Published: Mon 27 Oct 2014 at 16:25
Updated: Tue 28 Oct 2014 at 11:53
As autumn comes to Krakow, this historic Polish city becomes ever more beautiful. Our Jet2.com & Jet2holidays Inbound Marketing Manager, Steve Adamson, visited Krakow in October to enjoy the city at its picturesque best.
A stroll in the park
With crunchy brown leaves underfoot, I began my afternoon exploration of Krakow in Planty Park. This 19th century treasure was once a moat that rings the entire Old Town. Today, I instead appreciated it for its bellowing amber oak trees, some stripped bare to fingers of brown bark.
The park is also one of the most scenic routes to reach Wawel Castle. Wrapped up with a woolly scarf to protect against the crisp air (the temperature drops to 8C at this time of year) I made my way onwards to the grand stone structure.
Wowed by the Wawel
Sitting at the edge of the sepia-toned Vistula River, the Wawel Castle is a concoction of multi-coloured stonework. It took over 200 years to build, which has given it a patchwork of styles.
I passed through its portcullis by a vine-covered entrance and arrived at grand rooms with glittering displays of royal ornaments. The castle also boasts a peaceful courtyard, so I took a moment to stop before continuing my tour of the city.
Good times in the Old Town
I certainly saved the best till last. I entered the Old Town through the medieval tower of St. Florian’s Gate and felt like I had stepped back in time. The dusky evening light added to the atmosphere of the cobbled roads lined with time-honoured churches and synagogues.
Imagine my surprise when these narrow streets opened out to reveal the Main Square! One of the largest squares in Europe, this huge expanse is surrounded by beautiful buildings such as the Cloth Hall. I couldn’t resist stepping inside to browse the indoor market of souvenir stalls.
There was a chill in the air, so I chose to head to a cosy pub as my final stopping point. With more than 300 bars in the Old Town alone, a good one wasn’t difficult to find!
Jet2holidays offer city breaks to Krakow from Newcastle.
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