Kazimierz Jewish Quarter

Kazimierz began life as a separate town. On 27 March 1335 King Casimir III the Great declared two suburbs south of Kraków a new royal town bearing his name, granted it a charter under Magdeburg law and later ordered it to be walled. It remained a town in its own right until the end of the 18th century, when it became a district of Kraków, and its walls were taken down in 1822. The north-eastern part, known as the Oppidum Judaeorum, grew into one of the most important centres of Jewish scholarship and culture in Poland.

That history ended in catastrophe. In 1941 the German occupiers forced Kraków's Jews into a ghetto across the river in Podgórze, and most did not survive the Holocaust. For decades afterwards Kazimierz was neglected, but restoration since the 1990s has brought it back to life. Steven Spielberg filmed much of Schindler's List here in 1993, which drew international attention, and today the district is one of the liveliest parts of the city, with restaurants, bars, bookshops and galleries in its old houses.

A walk through Kazimierz is the best way to understand it. Start on Szeroka Street, the broad old centre of the Jewish town, where the Old Synagogue, now a museum and the oldest synagogue building still standing in Poland, closes one end and the Remah Synagogue stands nearby. From there explore Józefa, Miodowa and Bożego Ciała streets, where you will pass the High Synagogue, the Izaak Synagogue, the Kupa Synagogue and the Tempel Synagogue, which is still used for worship. Allow at least half a day for a relaxed exploration, longer if you go inside the synagogues and museums.

Kazimierz suits almost everyone. History lovers will find layers of the past in every street, food lovers will find plenty of places to eat, and in the evening the district's bars draw a mix of locals, students and visitors. Opening times differ from one synagogue to the next, so check them before you set out. Dress respectfully inside places of worship, and men may be asked to cover their heads. Each year, usually at the end of June, the Jewish Culture Festival, held since 1988, fills the district with concerts, talks and workshops.

Kazimierz begins about fifteen minutes' walk south of the Main Market Square, beyond Wawel and Dietla Street, which follows the line of the old Vistula riverbed. Across the river lies Podgórze, the site of the wartime ghetto, and Schindler's Factory is a short walk further on.