Retracing “The Schindler’s List”

Day 1    Arrival

Day 2    Following Schindler’s Jews • Oscar Schindler’s Factory • meeting with a war Survivor • overnight in Krakow

Morning:  Following Schindler’s Jews
Before the Second World War Poland was home to the largest Jewish community in Europe. During the tour you discover traces of the more than 800-year history and culture of Jews in Poland, which almost completely ceased to exist after the war. We explore Kazimierz, the former Jewish district with its synagogues from the 15ht-17th centuries, old schools and houses of prayer. It is the place where the film “The Schindler’s List” was made by Spielberg in 1993. We also follow the traces of Holocaust in Krakow: we visit the site of the former Jewish ghetto from WWII, the remains of the ghetto wall and the Museum in the Oscar Schindler’s Factory. We also visit the Galicja Jewish Museum with its outstanding photo exhibition presenting Jewish history in Poland from new perspective.

Afternoon: Meeting with a war/camp or Holocaust Survivor.

Day 3   Auschwitz – Birkenau Museum • time for reflection • overnight in Krakow

Morning: We visit Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, the site of the largest concentration and extermination camp built by the Nazis during WWII. It became a symbol of the Holocaust, Nazi crimes and forced labor. During the tour we see the former prison blocks and barracks, the crematorium at Auschwitz and the camp site at Birkenau with infamous the Gate of Death, wooden barracks and the Memorial. After the tour some free time for commemoration and reflection. Return to Krakow. After  4.00 pm free time.

Day 4   A journey to the Middle Ages: Wieliczka Salt Mine and Krakow Old Town • overnight in Krakow 

Morning: We visit one of the largest and oldest salt mines in Europe and an absolutely unique and surprising place. The total length of underground passages, tunnels and chambers is in the hundreds of kilometers and they are spread over several levels. Here today, deep underground, you can find New Year’s Eve  parties, weddings and even sporting events! During our visit we will discover the treasures of the underground mine: huge underground caves, tunnels, chapels, including the most spectacular Holy Chapel of Saint Kinga, with decorations and statues carved out of the salt.

Afternoon: Krakow Old Town walk (2 h)

We stroll around the Old Town to discover its treasures: Wawel Hill with the renaissance Royal Castle and Cathedral – the site of coronations and burials of kings,  the Main Market Square – the largest medieval square in Europe – and the St. Mary’s Church, a treasure trove of precious works of art and home to the largest medieval altar in Europe.

Day 5    Departure