Galicia was once the heart of Eastern European Jewish culture. This museum gives a great introduction and interesting overview of this fascinating culture.

The permanent exhibition, Traces of Memory, is a contemporary look at the Jewish past in Poland. The exhibition features the work of the late photographer Chris Schwarz. Over a period of twelve years, he travelled together with Prof. Jonathan Webber (UNESCO Chair of Jewish and Interfaith Studies, University of Birmingham, UK) town by town and village by village. Their work offers a special way of looking at the Jewish past that was destroyed in Poland. I enjoyed the exhibition as very informative and thought-provoking.

Check the changing current exhibition as well!

www.galiciajewishmuseum.org/

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I love Krakow. If you like Prague and the charming atmosphere of old european cities. You’ll love Krakow, too – I promise! European history is omnipresent: starting with Romanic buildings from the 10th century, when Krakow was an important retail centre, you find early sacral buildings and a castle (Wawel Hill).

A university was founded in medieval times, which made the former Polish capital a leading intellectual centre. There is a long list of buildings from throughout the centuries to explore. Don’t forget about the influence of Jewish life and culture. To get an idea of the amount of things to explore and the variety, start with a hike along the royal route.

But what makes Krakow so special? Its living and lively urbanity. Some grand old cities appear like a museum with inhabitants as living accessories, but not Krakow.

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Krakow is the home of two of Poland’s oldest football clubs: Cracovia and Wisla. Both of them are celebrating their 100th anniversary in May 2006!

www.cracovia.pl;
www.wisla.krakow.pl

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In 750BC Queen Wanda of Poland chose to throw herself into the Wisla river rather than marry a German prince. By doing this, she also sacrificed herself for the people of western Poland whose towns and cities were being attacked by the Germans.

www.icbleu.org/artur/queenwanda.htm

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The recently reopened and renovated Gallery of 20th Century Polish Art in Krakow's National Museum is a wide-ranging and eclectic exhibition showcasing Polish Artists and the different influences and styles of art that have emerged or been reinterpreted since the beginning of the last century.

The gallery is composed of a series of interconnecting rooms each with a heading - such as “Avant Garde”, “Colourism” and “This is what Poland is Like” - under which the art in that room is grouped. Within some of the rooms are dividers which, I assume, are to allow more space to hang exhibits, but which also provide the viewer with pleasant little nooks and crannies to explore. It also helps to break the rooms into smaller, bite size pieces and avoid the overwhelming sensation that sometimes comes when walking into a huge rectangular room brimming with paintings. Particularly important as this is a large exhibition with a lot to see.

Some of the early 20th Century pictures, particularly those of a Romantic, Symbolic and Impressionist nature, have one foot in the 19th Century and it is interesting to compare these with the paintings held at the Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art in the Sukiennice. Indeed, the artist Jacek Malczewski has pieces in both galleries. However there is also a large body of work covering such styles as cubism and modernism as well as art forms such as animation, graphic art and - on video - performances art.

As well as Malczewski's wonderful symbolist - and other - paintings there are also works by Wyspianski, the designs for stained glass to be used in Krakow Cathedral are amazing, Tadeusz Makowski - we particulary liked his “The Musicians” - and the very evocative and effecting "Execution" by Andrzej Wroblewski.

It is a fascinating exhibition, provocative and challenging at times, very traditional at others. With so much on show in terms of both the number of exhibits and the different art styles and forms, one which appeals to a broad range of tastes.

National Museum, Al. 3 Maja 1;
633 53 31

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