­ment with a huge Benedictine ab­bey, where many cultural events take place, including yearly pipe organ recitals in the summer. The suburban walking trails and tourist routes are a proposal for warm days. From May to September, everything can be viewed from yet another perspective – from the deck of tour boats sailing along the Vistula.
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