Castles and Palastes in South Poland

CASTLES AND PALASTES IN SOUTH POLAND 8 days / 7 nights

WARSAW (1) – CZESTOCHOWA (1) – Pieskowa Skala – KRAKOW (2) – Wisnicz – Lancut – BARANOW SANDOMIERSKI (1) – Krzysztopor – WARSAW (2)

 

Day 1 – WARSAW (D)

  • Arrival Warsaw
  • Transfer to the hotel for check in
  • Dinner, overnight in Warsaw

 

Day 2 – WARSAW – CZESTOCHOWA (B, D): 225 km

  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • After breakfast sightseeing of Warsaw, including Old Town with Barbican Walls, St. John’s Cathedral, Castle Square with Royal Castle
  • Entrance to Royal Castle
    The Royal Castle in Warsaw is the Baroque-Classical castle, which today functions as a museum and representation venue. Initially, it was the residence of the dukes of Mazovia. When the Polish capital was moved from Krakow to Warsaw in 1596 it became the seat of Polish kings and Polish parliament. In its long history the castle was destroyed and robbed by the Swedes, Brandenburg, Germans and Russians. In 1939 it was robbed and burned by the Germans and finally blown up in 1944. In the years 1971-1984 it was rebuilt with public fund. In 1980 together with the Warsaw Old Town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1994 together with the Royal Route and Wilanow Palace received the title of ‘ historical monument’.
  • Transfer to Czestochowa
  • In the afternoon a tour of the monastery and sanctuary of the Virgin Mary on Jasna Gora. Besides the miraculous painting that Polish Roman Catholics consider to be their greatest treasure, Jasna Gora houses a huge collection of historical and national mementos.
  • Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Czestochowa

 

Day 3 – CZESTOCHOWA – KRAKOW (B, D): 150 km

  • After breakfast transfer to Krakow – the road leads along a breathtaking tourist trail – the “Trail of the Eagles‘ Nests”.
    The name of “Trail of the Eagles’ Nests” originated from the castles that stand perched on limestone rocks, just like nests. Most of them, including Ogrodzieniec, Rabsztyn or Olsztyn, are no more than picturesque ruins. On the other hand, the royal castle of Pieskowa Skala near Krakow is one of the most valuable examples of Renaissance architecture. Originally Gothic, it was built in the 14th century by King Kazimierz the Great. Today it houses a museum – a branch of the Wawel state Art Collections.
  • Transfer to Krakow, check in, dinner and overnight at the hotel in Krakow

 

Day 4 – KRAKOW (B, D)

  • After breakfast half day tour of Krakow, including Old Town area with the Cloth Hall and St. Mary’s Church on the Old Town Market Square – the largest town squares in medieval Europe. The Barbican and Florianska Gate.
  • Entrance to Wawel Castle
    Wawel Castle is an example of Renaissance architecture in Poland. It was the seat of Polish kings and princes from the 11th to the 16th centuries as well as Polish political centre. It survived many wars, destruction, fires and reconstructions. By today it is one of the main Polish attractions. Today it is a museum with permanent exhibitions which contain valuable art collections. Next to the castle is Wawel Cathedral – the coronation and burial place of Polish kings and other great personalities of Polish political and artistic life. On the cathedral tower there is the largest bell in Poland – ‘Sigismund Bel;l (11 tons in weight, 8 meters in circumference). At the castle’s courtyard there is another important monument – the oldest building in Krakow- the Rotunda of the Virgin Mary
  • Afternoon free
  • Dinner and overnight in Krakow

 

Day 5 – KRAKOW –Wisnicz Nowy– Lancut – BARANOW SANDOMIERSKI (B, D): 290 km

  • After breakfast transfer to Lancut via Wisnicz
    Wisnicz is a huge fortress, originally the property of Kmita family and from 1583 – the Lubomirski family. It has four towers with characteristic shapes, modeled after knights’ helmets. The garrison numbered 650 people and 80 cannon. King Zygmunt August and his lovely young wife Barbara Radziwillowna stayed at Wisnicz in 1550. According to the legend, it was in Wisnicz that poison was administered to Barbara.
  • Drive to Lancut, sightseeing of the castle
    Situated in a beautiful old park the castle in Lancut was the impressive magnate residence of the Lubomirski family. It looks like an unfortified, ornate palace, but in fact its five-pointed bastion fortifications kept out the Swedes in 1655, and Rakoczy’s forces in 1657. Today the palace houses valuable collections of paintings, sculptures, historical furniture, tapestries and porcelain. The famous Carriages Museum located near the castle has a collection of coaches, carts, chaises, hunter’s carriages and stagecoaches.
  • In the evening, the tour continues on to the castle in Baranow Sandomierski,
  • Dinner in Baranow – Old Polish feast will be held in the castle gallery with excellent food, music and entertainment.
  • Overnight in Baranow

 

Day 6 – BARANOW SANDOMIERSKI – Krzyztopor – WARSAW (B, D): 260 km

  • After breakfast a tour of Baranow Sandomierski castle.
    Baranow Sandomierski castle is a charming residence of ideal proportions, a real pearl of the Renaissance. It was built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries to a design by Santi Gucci; 100 years later Tylman van Gameren converted the castle’s west wing.
  • Departure for Krzyztopor, a visit to the ruins of Krzyztopor castle
    Its name (which means “cross-ax”) originated from the cross and ax carved in stone near the gate. The cross was the symbol of the Counter-Reformation, while the ax was the coat-of-arms of the founder, the governor Ossolinski. This was one of the largest castles in the world, and there are many legends about its magnificient interiors. It had four towers, 12 huge halls, 52 chambers and 365 windows. One of the chambers had a glass roof with a giant aquarium above it. The Swedes took and plundered the castle in 1655. In 1770, after it was damaged during the Confederation of Bar, it fell into ruin and was never rebuilt.
  • After visiting Krzyztopor ruins departure for Warsaw
  • Arrival Warsaw, dinner and overnight at the hotel

 

Day 7 – WARSAW (B, D)

  • After breakfast transfer to Wilanow
  • A tour of the Wilanow Palace, the summer residence of King Jan III Sobieski
    This is one of Poland’s most valuable historic buildings from the Baroque period. In the late 17th century, Wilanow was the property of Stanislaw Kostka Potocki – a politician, writer and patron of art. He amassed a huge and valuable collection and then opened the one of Poland’s first museums. During World War II the Nazis destroyed the park and robbed the palace. Today it is a museum with a beautiful collection of interiors, furniture and paintings, including a Gallery of Polish Portraits.
  • In the afternoon transfer to Lazienki Palace and park
  • A stroll thru Lazienki park to Lazienki Royal Palace ( Palace on the Water ). Visit palace’s historic interiors, Amphitheatre and the Old Orangery
    Lazienki Royal Palace (Palace on the Water) is a Baroque residence of king Stanislaw August Poniatowski who used to invite highly respected artists and intellectuals to his residence in Lazienki. These days Lazienki played an important role in the artistic life of the capital.
  • Gala dinner at Belvedere restaurant in Royal Lazienki Park ( in a style of old orangery )
  • Overnight

 

Day 8 – WARSAW (B)

  • After breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight back home

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